20 'Do's and 'Don'ts’ When You Are Submitting Your Script
Last year at this time, tara anaise and I were eyeballs deep in scripts for the Inspired Screenwriting Competition.
So. Many. Scripts.
As the pile grows again this year (submit now!), we have some thoughts to share.
First, it is such an honor that so many people have let us read their work. It’s not easy to put your stuff out there, and boy do we know that.
Second, it is incredible to witness how DIFFERENT each one is - voices from all over, telling all kinds of stories.
When you’re reading as much as we have/are, you start to notice patterns. Common… I’m not going to say ‘mistakes’ because we all make choices but I’m going to call them… ‘barriers’ maybe.
Barriers keeping the reader from falling in love. From getting sucked in. From wanting to tell everyone about it.
Below is a list of some, if you’re curious. But before I get to those, I’m going to start with a bigger, more general piece advice I might offer:
WHY?
The number one thing I would ask so many of the screenwriters whose scripts I’m reading for this competition is: Did you ask yourself 'why’?
Why does this story need to be told?
Why does this story need to be told now?
Why does this story need to be told by me?
What’s the point? Why should someone read this?
Consequently, those questions are what I teach in my pitch class - once you answer all of those questions, you pretty much have your pitch.
I have a feeling that a lot of people haven’t answered all of these. You can’t just answer one, btw. You gotta have an answer for them all. And it’s gotta be good.
So many great ideas wither on the page, and I’d argue a lot of the time it’s because that’s all that’s there. The idea. It’s got to be more than that. It needs to justify its existence. There are SO MANY SCRIPTS OUT THERE.
WHY YOURS?
I need your script tel tell me that when I read it.
With that out of the way, here’s a bunch of Do’s and Don’ts from a reader’s standpoint. However, as I always say, THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST RULES. Always, ALWAYS, listen to your heart.
That said…
Proofread.
Proofread again.
Try to limit the number of long speeches.
Try to break up huge blocks of text in descriptions.
Don’t put the date on the title page if it’s more than a few years old.
Don’t send in a work in progress - I’m talking about where it’s half outline / half script.
Use action verbs instead of adverbs when you can.
If you’re translating it to English from Google translate, see if someone can read it first.
If you’re using Chat GPT… well… I’d recommend hiding it as best you can.
Gross out humor is a tricky thing - there’s gross funny and then there’s just gross.
Try to avoid generalizations of groups/characters. Generalizations = generic.
Make it make sense - look for plot holes - suspension of disbelief will only go so far!
Be consistent with the rules of your world. Also, HAVE rules for your world.
Just because it’s interesting to you, doesn’t mean it is for everyone. Make me interested.
Personal stories still need to be compelling, no matter how emotional and raw they are.
Remember, this is cinema. Don’t think so small that we are going to the same settings over and over again unless you have a great reason for it.
Google searches are boring, even if you say there is exciting action montage music accompanying it.
Make your tone clear early - especially if it’s a farce - otherwise I might think that thing that you thought was really funny was actually serious.
Having a cool idea isn’t enough. Develop the whole thing. Not just the premise.
Does this already exist? If so, how is this different? Make it different.
