Our writers often ask what screenwriting tips we can give to a successful script submission to a writing contest.
Here are six reasons why writers win BlueCat:
Writing for the Screen
Screenwriting is the craft of describing a story which an audience will watch on a screen. It’s not a blog, a podcast transcription, an audiobook, or a poem. It’s a document of words assembled to create a visual picture in the reader’s mind. Our best work happens when we detail only the words and pictures we will see in the theatre. From these words come emotion, and truth, and wonder, and fun. Consider how screenwriting is unlike all other forms.
Students of the Story Form
There’s a reason Stephen King advises writers to read books. Screenwriters should read books, watch movies, and read scripts. We need to experience the art form from the consumer side of the table daily. It’s clear our winning writers have made a lifelong commitment to studying television and film and thinking about why it works well. Gently begin a stronger daily habit of consuming, enjoying, and reflecting upon the art forms you aspire to create.
The Autonomous Idea
You can pick a screenplay idea based on annual lists of what the industry prefers and sometimes this will lead you into a very successful career. What if you pick an idea for a story independent of any commercial expectation? The history of cinema is defined by writers who chose to write what they wanted to express and not necessarily by a calculated career move. This doesn’t mean they didn’t want their pilot to be seen by millions. They simply made a commitment to see their idea all the way home and ended up with what everyone wanted in the first place. Look it up.
A Commitment to Script Development
It’s quite clear the winning scripts have been rewritten many times. The writers have an intimate knowledge of the inventory of their stories, and they have fought the war of development and won. It’s so easy to begin a script and talk about the hope of a wonderful idea we love. But to fight through the boredom and pain and hopelessness of a mediocre version of your script is the exceptional challenge of writing a winning script.
Exceptionally Original Work
Make a commitment to original choices on every page of your script. When we unconsciously deliver the choices of other writers, ones we have seen before, your audience will be quite familiar with the directions you’ve taken and tune out. When our stories take people to new places, they experience and understand their lives in a new way, and it genuinely enriches us. Just like you, BlueCat looks for the new and original work.
The Emotional Risk
BlueCat winners do not fear being honest about how life has broken their hearts. They write characters into vulnerable positions, backs against the wall, who admit their challenges without snark or mystery. Your entire audience asks you to speak to their greatest fears and losses and hopes. When you write candidly about our greatest dreams to connect with each other, to receive and give love, you will always have success with every audience.
Overall, we encourage all writers to write something they love because it’s a long road ahead and you’re going to need it. Our winners always remind me why I write and continue to write and why it will never stop for me. I hope to read your script soon.
Gordy Hoffman
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Absolutely!
How much training is too much? How many rules does one jump rope with before he/she writes without feeling the constraints? Which one plagues them worst of all? So much that they demand a writer’s full-time attention. I’m surprised anything ever gets written at all. I live inside imagination, inside the metaphors that make up story. Sometimes reading all these things give me pause, and I just shake my head and write anyway, afraid the frustration I find may contribute to story or a sleepless night. I just don’t know which one is worse…
Write what you feel is good work and that’s good work.
“admit their challenges without snark or mystery.”
So often other people’s stories have been ruined for me because of a whining or snarky main character, or only skirting around the main problem.
Very humbling when on a re-read of my own work, I discover I did the same. Thank you for explicitly stating this — I’m now rewriting because yes, my “killer script” is so very guilty of this flaw.
Thank you, we are all in this together!
I really believe most times it’s who you know. Some of the stupidest screenplays get made and I scratch my head and ask why.
I try to focus on what I can control and that’s writing something they can’t ignore.
Exactly!
You know, at the moment I see a script in almost everything that’s going on. It’s almost like being taught daily how to write a script because we’re being taught by masters. We’re being taught by puppet masters who are shouting, ‘Cue the Sun’.
Beautiful!
Writing an exceptional screenplay is a challenge among challenges. After completing a top-notch screenwriting course and my first screenplay, I thought I was finished, not realizing I wasn’t even close. Screenwriting involves re-writes over and over again constantly striving for improvement in this art. A commitment to script development is essential if your desire is to create an exceptionally great script. The notes presented by readers from Blue Cat are sometimes a bitter pill to swallow, but their suggestions have always proven to make my writing better in all six categories mentioned here.
Thank you!
Hello, have a good time
I have heard from many people that we should focus on our story, but I am very sensitive about the formatting of the script and I think that there is always a problem with my script, for example, I don’t know if I should use the[ Cut to] transition to cut each scene? Do we have to follow formatting rules to send our screenplays to international festivals, or is our story more important than the formatting of our screenplay? Thank you
Focus on story. Make sure your script looks like a script. You can delete CUT TO’s or keep them. Professionals evaluate story.
Poor things. I don’t have any of these problems. Great writing seems to come naturally for me. One draft suffices. (Please, someone, have me committed!)
Dear BlueCat & Mr Hoffman,
I understand that creating and refining a story requires a continuous process of reading, rewriting, viewing and revising the script, its description and dialogue.
Your detailed notes from BlueCat have reignited my energy and passion to approach my script with fresh perspective and determination.
I’m deeply grateful for the time and effort you invested in reading my script and for providing such insightful feedback, pointing out areas that needed attention and highlighting the loopholes I hadn’t even noticed.
Thank you for sharing your expertise and for inspiring me to move forward with renewed confidence. I’m excited to continue working on my story, with the hope of sharing a stronger version with a wider audience.
With heartfelt gratitude,