By Ann Marie Williams © 2019 Many of the major screenwriting competitions begin releasing their written critiques to entrants around this time of year. So, I thought it might be helpful to post (or re-post) some tips for dealing with those critiques. However, these tips can be just as helpful for whatever format you're writing: … Continue reading Tips for Dealing with Feedback of your Story: Identify the True Source of the Problem
Category: Posts on Screenwriting Competitions
You Don’t Have to Win a Screenwriting Competition to Learn from the Process (if it’s the right competition for you)
by Ann Marie Williams © 2021 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 … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Win a Screenwriting Competition to Learn from the Process (if it’s the right competition for you)
UPDATE on ISA Presents: A CONVERSATION ON SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
On May 29, 2020, ISA hosted a conversation with with contest admins from the Austin Film Festival, Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, Cinequest, Great American Script Contest, HollyShorts and ISA about what makes a good contest script, how to rise up in the ranks of contests and how to pick the right ones for you. For … Continue reading UPDATE on ISA Presents: A CONVERSATION ON SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
ISA Presents: A CONVERSATION ON SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
5 lucky attendees will win a copy of Screenplay Competitions! For those who are interested, TODAY (May 29, 2020) at 1:00 p.m. PDT, ISA is hosting a conversation with with contest admins from the Austin Film Festival, Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, Cinequest, Great American Script Contest, HollyShorts and ISA about what makes a good contest script, … Continue reading ISA Presents: A CONVERSATION ON SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
How Much of a Script Do Screenplay Competition Judges Read?
by Ann Marie Williams, © 2020 Not every screenplay competition requires judges to read every entered script in its entirety. While it's likely that a judge will be required to read a script in its entirety in order to advance the script, some competitions allow judges to eliminate scripts after a pre-determined minimum number of pages read (e.g. the first thirty pages). … Continue reading How Much of a Script Do Screenplay Competition Judges Read?
How to Select Which Screenwriting Competitions to Enter: Identify Your Goals
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 Whether you are a new screenwriter hoping to discover how your script ranks or a seasoned screenwriter hoping to find representation, when trying to determine which screenwriting competitions are worthy of your script, your entry fee, and your time, it's important to identify what you want to gain from … Continue reading How to Select Which Screenwriting Competitions to Enter: Identify Your Goals
QUICK TIP: WHY SCREENPLAY DESCRIPTIONS NEED TO BE SHORT
by Ann Marie Williams Proper screenplay formatting requires that a certain amount of white space (a mix of description and dialogue) should appear on nearly every page of a script. Not only does this standard help measure the number of minutes the story will be once filmed, but it is also an accurate way to … Continue reading QUICK TIP: WHY SCREENPLAY DESCRIPTIONS NEED TO BE SHORT
WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS THEME?
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 We're finally here! The last post in my week long discussion of concept, plot, structure, format, and theme — how each are unique, and how each affect one another. I've been giving my explanation of these terms, their role in storytelling, and how they interrelate with each other. As … Continue reading WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS THEME?
WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS FORMAT?
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 Each day this week I'm discussing one of the following writing terms: concept, plot, structure, format, and theme. I'll give my explanation of the terms, their role in storytelling, and how they interrelate with each other since, even though each term represents a different attribute of story, they do … Continue reading WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS FORMAT?
WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS STRUCTURE?
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 If you've been reading my last few posts, you already know that each day this week I'm taking a look at one of the following terms: concept, plot, structure, format, and theme. I'll give my explanation of the terms, their role in storytelling, and how they interrelate with each … Continue reading WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS STRUCTURE?
WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS PLOT?
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 This week I'm discussing the terms concept, plot, structure, format, and theme. Each is a different attribute of story, but each also affects one another (e.g. structure affects plot, plot affects theme). So, since that can complicate how we define and understand each term, I'm going to look at … Continue reading WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS PLOT?
WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS CONCEPT?
by Ann Marie Williams © 2020 In my previous post, I discussed how the terms concept, plot, structure, format, and theme are often used in the writing world, but there isn't always a universal definition for each term. Moreover, even though each term refers to a unique attribute of storytelling, those attributes affect one another … Continue reading WRITING TIPS: WHAT IS CONCEPT?
Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The First Read
by Ann Marie Williams In an earlier post, I discussed the importance of being honest with yourself about your writing. But even if you're able to be objective about your own writing, the one thing you can never do is experience your story for the first time. Sure, there's the first time you read through your … Continue reading Dealing with Critiques and Rewrites: The First Read
7 Top Screenwriting Competitions (and why they are worth your consideration)
by Ann Marie Williams The people at The Script Lab recently asked me to write a guest post for them about some of the top screenwriting competitions and why they are worth a writer's consideration for entry. The post went live last week, and I'm delighted to share that post with you now! To read, … Continue reading 7 Top Screenwriting Competitions (and why they are worth your consideration)
The Importance of Screenplay Formatting and Why It Helps Convey Your Story
by Ann Marie Williams A script is a written representation of a visual and auditory medium. Because of this, the story on the page should be conveyed to the reader the same way the story on the screen will be conveyed to the audience—the same focus, the same pacing, the same impact. Screenwriting formatting tools are an effective way … Continue reading The Importance of Screenplay Formatting and Why It Helps Convey Your Story
Screenplay Competitions 