Cut to writers and . . . fade to book

Then there's the money, which is generally lousy, with a few exceptions (such as Tom Wolfe's recently announced $7-million advance). Smith was paid what can be charitably called a low five-figure advance for his first novel, and his payout has hovered around that level since. "If your previous novel didn't sell, the publisher isn't inclined to give you a bigger advance."

To pay the bills, he's been teaching and helping edit a custom-published magazine. There are also occasional copy-writing gigs.

"I feel really lucky that I have a book agent and a publisher who believe in me and I can still keep writing the stories I want to tell, even if it means I have to pick up other jobs to supplement my income," Smith said. "But it's not easy. That's the truth."

There's also the small matter of time. Scripts can gestate quickly, sometimes within weeks. A novel can take years to write, and even then it may only be a first draft. "It takes me two years just to get the manuscript into good enough shape for my agent and editor to look at," Smith said.

The hope is the books will eventually find a large audience, and Smith, Jennewein, Strick and their like will make a decent living from that sweat equity. "My editor tells me that it took Carl Hiaasen six books before he hit, and Elmore Leonard waited 30 books into his career," Smith said.

In the end it may be Hollywood that helps him sell books -- a couple of producers have optioned "Moist" for Barry Sonnenfeld to direct. "You don't make a lot of money in publishing unless you're wildly successful," Jennewein said. "But it's freed us of the shackles of one medium and opened up another."