When getting screenwriting notes, "Never do the three D's. Defend. Deny or Debate. Just don't do them." - Craig Mazin. This was from his "Thriving Through Development" workshop at the WGA many years ago. Some of the best advice I ever received. Wish I got it 20 years earlier!

I've been with most major agencies and five managers over 28 years. CAA | UTA | ICM | Paradigm | Gersh x2 | Anonymous Content | Brillstein | Circle I've been around! Unfortunately. I can assure you that having no rep for your screenwriting is better than having the 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 rep. It's counterintuitive because sometimes it feels like legitimacy is tied to representation. But it's not. Not only is the wrong rep ineffective, frustrating, and demoralizing, but you're also unavailable if the right rep does come along. And the right rep CAN make a difference. The right rep at the right time CAN be night and day in your career. But it's not a guarantee, and it's always best to rely on yourself. You don't have to partner with the first person who expresses interest. Follow your gut if it doesn't feel right. I didn't always, and I wasted some good years because of it. In that situation, your gut is almost certainly right. (Note: I wasted far more years being self-destructive than from a rep that was a bad fit, but that is a different topic entirely.)