3 Quick Tips for Getting Noticed as a Screenwriter - ScreenCraft (2024)

Being a screenwriter in Hollywood is a career many aspiring writers can only dream of. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, authors and writers earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,240 as of May 2016. In Tinseltown, however, top screenwriters are known to enjoy the lavish lifestyles bought with their 6-figure paychecks, a well-deserved compensation for the countless hours of hard work and dedication they put into their craft.

Living as a screenwriter is a lot more finance-centric than one would imagine. At the end of the day, scriptwriting is a hustle to find a balance between making money, saving money and spending money. While it may be very tempting to splurge your earnings, it's important to find ways to save money. It is for this very reason that it is becoming increasingly vital for writers to know exactly how to go about attracting the attention of screenplay agents, getting their work read and, obviously, signed.

Write as much as you can.

If you are a screenwriter you have to perfect your craft as much as you can. While it is often believed that your first script is your worst, it should not deter you from writing more, in fact, it should encourage you to write better. One script is more than likely not going to ensure your big break into the Academy Awards league – you are going to have to keep creating new and exciting material all the time. If you are still trying to push the same script you wrote five years ago, it is time to stop, regroup, and write something else. It is simply not financially viable to keep flogging a dead horse. At some point, you have to admit defeat and move on to a new project.

Don’t underestimate the value of referrals.

As exasperating as it may be for a screenwriter looking for a break in the industry, the reality of the matter is that referrals carry a substantial amount of weight with producers and agents alike. Referrals from television and movie industry peers are seen as the most effective way to attract the attention of a fellow manager or agent with regard to a specific screenwriter’s work. This practice also includes referrals from close acquaintances, film executives, and other industry specialists.

Create actor bait and ensure your projects fit into a single genre.

You don’t have to continuously write high-concept scripts but it could prove helpful if you are looking for a sure-fire way to join the authoritative screenwriters’ league. Aim to write a script with a singular great role in it that will have a movie star yearning to be cast in it. You want the star to think that the part was written especially for them as opposed to them fearing that they might be outshone by the rest of the cast. When screenplay agents are searching for new material to present to producers and executives they look within set genres to find possible matches for the projects of their clients. You will very seldom find someone saying that they want a script that is a combination of various different genres. Comedy-thrillers and action-romances just do not pack the same punch as films that strictly adhere to one genre. Seasoned movie-goers often base their viewing decisions solely on the genre, underlining the importance of ensuring that your script falls into a definitive category. That's just one of the reasons ScreenCraft offers so many different contests and partners with such focused and specific juries for each one, instead of having the same jurors every time.

While there are no guarantees that a seemingly great script will make it to the big screen, following the guidelines above will strengthen your chances to get noticed by agents looking for new scripts to be considered for financing. The most important thing to remember as a screenwriter is to never give up. Stay devoted to your craft and eventually your hard work and determination will pay off.

Contributed by freelance writer Chrissy Winston.