Most new writers are unaware of an unwritten law NEVER SEND YOUR MATERIAL WITHOUT PERMISSION (unsolicited) without first sending a query letter and a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope).

Did you ever hear the phrase, "Shooting yourself in the foot?" When a new writer sends their material without querying first, theyre automatically starting off on the wrong foot.

The new writer must realize the inconvenience and the potential legal situation they are putting that industry professional into when they send their material without the query. They must protect themselves first. Many new writers are convinced that everyone is out to steal their work, which is not the case. Because of this attitude on the part of the new writer, industry insiders must protect themselves. They may do this by insisting that the new writer first sign a release form. Or, the insider might chose not to read that material at all. There could be many reasons for thisthe main being that they simply dont have the time.

If the insider agrees to read a new writers material, he will contact that writer, and tell him/her -- how they want to proceed, but it is their call. Give them the chance to refuse.

You see you cant just assume that they are dying to read your work, or even that they have time to do so.

As for myself, from the many web sites where my email address is available, I am sent five or more pieces of unsolicited material every week. Because of my busy schedule, I am unable to work with new writers, except on a very limited basis. When a new writer sends material to my email address without querying first, its sometimes very inconvenient because with such surprise attacks when opening my email, some have taken more than two hours to download because someone has sent their entire script or in one case, their novel. I follow a strict policy, and that is, whenever I receive unsolicited email, I dont read it. Never. I just delete it. I too, have to protect myself. Example: What if I am working on a similar story, and say a scene or character in my script is like one that unsolicited script? I could be setting myself for an unfounded lawsuit.

When I spoke with other industry insiders on this subject, they said that they had experienced the same thing. Some said, not only do they throw the script away unread, or return it to the writer unread, they pass the writers name onto others in the industry, so that they will be aware of this person.

Sending unsolicited material is a true sign of the novice writer. One who hasnt taken the time to learn the rules of submitting material.

Still another reason for not sending unsolicited material, is that few insiders, if any, will read material at no charge. There simply isnt enough time in the day.

A new writer sends their material, assuming that his/her material is the only request that industry insider receives.

WRONG.

As for myself, I rarely read material. I just dont have the time at this point in my career. On those rare occasions that I decide to work with a new writer, I will contract with that writer, request a signed release form, and I always charge a fee for my time. The reason is because I must put down whatever I am working on for the week that I am working on the writers project.

For new writers, its important to also understand; a working writer has very little time for anything else. And we like it that way. Being busy, I mean.

Andrea Leigh Wolf