Let me tell you something that might surprise you: Hollywood wants you to succeed.

When you walk into a pitch meeting with me—or any manager or executive worth their salt—we're not sitting there hoping you'll fail. We're not looking for reasons to say no. We're rooting for you. We want to fall in love with your story, connect with your vision, and find a way to work together.

And here's the proof: I'm about to sign a couple of writers from Stage 32. That's not hyperbole or a marketing line—I mean it. I've done more than 30 consultations on the platform and heard over 200 pitches, and I've seen some genuinely incredible talent. But I've also noticed patterns—things that work, things that don't, and missed opportunities that keep talented writers from breaking through.

So I wanted to share what I've learned from being on the receiving end of all those pitches. Because the truth is, too many writers walk into pitch meetings like they're being interrogated instead of invited to collaborate. They're nervous. They forget that this session isn't about proving you belong in the room—it's about building something great together.

Let me break down what actually happens on my side of the table, and how you can show up in a way that makes us both excited about what comes next.

Plus, at the bottom of this blog are your November Write Club Week 4 Challenges! Participate and be eligible to win free prizes all month long...

We're Here to Build You Up, Not Break You Down

First things first: This session is here to help you grow as a writer.

When you pitch to a manager or executive, we're evaluating your story, yes—but we're also evaluating whether we can help you take it to the next level. We're thinking about how we can develop it together, who we might package it with, where it could sell, and what notes might unlock its full potential.

We're not your adversaries. We're your potential partners.

So when you walk into that room (virtual or otherwise), take a breath. We want this to work. Now let's talk about how to make sure it does.

Know Your Script Inside and Out—And Believe in It

This should go without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway: You need to know your script cold.

I don't just mean you've memorized your logline and can recite your three-act structure. I mean you should be able to talk about:

• Your characters' deepest motivations. Not just what they want, but why they want it. What wound are they carrying? What do they fear most?
• The emotional journey. How does your protagonist change from page 1 to page 110? What do they learn? What do they lose?
• Your world. Whether it's a contained thriller or a sprawling fantasy epic, you should be able to describe the rules, the tone, the textures. What does this world feel like?
• Your themes. What are you actually saying with this story? What big idea or question are you exploring?

When a writer can speak fluently about these elements, I know they've done the work. I know they're not just winging it. And more importantly, I know they believe in what they've written.

You're the expert on your world. Own it.

If you wrote a sci-fi thriller set in a lunar mining colony, you should know how that colony functions, what the political dynamics are, and why that setting matters to the story you're telling. If you wrote a family drama about estranged siblings, you should know exactly why they drifted apart and what needs to happen for them to reconcile—or not.

I can't tell you how many times I've asked a writer, "So why does your protagonist make that choice in Act Two?" and gotten a shrug or a vague answer. That tells me they haven't fully interrogated their own story yet. And if you don't understand your characters' choices, how can I?

Confidence doesn't mean arrogance. It means you've lived with this story long enough to know it deeply—and you're excited to share that knowledge with me.

Do's and Don'ts from 200+ Pitches: What I've Noticed

After hearing over 200 pitches on Stage 32, I've seen what separates the writers who make me lean in from the ones who make me check my watch. Let me give you the honest breakdown:

DO:

Start with a hook, not a setup. Don't tell me "This story takes place in a small town in 1987..." Just hit me with the good stuff: "A grieving father discovers his daughter's ghost is trapped in their Alexa device—and she's not alone."

Show me your voice in the first 30 seconds. Are you funny? Dark? Lyrical? Weird? Let me hear you in how you pitch, not just what you pitch.

Use specific details. Don't say "a woman." Say "a 40-year-old divorce lawyer who collects vintage typewriters." Details make your world feel real.

Pitch with energy. You don't have to be a motivational speaker, but if you sound bored by your own story, why should I be excited?

Be ready to pivot. If I interrupt with a question, that's a good sign. It means I'm engaged. Don't steamroll through your rehearsed pitch—have a conversation with me.

DON'T:

Don't apologize. I've heard "I know this probably sounds crazy but..." at least 50 times. Stop undermining yourself before you even start. If you don't believe in it, neither will I.

