I was once trying hard to be a screenwriter, and we in the writing community never accepted any such thing. If someone is putting 10 years into their novel, or

I was once trying hard to be a screenwriter, and we in the writing community never accepted any such thing. If someone is putting 10 years into their novel, or 5 years into their screenplay, that is cause for suspicion. The bars of Hollywood are awash with people who tinker with the same pet idea for years and never submit to the public. Writers form writers' groups and seek managers for the same reason founders seek cofounders: to keep themselves from strolling down an interesting but ultimately profitless rabbit hole. Writers have their own version of "artists ship". Writers publish.