A writer might enter a fresh wave of screenwriting competitions every year in the hopes of drawing greater attention to their spec work. A-list management agencies view the winning screenplays from some of these yearly competitions, such as the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, which has helped several screenwriters land representation and start their careers. But there is fierce rivalry, and many of these challenges draw authors from all across the world. Before spending money to join a contest, a writer should take the effort to ensure that their script is as script contests friendly as possible. This will improve their chances of placing in or winning the contest.
The five steps to getting ready for a screenplay competition are listed below:
Possess Formatting Standards for the Industry
Many budding screenwriters submit their screenplays to contests without the correct formatting, which may seem apparent to some. According to what I’ve been informed, the initial round of many contests is devoted to readers weeding out screenplays that aren’t prepared correctly. Therefore, make sure your script follows industry-standard formatting if you want to ensure it passes the first round. A prospective screenwriter should read several recently created screenplays and see how they are written in addition to purchasing screenwriting software, which automatically formats your work to industry standards. Your script has a higher chance of being read thoroughly and favorably if you can make it appear more professional.
Obtain Input Prior to
You should acquire some feedback on your spec script before submitting it to a contest. You should give it to at least one person whose opinion you value, whether that person is a friend, partner, or family member (maybe even two or three individuals). Be open to their comments once they’ve read your script, and if they raised concerns that you agree with, revise it. Give it careful attention if you’re getting input from a number of individuals and they all had the same problem they felt needed to be fixed; if they all agreed, then others probably do too.
Work in a Set Amount of Time
The majority of contests have deadlines for entries; if you miss them, you’ll have to wait until the next year. As a result, you should investigate the opening and closing times of the submission window. The benefit of setting a deadline is that it provides a set amount of time to work within, which frequently aids in a writer’s productivity. Each writer has a distinct rate of completion; some may complete a script in a few months, while others may require a whole year. In light of this, establish a personal work schedule that allows you ample time to compose the script, revise it in response to any comments you get, and then join the contest.
Ensure your script passes technical review.
All right. You’re prepared to submit your spec work to a screenwriting competition after completing the aforementioned procedures, but wait! Make one last technical pass and proofread your script. Check for formatting irregularities as well as spelling and grammar mistakes. Once more, it’s critical to make your work appear as polished as possible so that it will be viewed more favorably. Before submitting your script, make sure it is in the best possible condition because you have put a lot of effort into it and will soon be spending money to enter the contest.
Observe the contest guidelines.
Rules and submission requirements will vary from one screenplay competition to the next. You may often read them on the website of the contest to which you are submitting. The majority of screenwriting competitions provide a variety of categories and subcategories for participants to choose from. For instance, the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest offers both television and feature categories, as well as subcategories for various genres. Before submitting your script, make sure you’re choosing the correct category. If you’re unsure about the genre, do some internet study. For example, if you created a Romantic Comedy, submit it under Comedy/Rom-Com; if you wrote a Science Fiction script, submit it under Sci-Fi/Fantasy; and so on.
Nonetheless, some authors may have a genre-bending script that incorporates themes or motifs from other genres (such as a horror-comedy). Choosing how to publish your script in situations like these isn’t always simple. If your script is a Horror-Comedy and it’s a bit more humorous than frightening, it could do well in the Comedy/Rom-Com area. In general, consider the tone of your work and the genre aspects that are most prominent. Readers of contests are typically allowed to read the genres they like, thus it’s probable that the person reading will enjoy the type you chose when you submitted. This is yet another reason why choosing the appropriate subcategory for your script is crucial: you want to ensure that the readers are lovers of the kind of script you authored.
Participants can choose from a variety of categories and subcategories in the majority of screenwriting competitions. This can occasionally be a useful strategy if you want to boost the law of averages of your placing or victory and encourage more people to read your script. However, if your script actually doesn’t fit within the subcategory you’re submitting it under, it’s not a good idea. Once more, the script will presumably be read by genre lovers, who will likely reject it if it doesn’t accurately reflect the genre.
That’s it!
You’ve written and revised your script, conducted all the required research, and chosen the category and subcategory to submit it to. Regardless of the result, finishing a story and releasing it to the public is a significant first step in becoming a screenwriter.