What Do Literary Managers Do for Screenwriters? A Complete Guide

As a screenwriter trying to break into the industry, you’ve likely heard about literary managers. But what exactly do they do? And how is their role different from a literary agent or entertainment attorney?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about what literary managers do, their value for screenwriters, how they differ from agents, and tips for finding the right literary manager for your career goals.

What is a Literary Manager?

A literary manager (sometimes called a script manager or development producer) is someone who provides guidance and career management for screenwriters and filmmakers. They take on a limited number of clients, usually 10-15 at a time, so they can give their writers more personalized attention.

The literary manager’s role is to help screenwriters develop their voice improve their craft, choose the right projects to work on, make important introductions, and strategize how to advance the writer’s career. They work closely with their client on a long-term basis to grow their body of work and move them closer to their professional goals.

In contrast to a literary agent who focuses on making sales, a manager’s priority is nurturing the writer’s creativity and career trajectory. They look at the big picture of where the client wants to go, not just the immediate sale.

What Do Literary Managers Do?

Some of the most common things a literary manager does for screenwriters include

• Script Development: Gives notes on scripts, helps strategize rewrites, provides feedback to strengthen story and characters.

• Career Guidance: Helps set professional goals, suggests projects to write or pitch, advises on next career steps.

• Industry Introductions: Connects writers to producers, executives, agents, or other managers who can advance their career.

• Project Management: Guides writers through the process of developing specs, pitching, securing assignments, managing deadlines.

• Editorial Guidance: Provides feedback on treatments, loglines, outlines, query letters.

• Proposal Development: Works with writer to create compelling proposals to get interest from studios/producers.

• Packaging: Brings together creative elements like director, talent, or IP to make projects more appealing.

• Staffing: Advises on opportunities to get writing jobs and helps prepare writer for meetings.

As you can see, literary managers are deeply involved in both the creative and business sides of their client’s careers. Their success is directly tied to the writer’s success.

What is the Difference Between a Literary Agent and Manager?

While literary agents and managers both represent writers, there are some key differences in their roles:

• Sales vs. Career Focus: Agents prioritize selling scripts and getting writers paid jobs. Managers focus on building a career trajectory over the long-term.

• Contracts: Agents can negotiate deals and legally bind clients to contracts. Managers cannot represent writers in contractual matters.

• Commissions: Agents get 10% commission on sales by law. Managers usually get 10-15% commission since they aren’t regulated.

• Client Lists: Most agents have large client rosters while managers cap their lists around 15 writers to provide more personalized attention.

• Relationships: The agent-client dynamic is more transactional. Managers have a closer, more involved advisory relationship with their clients.

• Packaging: Managers can attach themselves as producers to help package a project. Agents legally cannot.

For these reasons, many screenwriters choose to have both an agent and a manager to get the benefits of both as their career progresses. Think of your manager as your career coach and your agent as your sales rep.

What Value Does a Literary Manager Provide?

Having a knowledgeable literary manager guiding your writing career can provide huge benefits, especially for emerging screenwriters. Here are some of the top things a great manager brings to the table:

• Career Strategy: They know the ins and outs of the business and can strategize your next best moves.

• Validation: Getting signed by a reputable manager validates your talent and elevates your profile.

• Objective Feedback: You get professional notes to help strengthen your writing.

• Industry Access: Managers open doors and make introductions you couldn’t get on your own.

• Accountability: They hold you accountable to deadlines, goal-setting, and progress.

• Advocacy: A manager goes to bat for you and gets executives excited about your work.

• Confidence: Having an experienced pro guiding you gives you confidence in negotiations.

• Options: They bring you multiple opportunities instead of waiting for the perfect one script at a time.

• Brand Building: Managers understand how to position you and build your brand as a writer.

The right manager-writer partnership pays dividends through the whole arc of a screenwriting career. They fill an essential role as part career coach, part industry navigator to help writers progress.

Tips for Finding the Right Literary Manager

Not all literary managers are created equal. Finding the right fit for you is critical. Here are some tips for evaluating potential managers:

• Vet their client list: Look for managers repping writers with similar voice/style as you. See if they have a good track record helping break in new writers.

• Check references: Speak to the manager’s current and past clients to learn about their experiences.

• Assess connections: Do they have relationships with buyers that could get your work sold?

• Gauge their accessibility: Get a sense of how hands-on they are with client communication and career guidance.

• Define expectations: Have an open conversation about what each of you expects from the partnership.

• Consider credentials: While not required, many managers have industry experience as producers, development execs, or screenwriters.

• Trust your gut: You want a manager who “gets” you and your work. The relationship only works with mutual vision and trust.

Take the search seriously and don’t rush into signing with a manager that isn’t the best fit. This is someone who will be intricately involved in guiding your career.

Querying Literary Managers

When you find a literary manager you think could be a great match, you need to capture their interest. Here are tips for writing effective query letters:

• Personalize: Research the manager’s tastes and showcase how your work aligns. Avoid generic letters.

• Hook with concept: Summarize your script using vivid, compelling language in your logline.

• Spotlight distinctiveness: What makes your premise, characters, or voice unique? Help them see it.

• Provide comparables: Use successful films in the same vein as insightful comps. Just don’t claim your script is “the next [insert hit movie]”.

• Convey passion: Let your excitement for the project shine through. Enthusiasm is contagious.

• Be concise: Keep it to 1 page max. Include logline, biographical info, credits, and contact details.

• Follow submission guidelines: Don’t send unsolicited material unless they request it.

Remember, the query letter is just to pique their interest and motivate them to request your full script. Resist the temptation to oversell your project. Lay out the most compelling elements as simply and powerfully as you can.

Finding a literary manager can supercharge a screenwriting career.

The right manager fills an invaluable role as a strategic guide to help screenwriters refine their voice, master their craft, and advance their careers. Managers provide the insider expertise, industry access, objective feedback, and career coaching that emerging writers need to grow.

Vet potential managers thoroughly to confirm they’re the best fit. But once you do connect with a manager who believes in you and your work, hold on tight. That relationship can elevate your writing and open doors you never imagined possible.