Stephanie Palmer

This book is well-known among screenwriters (and if it isn't, it should be), but it's also great for other business situations. In fact, the principles would probably work better in business situations outside of Hollywood because typically, no matter how competitive an industry might be, it's probably not as competitive as Hollywood.

It's a great book if you own your own business and are looking for clients, if you're looking for a job, AND if you're trying to sell your screenplay. Breaks down the infamous sell meeting (or job interview) into five parts, which I know exist from all the job interviews I've been on. Now I have a better idea of what to do and what to pay attention to.

But the best part was that it confirmed my suspicion that a lot of networking rules are bullshit. Yes, you really are supposed to build rapport with people you truly respect and not with everyone you meet. Just because you meet a celebrity or a well-known producer in an elevator doesn't mean it's an opportunity to pitch your script or your novel or whatever. That's rude and you're more likely to be remembered in a way that you don't want to be.

In a natural writing style, Palmer advises you on how you can sell yourself or your work without making the hard sell. A 'no' isn't the end of the world—it's actually an opportunity to find out what's not working and fine tune your techniques. Hard questions from a potential buyer are actually a good sign.

This is a great book for business people and artists alike.… (mais)