Sunday 29 April 2012

Screenwriting Contests

By Dustin Faulkner


It is quite normal for new screenwriters to encounter a lot of disappointments and frustration when they start on their career, but they will also tell you it's all worth it in the end. It can be frustrating though to mail manuscripts out and have them be turned down. Sometimes a screenwriter will find their materials land into the right hands but it can be a stroke of luck. For the most part though, contests are the best avenue for young, struggling writers to get their name known.

There are plenty of them taking place all the time all over the world. Not only would they gain a good reputation, they also get the cash reward and maybe even get their work considered into a movie, or better yet get a job with a production outfit. It is in the best interest of a screenwriter to submit their work to as many of these contests as possible.

To find a full listing of screenwriting contests, a person only needs to explore the internet. Make sure you pay very close attention to the rules and guidelines of each contest. See if you meet the requirements first. Some of these contests are only open to those that have never been published. Think of the wasted time and effort if you find out that you that you're not even eligible for the contest after you have gone through the whole process of entering.

Make sure you're aware when you have to submit our entry. Don't even consider being late on your submission, you can forget about the contest if you do. If you are limited to a certain number of words or pages then make sure your work follows that. Formatting is also important, so make sure you used the right format for your work.

Screenwriting contests can be the door you have been waiting for to get your work recognized. Finances are most probably tight since you're only starting, and the cash prize could help you a lot. Contests like these are normally backed by known people in the show business. It's one way for them to get acquainted with young promising writers. Keep this in mind so you can get the attention of some very important people.

You do need to be careful about screenwriting contest scams though. Some of them will ask you to submit an entry fee. Better avoid these kinds of contests because they might just be stealing your money. Any legitimate contest for screenwriting should be free for contestants to enter.




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