How do I contact author William Goldman?

March 1, 2007 4:42 PM

The author of THE PRINCESS BRIDE and BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID doesn't have a website or any other presence on the web. I'd like to write to him. It's not so easy as simply writing to his publisher, as he isn't releasing novels or nonfiction these days, so I'm not sure who his publisher would be. Apparently he's spending his twilight years touching up screenplays for other writers. At any rate, I'd like to send him a letter. He lives in New York. Sadly, "William Goldman" is a fairly common name in NYC, so my search isn't getting very far.
posted by jackypaper to writing & language (31 comments total)

The Princess Bride is still in print, I believe by one (or more) of Random House's imprints. Your could hit their site, search for the book to find a relevant publisher. If you search for "contact author" they also have guidelines for how to address the letter for a given publisher. I would imagine Mr. Goldman would do his best not to make his home address too accessible.
posted by nanojath at 4:53 PM on March 1, 2007

According to this page, his literary agent is CAA. You can contact them at:

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
9830 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA
posted by scody at 4:56 PM on March 1, 2007

Things are just so much easier when an author maintains a website, and I can just hit EMAIL ME. Then they don't have to divulge home addresses, and I don't have to buy a stamp. . .
posted by jackypaper at 4:57 PM on March 1, 2007

the following page gives his agent's details, but I can't vouch for its accuracy: http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/williamgoldman/index.htm
posted by davemack at 5:06 PM on March 1, 2007

apologies to scody for duplicating your information, I delayed posting my comment, by which time you'd beaten me to the punch -- I should have checked.
posted by davemack at 5:10 PM on March 1, 2007

I could be wrong but I think in Which Lie Did I Tell he mentions the street he lives on. Might narrow your phone book search, though thru his agent is probably best.

If you want to know the specific agent to contact, call the Writers Guild of America. They'll give you the info free. However, I think CAA gets all agents on all clients--though I may be mixing it up with a diff agency.
posted by dobbs at 5:26 PM on March 1, 2007

Go through the agent. He's findable in NY, but it's less creepy to go through channels. Try marking the envelope "personal and confidential" maybe?

I hope you'll follow his recommendation in "Adventures in the Screen Trade" as to how to get his attention as an aspiring screenwriter.
posted by Phred182 at 5:32 PM on March 1, 2007

Publishers routinely forward mail to authors. Write him c/o whomever. Whether he's currently writing is of no consequence; he's currently in print, isn't he?
posted by mcwetboy at 5:32 PM on March 1, 2007

Phred182: I'm not a screenwriter (university editor, actually), and I haven't read "Adventures." I honestly just want to write and plead for a new novel, as he hasn't released one in 20 years.

He once wrote: "It ain't about inspiration. It's about going into a room alone and doing it."

I've always liked that.
posted by jackypaper at 5:56 PM on March 1, 2007

he's also the author of "Goodwill Hunting."

But yeah, try his agency.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:56 PM on March 1, 2007

This FAQ includes the question "How do I contact William Goldman?"

Unfortunately, it appears to be missing the answer. :)
posted by designbot at 6:04 PM on March 1, 2007

Goodwill Hunting was written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They won the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay.
posted by designbot at 6:07 PM on March 1, 2007

As mcwetboy said, you should be able to write him at any of the publishers currently printing his work, and it doesn't matter which one: they've all got to send him royalty checks, after all.

As for dobbs's suggestion, even knowing the street he's on may not help---setting aside everything else, he might not be listed!
posted by FlyingMonkey at 6:19 PM on March 1, 2007

Call the publisher! They will say in their message when fans should write their authors. Another thing you could do is call your local radio station and ask them if they had thought of interviewing this guy, it could lead to a story and then you could tell your friends it was you who got him on the air. I would help you out, unfortunately, my show is about religion not cowboys or hot princesses.
posted by parmanparman at 6:22 PM on March 1, 2007

Designbot: I think Goldman doctored that script.
posted by jackypaper at 6:22 PM on March 1, 2007

CAA moved.

2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
posted by bcnarc at 6:30 PM on March 1, 2007

IMDB:

At a WGA seminar in 2003, William Goldman denied the persistent rumor that he was the actual writer of Good Will Hunting: "I would love to say that I wrote it. Here is the truth. In my obit it will say that I wrote it. People don't want to think those two cute guys wrote it. What happened was, they had the script. It was their script."

posted by designbot at 6:36 PM on March 1, 2007

The "About The Author" page on the site designbot links to gives the following address:

William Goldman
c/o The Ballantine Publishing Group
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

posted by winston at 6:45 PM on March 1, 2007

I believe you can find his contact information by writing the Writers Guild (visit their website).

I have contacted and interview several filmmakers through the Directos Guild...
posted by cinemafiend at 6:47 PM on March 1, 2007

Note that I don't know how current that web site is (but I guess Ballantine would at least be forwarding it to him)
posted by winston at 6:47 PM on March 1, 2007

I'm told that he lives in a fantastic apartment on Park Avenue in New York, because a friend of mine was his lawyer and visited him there once. From his descriptions, it sounded like Sherman McCoy's penthouse in "Bonfire of the Vanities." My friend's a little too discreet to give out any more information, unfortunately, but I guess that's what you want in your lawyer.
posted by chinston at 6:56 PM on March 1, 2007

I honestly just want to write and plead for a new novel, as he hasn't released one in 20 years.

He once wrote: "It ain't about inspiration. It's about going into a room alone and doing it."

When I was an undergraduate at Cornell about 5 years ago now, John Cleese was the professor-at-large and he brought Mr. Goldman to campus for a seminar / lecture dealy.

