I've really been looking forward to this. Thanks for the work of tracking and crunching all the info, Scott.

Good news all round, if spec sales are still high! And to echo Shaula, thanks for collating this info: a tremendous resource for writers.

No writer working to break into HWD should be even close to the mindset of the so called market being down. Brainstorm for that concept-idea for the global masses; structure out the writing for solid completion; do the actual writing and rewrites and DO NOT think your work is golden; research and send out queries; send out scripts to responses as well as fests...and start again. Marketplaces change; and no one knows jack about anything in HWD. Just do the legit work other storytellers have done before and stay out of your own way.

Mark, I agree. As hackneyed as the old saying goes, it's true: "If you write a great script, Hollywood will come looking for YOU." That said, I do believe it can be important for a screenwriter to track trends and sales, if only to make sure you aren't working on a story precisely like one that just sold. Besides when you work as a writer in Hollywood, you need to know what's selling in order to be informed for conversations with your reps, producers, studio execs, etc.

What was surprising to me was that after this year's very strong start, as soon as June/July arrived all buying just stopped.