Don't pitch multiple projects at once. Pick your best one. I'd rather hear one great pitch than three mediocre ones. You can mention your other work briefly at the end, but lead with your strongest.

Don't give me a scene-by-scene breakdown. I don't need to know everything that happens. Give me the core conflict, the emotional stakes, and why I should care. Leave me wanting more.

Don't deflect feedback. If I say "I'm not sure the third act is working," don't immediately say "Well, my writing group loved it." Take the note. Sit with it. You can push back thoughtfully, but don't be defensive.

Don't forget to tell me WHY you wrote it. This is the thing I see missing most often, and it's the thing that would make the biggest difference. More on this below.

Come Prepared with Questions (This Is Key)

Here's where a lot of writers miss a huge opportunity.

A pitch meeting shouldn't be a one-way presentation where you talk for 10 minutes and then I either say yes or no. The best pitch meetings are conversations. And conversations require questions.

When you come in with thoughtful, specific questions, it shows me a few things:

1. You're humble enough to know your script isn't perfect yet.
2. You're eager to collaborate and make it better.
3. You value my expertise and want to learn from it.

But here's the catch: your questions need to be good.

Don't ask vague, open-ended things like, "So, uh, what did you think?" That puts all the pressure on me to lead the conversation, and it tells me you're not sure what you're looking for.

Instead, come with specific, craft-oriented questions like:

• "How can I make this character feel less static and more dynamic?"
• "Do you think the world feels fully realized, or are there areas where I could expand it?"
• "I'm struggling with the third act—how can I streamline the plot without losing the emotional payoff?"
• "The antagonist feels a bit one-note to me. How can I give them more depth without softening their threat?"
• "Is the tone working? I'm going for dark comedy, but I'm worried it might be reading as straight drama."

These kinds of questions tell me you're thinking critically about your work and you’re thinking about the market. They also give me a blueprint for how I can be most helpful to you. And honestly? They make the meeting way more fun for both of us. I love diving into craft. I love problem-solving with writers. Give me a juicy question and I'm all in.

Pro tip from my Stage 32 sessions: The writers who ask great questions are often the ones I remember weeks later. They're the ones I circle back to. Don't waste that opportunity.

Share Your Inspiration—This Is Crucial

One of the most underrated parts of pitching is explaining what inspired your script.

I don't mean your comps (though those are useful too). I mean the why behind the story. What made you need to write this? What personal experience, observation, or obsession drove you to spend months or years crafting this world and these characters?

When you share your inspiration, it helps me understand:

• Your vision. What you're trying to express through the story.
• Your passion. Why this project matters to you (and why it should matter to me).
• Your voice. What makes your perspective unique.

In my 30+ Stage 32 consultations, the writers who shared their personal connection to the story were the ones who stuck with me. Even if the script needed work, I could see their passion—and passion is something I can work with.

Your inspiration is your secret weapon. Use it.

What I'm Really Evaluating (The Stuff You Don't See)

Okay, let's pull back the curtain for a second. When you're pitching, here's what I'm thinking about:

1. Can I sell this?

Is there a market for this story? Does it have a clear audience? Are there comps that prove there's demand? Is the concept strong enough to get people excited?

2. Can this writer execute it?

Do they understand structure, character, pacing? Can they take notes? Are they going to be a collaborative, professional partner—or a nightmare?

3. Is there a unique voice here?

What does this writer bring to the table that no one else does? What's fresh about their perspective?

4. Do I believe in this writer's potential?

Even if this particular script isn't ready, do I see something in this writer that makes me want to invest time in developing them?

Notice that only #1 is about the script itself. The rest is about you—your skills, your attitude, your voice, your trajectory.

That's why how you show up in the room matters just as much as what you're pitching.

How to Show Up Like a Pro

Let me leave you with a few tactical tips for nailing your next pitch:

Before the meeting:

• Research who you're meeting with. What have they produced? What genres do they gravitate toward? What's their vibe? (LinkedIn, IMDbPro, and their company website are your friends.)
• Practice your pitch out loud. Record yourself. Does it feel natural or rehearsed? Are you talking to someone or at them?
• Prepare 3-5 good questions. Write them down. Bring them with you.

