Podcast Summary: "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing"
Episode: The Black List: The Future of Storytelling
Release Date: November 7, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra welcome Franklin Leonard and Randy Winston, the founders of The Black List—a pivotal platform reshaping the landscape of storytelling in publishing, film, television, and theater. The discussion delves into the mission, operations, and future aspirations of The Black List, offering invaluable insights for emerging writers and industry professionals alike.

The Black List: Mission and Expansion

Franklin Leonard introduces The Black List as a comprehensive platform designed to connect writers with professionals across publishing, film, television, and theater industries. Originally rooted in the film business, The Black List has recently expanded to support fiction writers as of September 2024.

Franklin Leonard [02:12]:
"We are a platform for writers and for people in the publishing, film, television and theater businesses to connect... We've really expanded considerably and just launched for fiction writers as of beginning of September."

The platform aims to streamline the discovery process, ensuring that exceptional works gain the visibility they deserve regardless of the writer's existing connections or resources.

Addressing Criticisms: Accessibility vs. Traditional Agents

Carly Waters raises a critical point regarding the perceived necessity of The Black List in the publishing industry, given the accessibility literary agents already provide to aspiring authors. She questions the platform's role when agents like herself openly share contact information and actively seek submissions.

Carly Waters [04:44]:
"As agents, literary agents, we are very vocal about, like, here's our email address, here's where to pitch us, here's what we're looking for... So on this podcast, we also tried to demystify the book business."

Franklin acknowledges these concerns, explaining that while literary agents are accessible, the sheer volume of submissions can overwhelm their capacity to respond effectively. The Black List addresses this by industrializing the filtering process, ensuring that standout works receive the attention they merit.

Franklin Leonard [04:44]:
"There is a super abundance of material. There are more screenwriters writing than there are people that can read all of the screenwriting... We are trying to industrialize the process of sorting through all of that stuff so that people who have something great... have a way to say, other people have said, this thing that I've written is really exciting, and you should pay attention to it."

Pricing and Accessibility: Balancing Cost and Quality

The conversation shifts to The Black List's pricing strategy, which Franklin meticulously outlines. The platform charges $100 for screenplay feedback and $150 for prose, determined through a data-driven approach assessing average word counts and reading densities. This pricing ensures that readers are fairly compensated, attracting high-quality feedback providers.

Franklin Leonard [07:58]:
"We backed into the $100 per excerpt feedback fee or compensation for the readers... It's imperative that we pay our readers an appropriate fee to provide high quality feedback so that we can hire high quality readers that have experience in the space."

To maintain accessibility, The Black List offers a free profile creation option and a fee waiver program for writers who cannot afford the submission fees, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder talented writers from accessing valuable feedback.

Feedback Quality and Scoring: Maintaining High Standards

One of the standout features discussed is the stringent threshold for feedback scores. Franklin explains that historically only about 3.5% of submissions receive an 8 or higher score, emphasizing the platform's commitment to maintaining high standards.

Franklin Leonard [11:05]:
"When you pay for feedback is that you are held to a standard of... being recommended by our reader as something that deserves immediate attention."

This selective approach ensures that industry professionals receive only the most promising works, thereby increasing the chances of exceptional stories finding their way into the market.

Reader Qualifications: Ensuring Expert Feedback

Randy Winston elaborates on the qualifications of The Black List's readers, highlighting that they possess at least a year of experience in evaluating fiction within the industry. This includes former editors, literary agents, and senior roles within agencies, ensuring that feedback is both professional and insightful.

Randy Winston [16:28]:
"We are looking for people who have at least a year of experience evaluating fiction in the industry... assistant editor, or I was a senior editor, or I worked at an agency and I was a senior literary agent."

Such stringent criteria guarantee that writers receive feedback grounded in industry expertise, enhancing the platform's credibility and effectiveness.

Launch and Industry Reception: Building Trust and Credibility

Franklin shares insights into The Black List's launch, noting the significant positive reception from the publishing community and the impactful coverage by The New York Times. Despite initial anxieties about public perception, the platform has garnered overwhelming interest from industry professionals seeking new material.

