When Contradictory Critiques Aren't Really Contradictory by Ann Marie Williams Critiques can be confusing. One person loved your script, while another person hated the very same script. What one person said was a totally pointless scene, another said was their favorite moment. What one reader felt was perfect pacing, another felt was all wrong. Contradictory … Continue reading Analyzing Critiques: Dealing with Contradictory Critiques
The Cold Read: What do screenplay competition judges know about your script prior to reading it?
by Ann Marie Williams When you enter a screenplay competition, typically you'll be required to submit a logline (or short summary) of the script you're entering. However, while that logline is often used for administrative and/or promotional purposes, often your script's logline is never seen by the competition judges. Is this important for you, the … Continue reading The Cold Read: What do screenplay competition judges know about your script prior to reading it?
Why it’s important to write a stellar logline before entering script contests
by Ann Marie Williams Many screenwriting competitions require entrants to submit their script's logline when entering the competition. However, with a few exceptions, that logline is not used as part of the judging process. And this begs the question: if the judges never see your script’s logline, why is it important to ensure the logline … Continue reading Why it’s important to write a stellar logline before entering script contests
Writing Tips: The Differences Between Concept, Plot, Structure, Formatting, and Theme (and how they all interrelate)
In the writing world, you often hear terms like theme, concept, plot, structure, and formatting. Each is important, and each affects the other. But there is little consistency in how they are defined. Even David Trottier (author of The Screenwriter’s Bible) states that plot, structure, and story are often used interchangeably. In screenwriting contests, these … Continue reading Writing Tips: The Differences Between Concept, Plot, Structure, Formatting, and Theme (and how they all interrelate)
Ways to Analyze Critiques of Your Writing: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Reprinted (with slight modifications to fit the blog format) from Screenplay Competitions: Tools and Insights to Help You Choose the Best Screenwriting Contests for You and Your Script. Have you experienced this situation when reading a critique of your writing: The critic points to a moment in your story that he/she found unnecessary and suggests … Continue reading Ways to Analyze Critiques of Your Writing: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Reasons to Enter Screenwriting Contests Other Than Winning
Entering a screenwriting competition with the hope of winning is a great goal. After all, if a screenwriting career is what you’re after, then winning (or placing highly in) the right competition has the potential to move you further along that career path. Moreover, the competitions that have a track record of actually helping to … Continue reading Reasons to Enter Screenwriting Contests Other Than Winning
Screenplay Competition Research and Entry Templates
In Section VII of Screenplay Competitions, I include three templates: The Competition TemplateThe Competition Round TemplateThe Submission Template These templates were designed to help screenwriters research screenplay competitions, to help screenwriters narrow down which screenplay competitions are a good fit for them and their scripts, and to help screenwriters keep records of their entries—and better … Continue reading Screenplay Competition Research and Entry Templates
