Recently I've just sent one of my short film scripts to a competition and now the fun part is waiting half a year to hear anything back! I could send my script to multiple places, but I mostly just write for fun anyway and lately all my work has been rated 5 stars by people so as long as I know I'm doing something awesome that's all I need.
I realize I've never really sent my scripts to competitions. I sent 3 I think. Only one was rated top 45% and to be fair that script was not very good in my opinion. I've come a long way as a writer and my current script as well as 3 of my other ideas have all been met with praise so I have a good feeling I'm doing much better! I wanted to start with a short script and then move on to the web series and full feature scripts!
I always try to keep in mind that I'm mainly writing for fun. I want to write an entire web series out spanning multiple seasons. And in this industry that's kind of frowned upon and usually they just want a pilot and maybe a general idea of where you want the story to go but not every episode written beginning to end. But I just write for fun and whatever happens happens :)
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Congratulations on growing as a screenwriter, Ryu Reeves! I write to sell my spec scripts and get jobs, but I write fan fiction scripts for fun. I have fun writing spec scripts though. Having fun makes writing easier.
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Maurice Vaughan Yea, I think it's because all the actor/writer friends I made were dealing with a lot of depression because they would have roles in TV shows or video games and then just get nothing for years and it affects them. So, I learned early on to just remember to write for fun and any success will just be bonus and I'm perfectly fine working a regular retail job
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It's a good attitude to reflect on why you write. I see a lot of writers living or dying based on competition advances, partly because they think it's the key to breaking in and partly because they are desperately seeking validation.
Personally, I feel the best thing you can do with a short is post it over on Simply Scripts as it's full of filmmakers keen to produce them. Now that's validation and potential career advancement.
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CJ Walley I also think it might have to do with them trying to break in "easier". They don't want to network or put in the work so they think just sending $20 to a competition will magically get them jobs everywhere. I'm doing the opposite, I got super lucky and had an in right from the start because I made friends with lots of actors/screenwriters/directors but didn't wanna take shortcuts so I'm trying to get my work out there the same way everyone else does. I want people I don't know to read my scripts and let my work speak for itself. If I need to improve then I'll keep improving.
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Yeah, it's part laziness, part fear and part peer pressure. If you see any thread about building a career there will be someone pushing competitions. It's been that way for over a decade now.
Shorts are a great way of starting in the trenches and then hopefully working up to low-budget indie filmmaking while learning a lot about the craft, a lot about production, and a lot about the business while also building up a reputation and respect.
I started writing shorts in 2013, my second year of writing. I watched people put all their chips on competitions and still, over ten years later, I'm seeing the same people rely on the same strategy and yet to get any traction, some of whom laughed at people like me writing scripts for students back then.
In fact, my first Stage 32 blog post was all about how it made me a better writer too.
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Wow, that's a great post! It's funny how that works. Even friends close to me I can tell they wanted to side-eye me when I would tell them I'm a screenwriter cause they just assume I'm writing for nothing but then when they find out I have actual credits in films and a small TV show and have been praised by other actors/screenwriters around the world they're like oh...you're actually a writer. I'm like I don't understand...just because it doesn't solely pay my bills doesn't mean I'm just living in a fantasy world of writing 100 page scripts and not even trying to do anything with them other than just having it on my computer for fun
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It took me a long time before I even dared call myself a writer. Now I've got the opposite problem, where people think I get paid big bucks and make films that'll be released theatrically.
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The waiting period after submitting a script can feel like an eternity. It’s tough not knowing what’s next, but staying productive in the meantime is key. Personally, I find it helpful to engage in other creative outlets, like writing short stories or even trying something completely different, like testing my luck at games for a mental break. If you’re looking for a fun distraction, you might want to check out something like live casino roulette online — it’s a good way to unwind while keeping your mind sharp. Hang in there, and remember, every day spent waiting is one step closer to your next opportunity!