Maybe you’ve started or finished writing a feature screenplay or television pilot. 

Perhaps you’re still at the brainstorming stage. 

No matter what stage of the writing process you’re at, you might plan to enter your script into a screenwriting contest like the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest (which offers various prizes including meetings with top management companies). Big Break also has top industry judges that will decide what scripts win, but there are also readers — as with most screenwriting contests — that will decide what scripts advance in each round. These readers are likewise industry professionals; many of them being script readers for film studios or production companies and a handful are working screenwriters.

Although not all readers for screenwriting contests are as mindful of marketplace trends and sellability as managers, many will be weighing-in these factors when deciding if a script should make it to the next round or not. There are also fundamental attributes to a well-written script that will work for many readers, regardless of whether they’re thinking on commercial or creative terms. A script with all or some of these attributes is more likely to advance in a screenwriting contest and possibly win in its selected category. 

Below are 5 Ways To Win a Screenwriting Contest in which I breakdown the most important attributes:

1. Make the Reader See Your Story

Whether you’re writing a feature screenplay or TV pilot, the primary thing you should try to accomplish is to make the reader see your story. Film and television are visual art forms, so it’s vital your script conjures images in the reader’s mind and causes them to visualize the drama and action playing out on the page.

There are many ways to accomplish this. First and foremost, without overdoing it, be detailed in your description and give it some lived-in color and nuance. You should be able to visualize the world you’re creating and know what your characters and settings look like. At the same time, you don’t want to overdo it and make your world too dense and complicated: clearly defined simplicity is the way to go. Think of an image and describe it in your own words.

Cinematic formatting also helps the reader to see your story. Describe how your characters are reacting to things and create atmosphere and mood. Think of every line as a camera shot (without using technical jargon, which is unfashionable these days). Space out your action and make your words leap from the page!

Sylvester Stallone in 'Rocky'

2. Inspire an Emotional Response

Emotion is a powerful thing. If you can make the reader feel something, your script has a better chance of making an impact on them. This is why it’s important for your script to inspire an emotional response in the person reading it.

Human beings have many different emotions: some broader (e.g., joy, fear), others more nuanced (e.g., intrigue, anxiety). I’d argue that tapping into any kind of emotion — even if it’s a negative one — is better than making the reader feel nothing. For example, fear might be considered a negative emotion in most situations, yet people flock to horror movies because they enjoy being scared (at very least, in the confines of a safe, imaginative framework).

One of the best ways to inspire an emotional response in your reader is via your characters. Your characters — especially your protagonist — should act as emotional surrogates for the reader and reflect the feelings you want to stir. The more defined your characters, the more readers will feel what they feel. Regardless of the genre, have a pronounced emotional through line in your story and make sure your characters’ emotions are being tracked throughout.

3. Tackle Relevant and Topical Issues

Another way to win a screenwriting contest is to write a script that tackles relevant and topical issues.

By addressing or reflecting real-world topics that are being discussed today (e.g., the culture war, globalization, A.I.), your script will not only potentially stir emotions, it’ll make the reader feel like your script is saying something about our world and society and not simply looking to entertain. However, entertainment factor should still be present: it’s all about striking the perfect balance.

There’s always a danger of writing something that’s too heavy-handed or “preachy,” if you turn your script into a soap box for your own beliefs and merely have your characters spouting out what you think about a certain topic. Ideally, you want to reflect what’s going on and around you and integrate it into your story when appropriate to your narrative. Never forget: you’re telling a story, even if it’s a timely one. A topical script that’s well-balanced is more likely to connect with more readers and surpass the competition.

4. Know Your Genre

Something I always stress whenever discussing screenwriting contests is knowing your genre. 

Most screenwriting contests have different categories and subcategories to enter (for example Big Break has feature and television categories and then subcategories for different genres). 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 definitely increases 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.

5. Exhibit Your Voice

Finally, your script will stick out from the others if it exhibits your voice as a writer.

Your voice is the X factor that sometimes can give a script the edge it needs to distinguish itself. It’s putting your personality into your script: your worldview, your sensibility, your taste and your influences. In short, it’s inserting your unique spin or approach to a genre and making it read less stock and formulaic.

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So to sum up: you’re more likely to win a screenwriting contest if you make the reader see your story, inspire an emotional response, tackle relevant or topical issues, know your genre and exhibit your voice as a writer. A script with these attributes has a far better chance of winning and leading to your big break!