Coverfly writer Michael Schwartz signed with a literary manager at Navigation Media Group after the Coverfly team introduced him.

What initially drew you to screenwriting?

As a kid, I was fascinated by the construction of a scene - What made something funny, heartbreaking or suspenseful? My family, friends and I would watch movies - Goonies, Top Gun, Spaceballs - and write down the dialogue so that later, we could reenact various scenes, personalizing them, sprinkling in ad-libs of our own. I soon realized that screenwriting could grant my communities and I two wonderful things: a responsibility to tell the stories we wanted to see, and an opportunity to tell them in ways of our own.

What has been the biggest obstacle you've encountered so far in your screenwriting career?

Honestly, just getting people to read my work. (And reading is what? FUNDAMENTAL.) Most people don't have time to read (or they say that because they don't like to read. Both totally valid!) So I've found that crafting the pitch - faster to read, easier to digest - can be just as important as the script itself.

How did Coverfly help you in your screenwriting journey?

After one of my TV pilots, Senior High, placed Top 5 in Final Draft's Big Break, [the Coverfly team] reached out to chat about my writing, my goals, and how Coverfly might be able to help. (You never know how a loss might lead to a win. If you keep going, they usually do!) Geoffroy was so smart, so encouraging, so thoughtful. Throughout the year, we kept our conversation going. He had me featured as an Endorsed Writer across Coverfly's channels, and together we built a strategy of actionable steps I could take towards securing representation. His sound boarding and advocacy brought unparalleled value to my writing career. We all need champions. I'll be forever grateful.

If you could give a writer currently at where you were a year ago one bit of advice, what would it be?

Lose the meekness. Don't wait for permission. Keep writing what you love and share, share, share.