During the meeting:

• Start with energy. Be warm, be personable, be present. We want to like you.
• Tell a story, don't recite a synopsis. Make me feel something in the first 30 seconds.
• Be conversational. Pause. Breathe. React to what I'm saying. This isn't a monologue.
• Listen more than you talk. If I'm giving you notes or asking questions, that's a good sign. Engage with what I'm saying.

After the meeting, be patient. I might love your script, but I also have 50 other projects on my desk. Give me a week or two before you follow up again.

We're on the Same Team

Look, I get it. Pitching is nerve-wracking. You're putting your heart on the table and hoping someone sees its value. That vulnerability is real, and I respect it.

But here's what I want you to remember: we're on the same team.

I'm not looking for reasons to pass. I'm looking for reasons to say yes. I want to find a script I can champion, a writer I can develop, a project I can get made. And yes—I'm actively looking to sign writers from Stage 32. I've heard some phenomenal pitches on this platform, and I know there are more out there.

So come into that room with confidence. Know your script. Believe in it. Ask great questions. Share what inspired you. And trust that if it's meant to work, we'll figure it out together.

Because at the end of the day, that's what this whole crazy business is about: collaboration, storytelling, and finding the people who get what you're trying to do.

I'm rooting for you. Now go knock 'em dead.

This Week’s November Write Club Challenges!

Welcome to Week 4 of November Write Club — and this week, we’re taking everything Evan shared and putting it into practice.

If there’s one message at the heart of Evan’s blog, it’s this:

Managers and executives aren’t waiting for you to fail. They’re waiting for you to show them the story only you can tell.

That means confidence. It means clarity. It means knowing your script, knowing your voice, and showing up ready to have a conversation, not just deliver a pitch. More than anything, it means remembering that pitching isn’t about performing for approval — it’s about inviting someone into your world and seeing if they want to build something together.

And that’s exactly what this week’s challenges are designed to do.

Every November Write Club prompt is here to get you thinking deeper about your craft, your intentions, your creative identity, and the impact you want your stories to have. This isn’t just an exercise in participation — it’s a way to practice the mindset Evan describes. The mindset that tells a manager: This is a writer I want to invest in.

Everyone who completes the Week 4 challenges will be automatically entered to win:

• 1 FREE Stage 32 Executive Pitch Session
• 1 FREE Arc Studio Pro Annual License
• 1 FREE Writer’s Room 6-Month Membership

These are the exact tools that help you prepare the way Evan recommends — with confidence, clarity, and a writer’s brain that’s ready for any room.

At the end of the month, we’ll announce one Grand Prize Winner who will take home a Lifetime Arc Studio Pro License, a resource built to grow with you through every draft, every rewrite, and every career milestone ahead.

Congratulations to Our Week Three Winner!

A huge congratulations to Adam Spencer!

Adam, Ashley from our Stage 32 team will reach out to you today with more details. Incredible work — and keep going. Every week is another chance to level up, connect, and surprise yourself.

Your Week Four Write Club Challenges

Complete the three challenges below to be entered into this week’s prizes — and use this as a chance to practice the exact skills Evan says make a writer unforgettable in the room:

• Comment on this blog: Share one idea or moment from Evan’s post that hit home for you. Was it about confidence? Inspiration? Knowing your script inside and out? Asking better questions? Tell us what clicked — and why.
• Post in the Stage 32 Screenwriting Lounge: Start a thread that puts Evan’s advice into action. You could share: Why you wrote your current script, one meaningful question you’d ask a manager if you had a meeting tomorrow, what you’re doing to strengthen your confidence and preparation, or use this space the way you’d use a pitch room — to show your voice, your passion, and your curiosity.
• Comment on at least three other members’ posts: Respond thoughtfully. Ask follow-up questions. Notice what stands out in their pitch or their voice. The same qualities that matter in a meeting — curiosity, engagement, generosity — matter here too.

Remember: Hollywood wants you to succeed. Managers like Evan want you to succeed. The Stage 32 Team wants you to succeed.

And November Write Club is your chance to practice showing up like the writer who’s ready for that “yes.”

Let’s close out the month strong. You’ve done the work — now keep putting it into motion.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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