He said two things that really stuck with me: 1) exactly this, that writing is all about perspiration for him, not inspiration. His "process" is to lock himself in a room by himself with nothing but a typewriter in it and force himself to write. 2) He is incredibly shy and sensitive, especially about his work. I got the sense that talking about it was literally painful for him, let alone the actual process of writing, which from his description sounded like torture for him.

So I can imagine that its possible that he hasn't written a novel in 20 years because it hurts too much to, or at least the review and editing and judgment process hurts too much.

Anyway, I guess I say all that to say this: William Goldman is the quintessential sensitive, lonely, reclusive writer and I would strongly encourage you not to do something strange and stalker-ish and just go through the usual channels and if he doesn't want to be contacted to simply accept that and move on. I have no special connection to him, and really no place saying any of this at all, other than that I know many artists and like to be protective of them.

Good luck! Post an update if he writes back.
posted by ChasFile at 7:20 PM on March 1, 2007

I mean, I know several artists like Mr. Goldman, and again most sincerely want nothing more than to be left alone.
posted by ChasFile at 7:23 PM on March 1, 2007

Yes, just write to his publisher or his agent; they'll forward the letter on. That really is the traditional way of doing things. I am sure he knows about Teh Intarnets; if he wanted to be contacted that way, or directly to his home address, he would have his information out there (as many other authors have done). That it isn't, shows he is not open to being contacted that way. Respect that.

But taking the time to write out a letter, and get a stamp, and send it to his agent or publisher as is the professional, traditional, and respectful way to do things, and actually do all that 'work' that you say is so much harder than just clicking 'email me'... if you -do- that, and send him a physical letter (rare in these days of email), you will very likely:

1. Brighten his day immensely (provided you lather on praise and ONLY praise, and pleading is fine; he sounds like a very sensitive and fragile soul so this is NOT the time for 'constructive criticism'..)

2. Greatly encourage the chances of a response, an actual words-on-paper original response, from the man himself. Possibly even in his own handwriting. There's no collector value in a screenful of pixels. A SASE is not necessary but might be a nice gesture; but it's usually expected that Letters to Famous Authors are not expected to be answered, just as Orlando Bloom doesn't answer all his fan mail. If he does answer, you may consider yourself really priviledged.
posted by Rubber Soul at 8:35 PM on March 1, 2007

By which I mean to say... if you do the effort of sending him a paper letter, it will prove that you really, really care about contacting him, and that will make a better impression. Anyone can just point and click, but to show that you are willing to take the steps to contact him is a compliment in itself.
posted by Rubber Soul at 8:41 PM on March 1, 2007

He is also almost always a Guest of Honor speaker at Screenwriting Expo, and usually teaches an actual class there as well. He was very nice. Not outgoing, but not in the category of people who seem like they shouldn't leave their houses.
posted by Mozzie at 9:41 PM on March 1, 2007

When will the "author of Good Will Hunting" rumor die? Goldman himself dispels it in Which Lie Did I Tell? He did not even doctor the script. He merely talked with the writers for a bit.

Also, on the commentary for Panic Room (which he also didn't write), he says that he is very happy making a living as a script doctor and has no plans to go back to writing original material, which he hasn't done in 2 decades or something like that.

If you have not read his non-fiction, you should check it out--Adventures in the Screen Trade and Which Lie Did I Tell? are the best of them.
posted by dobbs at 9:55 PM on March 1, 2007

try zaba - halfway thrugh looks about right
posted by growabrain at 10:16 PM on March 1, 2007

What ChasFile said, especially the part about "I would strongly encourage you not to do something strange and stalker-ish." If all you want to do is ask him to write another novel, I'm not sure it's worth the trouble; writer's block, laziness, or whatever is going on is not going to be cured by another fan letter. But your attitude seems a little lackadaisical anyway:

Things are just so much easier when an author maintains a website, and I can just hit EMAIL ME

Reminds me of Oblomov wishing he could have a relationship with a nice girl without going to the trouble of getting out of bed.
posted by languagehat at 7:17 AM on March 2, 2007

A politely-worded, brief, non-"fannish" (that is, no slathering of excessive hyperbolic praise that is more about your enthusiasm than the quality of his work) note is best. Don't expect a personal reply from a writer as famous (and in as late a stage of his career) as Goldman. Not to be rude, but if your sole motivation is to send the message that he should write more novels -- I am certain that he already gets constant encouragement to do that by close friends, trusted agents, and respected editors galore. This isn't a guy who managed to publish an obscure, largely-ignored first novel and is now wondering whether to get a day job, for whom your supportive note could tip the scale toward more writing -- he's a multiple Academy Award-winning writer who long ago accomplished more than most writers could ever dream of.

Also, if Goldman is particularly quiet and sensitive, and finds the writing process difficult (as ChasFile mentions), it's almost certain that he also finds the chore of piles of fan letters and correspondence difficult as well, and that a paid assistant will read your note and send you a standard thank-you. If that happens, don't be sad or resentful about it -- the man has earned his peace and quiet, if that's what he wants, don't you think?
posted by aught at 7:22 AM on March 2, 2007

I've worked with Goldman. He wrote the foreword for a book I edited. Our interactions were only over the phone and I found him to be a very nice man. If your letter is one of priase and admiration, and not particularly stalker-ish, I believe he would appreciate it. Call the main Writers Guild number in Los Angeles and ask for "representation" and they will tell you the name of his agent and can also verify the address for you. The agent (or more likely his/her assistant) will forward the letter to him. You will have better results with the agent than with the publisher - the agent deals with him more regularly.
posted by ljshapiro at 12:49 PM on March 2, 2007 [1 favorite]