Introduce Yourself : Hi Everyone by Brian Weston

Yeah, screenwriting competitions can do wonders for people but only for a limited few (the top winners in the top competitions). And they are very subjective, so a script that wins in one might not even place in another. So if you can't afford them, don't even worry about them. Find a way to finish your script and research producers online who might respond to it and start sending out emails or making phone calls. Every way into the business is difficult (usually in the end it's a combo of hard work and luck) but you can start that way on your own time and dime. And keep writing new projects if it's what you want to do.

Thanks for the comments and advice Michael

I believe there are sites in which you can upload your scripts for people looking for scripts to fund and find them.

I know the feeling. I did well in one contest with a comedy and my partner did well with horror. Since then not much. However I am signed to assist writing a feature film that is in preproduction and pushing a low budget horror that I think can be a winner. One thing you can't do is give up.

Lance Ness Seeing as your horror is low budget, could you perhaps look at making it yourself? That's the best way of getting into this business rather than relying on the interest of others.

Good luck Lance with the horror project

I know you asked about screenwriting specifically, but I wanted to share some stats of mine with you that may help. I wrote 12 novels in 10 years before I wrote the one novel that got me signed by a literary agent. Then, that book wasn't picked up by any publishers, so we had to toss it on the shelf. I've since written four other novels that my agent didn't like before I wrote my current young adult contemporary novel which my agent loves. Hopefully this time around a publisher will love it too. I still haven't had any success with screenwriting myself, and like you, think about giving up on it, but if my novel writing career has taught me anything it's that perseverance is key in any sort of arts career. Things do eventually happen, we just have to have patience and not be afraid to put in hours and hours of work chasing our dreams. I know it's hard and it seems impossible, because I've been there too. I hope this helps in some way, but the bottom line is -- do whatever will make you happy and help you reach your life goals. Best of luck!

Thanks for such a positive reply Rena . Has inspired me to keep going

Do what makes you happy, we're only given so much time after all. Good luck!!!