Maybe you’ve started writing a feature film screenplay or TV pilot, but you don’t have an end goal yet? Or you’ve finished your script, but you don’t know what to do with it? 

Most likely you want a screenwriting career, but other than writing a script, you don’t know how to advance to the next stage. Perhaps you’ve read about screenwriting contests, but you’re not entirely sure if they’re worth your time or money. 

A beginner screenwriter should definitely do their research and consider entering one of the top tier screenwriting contests out there for numerous reasons, however, there are 5 reasons in particular you should enter a screenwriting contest: 

1. Screenwriting Contests Give You a Goal to Work Towards

First and foremost, entering a screenwriting contest gives you a goal to work towards. At the early stages of scriptwriting, you might find it hard to keep writing or to stay motivated. The struggle with the blank page is very real and very familiar to anyone who has ever attempted to write. This is why sometimes you have to perform mental tricks on yourself to inspire you to keep at it.

One of the best ways to condition your mind for writing is to create a screenwriting strategy with clear goals. The great thing about entering a screenwriting contest is it’s an easy-to-achieve goal: you just need to have a script to enter into the contest. Oftentimes this mindset can give you the motivation needed to finish your script and turn blank pages into a feature film screenplay or pilot.

2. Entertainment Industry Professionals Will Read Your Script

Another reason to enter a screenwriting contest is it can lead to entertainment industry professionals reading your script.

Some of these contests, like Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, include a meeting with top managers as a prize for winners (and there are various award categories). In addition to having top managers as judges, many of the readers are people working in the industry (e.g. readers for movie studios or production companies, other screenwriters, etc). 

Sometimes if they’re friends or an associate of a manager, a reader might even recommend the script to their contact (regardless of if it placed in the contest or not). Because of this, screenwriting contests are an opportunity to get numerous eyes on your script: from industry readers to managers.

3. You Might Receive Helpful Feedback on Your Writing

Entering a screenwriting contest can also lead to you receiving helpful feedback on your TV script or screenplay. 

For example, Big Break also offers professional script coverage as an add-on option and as a prize. This coverage is performed by industry readers and professional screenwriters, who have extensive knowledge of screenwriting and the screenplay marketplace. 

At various levels of the film business, readers — like many of the Big Break readers — provide script coverage for managers, producers and studio execs that get bombarded with so much material, they simply don’t have the time to read every script presented to them. Because of this, receiving professional script coverage early on can help your script to receive positive coverage down the line.  

The screenwriting marketplace is highly competitive, and when you’re presenting your script to the industry, you want to feel confident it’s the best version people are reading. Not only will this increase the chances of you getting representation and selling your script, but you’ll also develop a necessary skill if you want to become a professional screenwriter. Receiving notes and addressing them in a rewrite is one of the primary jobs of a screenwriter.

4. Screenwriting Contests are a Great Networking Tool

Screenwriting contests can also be a great networking tool if maximized properly. 

As mentioned, if you place or win in a contest, your script will be read by managers, and you’ll be awarded with a meeting. Sometimes this will lead directly to the writer getting represented: as was the case with Big Break Grand Prize Feature Winner Laura Kroeger, who signed with Fourth Wall Management as a result of her 2024 Drama Category Feature Film win (and then went on to win the Big Break Feature Film Grand Prize!).

However, even if you don’t immediately sign with a manager, winning the contest can create networking opportunities that can eventually lead to you getting representation. 

Big Break Feature Winner Ben Johnson, Jr. lived in South Africa and his spec script Canaan won in its selected category. After winning and being awarded meetings with management companies, he continued to set up meetings with people in the industry. Finally, one of the other Big Break winners set him up with their manager, Plain Text Lit, and was introduced to Mark Finley. This led to Ben getting repped and scoring high profile writing assignments on various international projects. 

Ben viewed a screenwriting contest as a networking tool, properly maximized the opportunity, and it paid off with him becoming a professional film and television writer.

5. Screenwriting Contests Can Advance Your Career

Finally, yet another reason to enter a screenwriting contest is they can advance your career.

In addition to networking and the possibility of readers sharing your script to other industry professionals, placing or winning a screenwriting contest gets even more eyes on your script and, as mentioned, some contests like Big Break offer awards like meetings with management companies, who will also read your script. This could lead to you signing with a manager or getting “hip-pocketed” (i.e., they informally represent you and pass your script around). 

Once you have a manager, they can help you further develop your script and/or shop it to potential production companies and buyers. This could lead to a script option or a script sale (both of which can advance your career).

Also, if you place or win, there will be online announcements, which you can in turn use to promote yourself on social media and other platforms. This can be the beginning of you creating a brand for yourself and becoming part of the screenwriting community.

All of this can potentially lead to a script sale or possibly even assignment work if your writing impresses the right people. This was the case for many Big Break winners. In addition to Ben Johnson, Jr., other winners like Greta Heinemann have gone on to work for NBC, Apple and Netflix, and there are similar success stories.

In conclusion, there are many reasons to enter a screenwriting contest, including giving you a goal to work towards, getting industry professionals to read your script, receiving helpful feedback, networking and possibly advancing your career. All it takes is a script and a dream and taking that first important step.

The Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest opens for entries March 10, 2025. Is this the year for YOUR Big Break?