5 Ways To Get Your Script Contest Ready
March 3, 2025
Every year there’s a new wave of screenwriting contests that a screenwriter can enter in the hopes of getting more eyes on their feature screenplay or TV pilot. Some of these annual contests, like Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, show winning scripts to A-list management companies and it’s led to many screenwriters getting representation and launching a career.
However, these contests attract writers from around the world and there is some stiff competition. You should take the time to make sure your script is “contest ready” before investing money to enter one. This will increase your chances of placing in or winning the contest and perhaps launching a screenwriting career.
Below are 5 Ways To Get Your Script Contest Ready:
1. Know Your Genre
Every screenwriting contest is going to have its own set of rules and submission guidelines. They’re available to read on the contest’s website you’ll be submitting to. Most screenwriting contests have different categories and subcategories to enter (for example Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest has feature and television categories and then subcategories for different genres).
This is one of the reasons why you need to know your genre. Not only do you want to make sure you’re writing something that’s suited for one of the contest’s subcategories, it helps to get you a receptive audience. In most cases, contest readers are given the option to read the genres they prefer. Horror fans are likely to be reading horror scripts, comedy fans are likely to be reading comedies, etc. So knowing your genre will increase your chances of winning.
Some writers might have a script that’s genre-bending and it contains tropes or elements from various genres (e.g., a Horror-Comedy). This is perfectly fine, but you should know what genre element is the most pronounced. For example, if your script is a Horror-Comedy and it’s a little funnier than it is scary, it might fare better in the Comedy/Rom-Com category.
Most screenwriting contests allow people to enter into multiple categories and subcategories. Sometimes this can be a good tactic if you’re looking to get more eyes on your script and increase the law of averages of you placing or winning. Still, it’s not advisable if your script truly doesn’t fit into the subcategory you’re entering it into. Once again, fans of the genre will likely be reading the script and if it doesn’t truly represent the genre, they’ll probably pass on it.
2. Have Industry Standard Formatting
This might seem obvious to some people, but many beginner screenwriters enter scripts into contests without the proper formatting. In fact, the first round of most contests is devoted to readers filtering out the scripts that aren’t formatted properly. This is why it’s essential to have industry standard formatting.
In addition to investing in screenwriting software (which automatically formats your script to industry standards), you should take the time to read some recently produced scripts and study how they’re formatted. You should also be aware of the latest formatting trends (e.g. bold scene headings; very few transitions) and make your script as easy to read as possible.
Also make sure your script is the appropriate length. Because scripts have to abide by industry standard formatting, they also have to abide by a “one page = one minute” rule. You should watch movies or TV shows similar to what you’re writing and take note of their running time. Most feature films run between 90 to 120 minutes (and this number should be reflected in your page count). If you enter a script into a contest that’s over 150 pages, it’s sure to be disqualified.
The more professional you make your script look, the better its chances will be at getting through the first round and receiving a positive read in subsequent rounds.
3. Get Feedback
Before entering your script into a contest, you should get feedback on it. Whether it’s a friend, partner or family member, you should give it to at least one person whose opinion you value.
After they read your script, be receptive to their feedback and if they brought up issues that you agree with, give your script another pass. If you’re receiving feedback from multiple people and everyone has the same issue they thought needed addressing, give it serious consideration. If they all thought this way, others are likely to think the same way, including contest script readers.
Receiving feedback and addressing notes with a rewrite or polish is not only a great way to get your script contest ready, it’ll help you to grow as a screenwriter.
4. Check Your Spelling and Grammar
A typo here or there isn’t likely to spoil your chances of advancing in a contest, but if there’s poor spelling and grammar throughout your script, that’s a different story.
In the same way formatting allows a reader to quickly ascertain the level of professionalism and skill of a screenwriter, spelling and grammar are also telltale signs of whether or not this person is serious about their craft. If you’re using screenwriting software, it couldn’t be easier to run a spellcheck and Final Draft offers integration with Grammarly: a desktop app that helps writers edit and proofread their work. Grammarly reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement and delivery mistakes in English texts, detects plagiarism and suggests replacements for the identified errors.
Sometimes a spellcheck won’t spot a word that’s not misspelled but misused, and there might be a few cases where you’ve taken creative license with a certain word or phrase (e.g. if you’re using slang). Because of this, even after using the above tools, it’s a good idea to thoroughly proofread your script.
5. Do a Technical Pass of Your Script
After doing a thorough proofread, you should do one last technical pass of your script. In addition to any spelling or grammatical errors you might’ve missed, look for any formatting inconsistencies. Final Draft also has the Format Assistant tool, which automatically finds and fixes any formatting errors or irregularities.
Once again, it’s important to have your script look as professional as possible before entering it into a contest. You’ve invested a lot of time into this endeavor and soon you’ll be investing money to enter the screenwriting competition. Take the time to make sure your script is in the greatest shape it can be in before finally sending it off.
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Knowing your genre, having industry standard formatting, getting feedback, checking spelling and grammar, and doing a technical pass are all ways to get your script contest ready. After doing so, you can feel confident that you’re submitting a script that might place or win. Good luck and fingers crossed.
