Quote Monday

Posted in Posts, Quotes by Rachael C Marek

Inspire Last week I wrote an entire blog post after learning that my pilot had not advanced in the second contest I had entered. I was sad and the overall tone was not the happy-stay positive-reach for your dreams-vibe I try to maintain here.

So I didn’t post it.

Rejection, in any form, is tough to take. People say all sorts of things to put a positive spin on the situation, but when it comes down to it, rejection plain ol’ sucks.

I was already struggling with the third act of one screenplay, and I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything in order for the conference in October, so this news struck a blow. I was down for the rest of the day. But that’s part of the process. You take the hit, get back up, and show ’em.

It’s hard when so much is in our hands as writers, and so much that isn’t.

It’s not like I didn’t know this going in, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. The whisper of doubt that sneaks its way in about the possibility that no one will ever like what I write and I never become a professional screenwriter grows louder with each rejection, but then I think of the people that were once just like me.

Every writer ever.

So no, I’m not giving up. On the contrary. I’m just getting started. So here is the “stay positive-reach for your dreams” tip of the day:

Wear that rejection like a badge of honor because at least it shows that your striving towards your goals. How many people do you know that are unwilling to even try?

Good Luck and Happy Writing!

9Feb2017

Screenwriting Tips for Submission Season

Posted in Posts, Tips by Rachael C Marek

HelpfulTips Last week I shared a list of the 10 prominent screenwriting contests and their approaching deadlines to give you a heads up of what to expect the next few months. Hopefully, you’re not like me, in the middle of a major rewrite instead of just a polish.

Ah, the sweet agony of a deadline.

This week I thought I would share a few tips on how to be best prepared to submit. I’m not sure where I originally found this checklist – my apologies to whoever created it. It’s a list of 10 things to look over/be aware of before you hit send.

Opening image
Opening line
First scene’s setting
Genre/Tone
Character roles
Character motivations
Structure
Scene focus
Spelling/Grammar
Concept/Logline

*If you’re interested, I can expand on each of these in more detail. Just let me know in the comments below.

One of my favorite pieces of advice came from Good in a Room‘s Stephanie Palmer who suggests –

Choose a contest and a deadline. Then, submit at least one script to one of the top screenwriting contests I recommend.

If the script gets recognized in any way (i.e., it doesn’t win but it makes the second round, or top 10%, etc), revise it and submit to three different contests.

If the script doesn’t get recognized, then keep it in your library of projects, pick something new from your development slate, and write something else.

Instead of submitting multiple projects to several contests (which can get expensive), you only make multiple submissions when you have objective evidence that your work is good enough to have a chance to win, and you spend more of your valuable time writing new material.

That’s plenty of work, I know.

And it doesn’t take into account the other aspects of how to be a professional writer that have nothing to do with writing…

But over time, if you write and submit at least one script every year to one of the best contests, you will get better and your material will get better. If you submit multiple scripts only when they have received positive feedback, your chances of being successful go up.

I hope you find this helpful, and I wish you all the best this submission season!

3Feb2017

It’s Submission Season!

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by Rachael C Marek

submit Hey fellow screenwriters! Are you ready for another year of petrifying “submit” clicks? Yep, it’s that most wonderful time of the year, again.

If you haven’t done the search for what deadlines are approaching, let me share what I’ve learned. Here are 10 of the more prominent competitions:

The one I think all screenwriters dream of winning is the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship, which is for features only. The early deadline is March 7 ($45). I’d also recommend following them on Facebook as they share reader comments throughout the competition. It’s always fun to wonder if that lovely review is about your work.

The Austin Film Festival is also garnering a reputation for its screenwriting competition in both feature (with the added perk of being genre specific) and teleplay (including specs) categories. The early deadline is March 31 ($45). You can follow them on Twitter.

PAGE International is already open and the regular deadline is fast approaching – February 17 ($49). This is for features only, but they’ve also branched out into being genre specific as well. They’re on both Facebook and Twitter if you’re interested in keeping up with the latest.

I entered my pilot in Scriptapalooza‘s TV competition, which reopens April 15, but the feature category, again, has been accepting since the beginning of the year. The regular deadline is March 10 ($55). You can follow them on both Facebook and Twitter, but they also have a mailing list that will keep you current.

I may have entered my pilot into this one, it’s all sort of a blur at the moment, so I have to double check. How terrible is that?! Script Pipeline offers a number of competitions to choose from, such as their First Look and Great Idea (both TV and feature) contests, in addition to the TV and feature competitions – which share the same date and fee for their early entry, March 1 ($50). They also have a mailing list and are on all social media.

Finish Line is another competition that offers both feature and TV categories, and has received positive endorsement from the film community. Their early deadline is, again, fast approaching – February 17 ($40), but if you’re like me, procrastinating on that final polish/rewrite, a more “reasonable” regular deadline is April 28 ($45). You can follow them on Twitter.

Screencraft not only offers valuable information via their blog, they have a wonderful setup in their competition department – it’s genre specific! The deadlines are scattered throughout the year, so I would highly recommend joining the mailing list to stay up to date. Currently they are accepting submissions for Sci-fi and Fantasy features. Early deadline is February 16 ($39). They’re on all social media as well.

Final Draft just announced that they’ll be ready to accept submissions for 2017’s Big Break starting February 22. They have both feature and TV categories, but the entry fee section has not been updated on their site yet (early fee last year was $40). And of course, they’re on all social media too.

BlueCat is another site I recommend following for their useful advice via their blog, in addition to their newsletter and social media accounts. Their competition is open for features, shorts, TV, and plays. The early deadline is March 1 and fees vary depending on the entry. Features – $45 Shorts – $35 Pilots – $40 Plays – $30

Finally, there is the Sundance Institute‘s Screenwriters Lab which is not open yet for submissions for 2018, but if you have a script that is Sundance Film Festival material, get it ready! Last year the application period was from March 15 – May 3. I would love to take part in the Lab, but sadly, I don’t think any of my material is small budget. 😉

So get those screenplays “submission season ready” and let’s go after our dreams! Happy Writing!

15Jan2016

2016 Screenwriting Contests

Posted in Posts, Tips by Rachael C Marek

HelpfulTips I try to keep the Deadline section of my own blog up-to-date to help those looking for current contest information a place to find it, but someone else has already done that for me for the new year.

Stephanie Palmer of Good in a Room has released a list of the 10 noteworthy screenwriting competitions in one place, here.

If you’ve been thinking that this is the year to enter a contest, these are the ones that have cache. Write them down on your calendar, post them next to your computer for encouragement, and make this the year that you follow your dreams! Also, take note that some of the deadlines are already fast approaching, so don’t delay if you want to be a part of them.

And if you’re not already following Good in a Room, put yourself on her list. You’ll receive helpful tips and advice via email, and that’s invaluable for us novices. Wishing you all the best of luck!

23Apr2015

Screenwriting Opportunity

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

I apologize for my absence, but I come bearing gifts. 🙂

Thanks to Lee Jessup‘s monthly newsletter, I was introduced to this unique opportunity for women screenwriters over 40. I now fall into this category…crap, I wasn’t ever going to mention that again.

The New York Women in Film and Television is offering The Writers Lab which will begin accepting applications May 1. So get your screenplays ready ladies!

Other deadlines fast approaching are: Scriptapalooza, April 29th, the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship, May 1st, and the Sundance Institute until May 1st as well. Final Draft is accepting until July 31, so you have a little more time there. *See here for links, etc.

Good luck, my fellow screenwriters!!