Franklin Leonard [20:34]:
"The publication space has been overwhelmed by the interest... it's just a matter of time."

This enthusiastic reception underscores the platform's potential to become a vital tool for discovering and promoting outstanding writing across various media.

Educational Initiatives: Empowering Writers with Business Acumen

Randy Winston emphasizes the platform's commitment to educating writers about the business aspects of writing, a facet often neglected in traditional MFA programs. Through resources like the "Read the Acknowledgments" podcast series, The Black List provides nuanced insights into the publishing ecosystem.

Randy Winston [24:12]:
"Read the acknowledgments, which is a visual podcast... to talk about the business. I just want to make sure that writers don't have to go through all the loops that I did."

These initiatives aim to democratize knowledge, ensuring that writers from diverse backgrounds can navigate the industry effectively without the prohibitive costs of formal education.

Opportunities and Partnerships: Enhancing Writer Success

Franklin announces exciting developments, including The Black List’s Unpublished Novel Award, which offers $10,000 to selected manuscripts judged by esteemed figures like Roxane Gay and Mike Flanagan. Additionally, a partnership with producer Simon Kinberg allows for optioning novels for film or television adaptations, providing writers with lucrative opportunities to see their work adapted.

Franklin Leonard [32:54]:
"Those manuscripts will then be read by a judging core... each of the winners... will receive $10,000. And there's a partnership with Simon Kinberg... optioned for 18 months for $25,000 film or television show."

These initiatives exemplify The Black List's dedication to not only discovering talent but also fostering tangible success for writers.

Handling Nonfiction Submissions: Navigating Genre Boundaries

When addressing the inclusion of memoirs and nonfiction, Franklin clarifies that while memoirs can be submitted, they will be evaluated strictly as fiction due to the platform’s current capabilities. This boundary acknowledges the distinct requirements of nonfiction while encouraging writers to explore autofiction as an alternative.

Franklin Leonard [37:11]:
"You absolutely can submit your memoir, but it will be read as fiction. And don't email customer support and say, but it's a memoir, because we won't be able to evaluate it as such."

Randy adds that autofiction presents another viable pathway for those interested in blending factual storytelling with creative narrative techniques.

Conclusion and Book Recommendations

As the episode winds down, Greensboro and Winston share their current reading selections, fostering a sense of community and mutual support among writers. They encourage listeners to engage with diverse literature, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and inspiration.

Franklin Leonard [40:03]:
"I tend to read nonfiction more than fiction... I really enjoyed it, and I've been reworking my way through Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist of late."

Randy Winston [40:14]:
"I'm reading this great Hemisphere by Matteo Scarrapour... Super fan of his."

Key Takeaways

• The Black List's Mission: To bridge the gap between writers and industry professionals by streamlining the discovery and feedback process.

• High Standards for Feedback: Only a small percentage of submissions receive high scores, ensuring that industry professionals are presented with top-tier material.

• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Through tiered pricing and fee waivers, The Black List ensures that financial barriers do not impede talented writers from accessing valuable services.

• Educational Commitment: Providing resources to educate writers on the business side of writing, empowering them to make informed career decisions.

• Opportunities for Success: Offering substantial financial awards and partnerships for adaptations, fostering tangible success for outstanding writers.

Notable Quotes

• Franklin Leonard [04:44]:
  "We are trying to industrialize the process of sorting through all of that stuff so that people who have something great... have a way to say, other people have said, this thing that I've written is really exciting, and you should pay attention to it."

• Carly Waters [11:05]:
  "When you pay for feedback is that you are held to a standard of being recommended by our reader as something that deserves immediate attention."

• Randy Winston [24:12]:
  "I just want to make sure that writers don't have to go through all the loops that I did."

• Franklin Leonard [32:54]:
  "Those manuscripts will then be read by a judging core... each of the winners... will receive $10,000."

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding The Black List's pivotal role in the evolving landscape of storytelling, offering emerging writers the tools and opportunities necessary to elevate their craft and navigate the complexities of the publishing industry.