Contest Advice for Screenplay Writers
Anyone who’s written a screenplay is familiar with the daunting
task of ‘what comes next.’ Usually, the next step is entering a contest. But
first, you must read our essential contest advice for screenplay writers.
Heed these words of wisdom and warning, and you’ll soon find yourself sitting next to Spielberg, on top of a mountain of cash. Okay, maybe that won’t happen. He must keep his cash in a bank somewhere.
But you get the picture.
First, if you’re thinking about entering contests, do your research. Not every screenplay contest offers its winners industry exposure, so even if you win Joe-Next-Door’s Scriptravaganza, your screenplay might not be any closer to winning an Oscar.
That said don’t discount smaller contests. If they’ve got good reviews and reputable sponsors, these contests could be your best chances at winning. Fewer contestants means less competition – so keep that in mind!
I guess that’s our first bit of contest advice for screenplay writers – choose your contests carefully! Read on for more helpful nuggets…
Know Your Audience
So you’ve written the most amazing hybrid of Dumb and Dumber and Star Trek. That’s good for you and someone will probably love it. But be careful where you submit to!
Scripts like this don’t have a fighting chance in some of the bigger competitions. Contests like the Nicholls Fellowship, for instance, typically select winners with impactful, unique stories. So unless your hybrid has some sort of social message about two idiots invading space, save it for another competition.
And there are plenty of other options to choose from. Contests like the PAGE awards and have genre specific categories, so you can enter Dumb and Captain Kirkier in the COMEDY category, and have a way better chance at winning. Plus, smaller contests offer way better odds for entrants. So don't automatically discount a competition just because it doesn't draw thousands of competitors. That can be a good thing!
Still, there is no contest as helpful to aspiring screenwriters than the Nicholls. So if you’re going to try to ‘make it’ via a contest, maybe you should focus on a more meaningful story.
Finally, always search previous years winners for any contest you’re planning to enter. In many cases, you might be able to get a hold of the actual winning script. Read it! But no matter what, if your script is tonally, structurally, or conceptually similar (but not too similar…) to a previous winner of the contest you’re considering, you probably have a better chance of placing in that competition.
Know Your Prizes
Unfortunately for most of us broke writers, entering contests costs money. So you’re going to want to get a lot of bang for your buck.
If you’re looking to get eyes on your script, you should focus on industry exposure prizes. Script Pipeline is one example of a contest that offers agent/ producer consultations to their winners. This is always good, because while nobody’s promising you a million dollar spec purchase, at least somebody will be looking at your work.
On the other hand, other contests offer big monetary awards. This is nothing to sneeze at. The Blue Cat Competition, for instance, offers cash and a MacBook pro or Final Draft Software. Those are great for starting screenwriters, and maybe money is more important than exposure for you right now anyways.
Our final bit of contest advice for screenplay writers: When it comes to choosing your contest, decide based on your own needs and wants.
Know Your Script
By that, we mean make sure your script is good. Don’t submit a first draft that has more typos than pages.
And don’t submit a script that you had planned on directing yourself – contest readers are often very picky. They will be annoyed by camera direction, ‘we see’ or anything of the like. So cut it out, or just go ahead and make the flick already!
Also - polish your script as much as you can. When it comes to screenplay contests, you’d be amazed how many submissions are riddled with simple errors. These mistakes can hold even the most compelling story back.
So if your script is written in good English and isn’t a hundred and eighty pages long, you’ve got a chance to at least become a semi-finalist.
Lastly, get feedback before submitting. Get a friend (or Script Quack) to give you some feedback. Listen to their notes, use what resonates, and take the time to do a solid rewrite before you submit.
So that is our contest advice for screenplay writers. Listen to these simple words of wisdom and dramatically increase your chances at winning!
Heed these words of wisdom and warning, and you’ll soon find yourself sitting next to Spielberg, on top of a mountain of cash. Okay, maybe that won’t happen. He must keep his cash in a bank somewhere.
But you get the picture.
First, if you’re thinking about entering contests, do your research. Not every screenplay contest offers its winners industry exposure, so even if you win Joe-Next-Door’s Scriptravaganza, your screenplay might not be any closer to winning an Oscar.
That said don’t discount smaller contests. If they’ve got good reviews and reputable sponsors, these contests could be your best chances at winning. Fewer contestants means less competition – so keep that in mind!
I guess that’s our first bit of contest advice for screenplay writers – choose your contests carefully! Read on for more helpful nuggets…
Know Your Audience
So you’ve written the most amazing hybrid of Dumb and Dumber and Star Trek. That’s good for you and someone will probably love it. But be careful where you submit to!
Scripts like this don’t have a fighting chance in some of the bigger competitions. Contests like the Nicholls Fellowship, for instance, typically select winners with impactful, unique stories. So unless your hybrid has some sort of social message about two idiots invading space, save it for another competition.
And there are plenty of other options to choose from. Contests like the PAGE awards and have genre specific categories, so you can enter Dumb and Captain Kirkier in the COMEDY category, and have a way better chance at winning. Plus, smaller contests offer way better odds for entrants. So don't automatically discount a competition just because it doesn't draw thousands of competitors. That can be a good thing!
Still, there is no contest as helpful to aspiring screenwriters than the Nicholls. So if you’re going to try to ‘make it’ via a contest, maybe you should focus on a more meaningful story.
Finally, always search previous years winners for any contest you’re planning to enter. In many cases, you might be able to get a hold of the actual winning script. Read it! But no matter what, if your script is tonally, structurally, or conceptually similar (but not too similar…) to a previous winner of the contest you’re considering, you probably have a better chance of placing in that competition.
Know Your Prizes
Unfortunately for most of us broke writers, entering contests costs money. So you’re going to want to get a lot of bang for your buck.
If you’re looking to get eyes on your script, you should focus on industry exposure prizes. Script Pipeline is one example of a contest that offers agent/ producer consultations to their winners. This is always good, because while nobody’s promising you a million dollar spec purchase, at least somebody will be looking at your work.
On the other hand, other contests offer big monetary awards. This is nothing to sneeze at. The Blue Cat Competition, for instance, offers cash and a MacBook pro or Final Draft Software. Those are great for starting screenwriters, and maybe money is more important than exposure for you right now anyways.
Our final bit of contest advice for screenplay writers: When it comes to choosing your contest, decide based on your own needs and wants.
Know Your Script
By that, we mean make sure your script is good. Don’t submit a first draft that has more typos than pages.
And don’t submit a script that you had planned on directing yourself – contest readers are often very picky. They will be annoyed by camera direction, ‘we see’ or anything of the like. So cut it out, or just go ahead and make the flick already!
Also - polish your script as much as you can. When it comes to screenplay contests, you’d be amazed how many submissions are riddled with simple errors. These mistakes can hold even the most compelling story back.
So if your script is written in good English and isn’t a hundred and eighty pages long, you’ve got a chance to at least become a semi-finalist.
Lastly, get feedback before submitting. Get a friend (or Script Quack) to give you some feedback. Listen to their notes, use what resonates, and take the time to do a solid rewrite before you submit.
So that is our contest advice for screenplay writers. Listen to these simple words of wisdom and dramatically increase your chances at winning!