How to Become a Better Screenwriter
Updated: 03/23/2025
Becoming a better screenwriter requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to continuously learn and improve your craft. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your existing skills, this guide will provide you with detailed strategies and techniques to enhance your screenwriting abilities.
Upcoming Contest Deadlines
Screenwriting Contest News
Wiki Screenplay Names February Contest Winners (03/19/2025) New!
CineStory Names TV Division Finalists (03/13/2025)
Killer Shorts Names 2025 Finalists (03/11/2025)
Great American Script Contest Announces Contest Finalists (03/08/2025)
TrackingB Announces 2024 Contest Results (02/28/2025)
Wiki Screenplay Names January Contest Winners (02/27/2025)
Killer Shorts Name Semifinalists (02/24/2025)
How to Get a Screenwriting Agent or Manager in Hollywood (02/21/2025)
CineStory Names TV Semifinalists (02/18/2025)
Scriptapalooza Names TV Contest Winners (02/14/2025)
Killer Shorts Name Quarterfinalists (02/10/2025)
American Zoetrope Names 2024 Contest Winner (02/10/2025)
Wiki Screenplay Names December, 2024 Contest Winners (02/05/2025)
Is Contest Feedback Worthwhile? (02/04/2025)
Nail Those First 10 Pages! (12/10/2024)
Shore Scripts Names Guaranteed Option Winner (12/10/2024)
Austin Fest Opens 2025 Script & Film Competitions (12/09/2024)
Shore Scripts Names Feature Script Contest Winners (12/09/2024)
Shore Scripts Names Film Fund Finalists (12/04/2024)
Scriptapalooza Names 2024 Fellowship Recipient (12/03/2024)
Shore Scripts Names Fall Film Fund Semifinalists (11/25/2024)
Scriptapalooza Fellowship Names Top 20 (11/20/2024)
Wiki Screenplay Names October Contest Winners (11/16/2024)
Industry News
Conan O’Brien Accepts Mark Twain Prize for Humor While Acknowledging the Kennedy Center’s Uncertain Future (Hollywood Reporter, 03/24/2025) New!
‘Othello’ Theater Review: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal Bring Star Wattage to Middling Revival Otherwise Short on Electricity (Hollywood Reporter, 03/24/2025) New!
‘Othello’ With Denzel Washington & Jake Gyllenhaal: Once Again Iago Gets The Last Laugh – Broadway Review (Deadline, 03/24/2025) New!
Denzel Washington’s ‘Othello,’ With Jake Gyllenhaal, Has Two Great Star Turns But Little Flavor: Theater Review (Variety, 03/24/2025) New!
Comics Skewer Donald Trump’s Kennedy Center Takeover As Conan O’Brien Accepts Its Mark Twain Prize (Deadline, 03/24/2025) New!
‘The White Lotus’ Episode 6 Review: What a Tangled (and Incestuous) Web We Weave (IndieWire, 03/24/2025) New!
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Trending: Contest Queue
The following screenwriting competitions are the "most queued" upcoming contests on MovieBytes:
2025 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Scriptapalooza Features & Shorts Competition
Austin Film Festival Script Competition
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
Script Pipeline Screenwriting and TV Writing Competition
Slamdance Screenplay Competition
WriteMovies Spring 2025 Screenwriting Contest
Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition
StoryPros Awards Contest
CineStory Foundation Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Screenplay Contest
Deadline Alert
All Deadlines
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True Story Showcase
Late: 03/24/2025WSPro Discount: No
The Crime List
Final: 03/24/2025WSPro Discount: No
MovieBytes Readers Choice!
Writers give the PAGE Awards top scores and rave reviews! Find out why ... Enter today at: pageawards.com
Austin Film Festival Script Competition
Earlybird: 03/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
Austin Film Festival Playwriting Competition
Earlybird: 03/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
WinningScripts.com
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Creative Screenwriting TV Pilot Competition
Regular: 03/27/2025WSPro Discount: No
Creative Screenwriting Feature Competition
Regular: 03/27/2025WSPro Discount: No
Golden Script Competition
Extended: 03/28/2025WSPro Discount: 10%
Hollywood Diversity Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Regular: 03/29/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Comedy Screenplay Contest New!
Final: 03/29/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Sci-Fi Screenplay Contest
Regular: 03/29/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition
Final: 03/30/2025WSPro Discount: No
Humanitas New Voices
Regular: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
trackingb.com Original TV Pilot Contest
Really Late: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition
Final: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards
Late: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
StoryPros Awards Contest
Regular: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: $10.00
Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship
Extended/Final: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: 25%
ScreenCraft True Story & Public Domain Screenwriting Competition
Final: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
Red Flight Pictures Screenplay Awards New!
March: 03/31/2025WSPro Discount: No
The Writers Lab US
Regular: 04/01/2025WSPro Discount: No
Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition
Early-bird: 04/01/2025WSPro Discount: No
Horror Hotel International Film Festival
Final: 04/01/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Shore Scripts Short Film Fund
Regular: 04/02/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Shore Scripts Script Development Fund
Regular: 04/02/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Action Screenplay Contest
Earlybird: 04/05/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Frights! Camera! Action! Horror Screenplay Contest
Third: 04/06/2025WSPro Discount: No
Script Competition New Media Film Festival Los Angeles
Final: 04/06/2025WSPro Discount: 20%
WriteMovies Spring 2025 Screenwriting Contest
Earlybird: 04/06/2025WSPro Discount: No
Scriptapalooza Features & Shorts Competition
LAST MINUTE DEADLINE: 04/07/2025WSPro Discount: No
Adapted Story Showcase
Final : 04/07/2025WSPro Discount: No
The Writers Lab US
Final: 04/08/2025WSPro Discount: No
Art of Brooklyn Screenplay Contest
Late: 04/09/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
San Francisco International Screenwriting Competition & Film Awards
Regular: 04/09/2025WSPro Discount: 25%
Shore Scripts TV Pilot Mentorship Program
Regular: 04/11/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Faith in Film: International Film Festival and Screenwriting Competition
Final: 04/11/2025WSPro Discount: 20%
Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival
Final: 04/12/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Breaking Walls Thriller Screenplay Contest
Late: 04/12/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Sci-Fi Screenplay Contest
Late: 04/12/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition
I-Missed-The-Deadline: 04/13/2025WSPro Discount: $15.00
2025 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Last Minute: 04/15/2025WSPro Discount: No
Humanitas New Voices
Final: 04/15/2025WSPro Discount: No
100 Screenplays
Final: 04/15/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Holly Weird Film Festival Screenplay Contest
Final Late: 04/15/2025WSPro Discount: No
The Great American Script Contest New!
Discounted Entry : 04/17/2025WSPro Discount: No
Faith, Hope, and Love Film Festival and Screenwriting Competition
Ext Regular: 04/17/2025WSPro Discount: $15.00
Hollywood Diversity Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Sprint: 04/19/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Save the Cat! Screenplay Challenge
Extended: 04/20/2025WSPro Discount: 15%
Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards
Late: 04/20/2025WSPro Discount: 25%
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
Early Bird: 04/21/2025WSPro Discount: No
CineStory Foundation Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Regular: 04/21/2025WSPro Discount: No
True Story Showcase
Final: 04/21/2025WSPro Discount: No
Austin Film Festival Script Competition
Regular: 04/22/2025WSPro Discount: No
Austin Film Festival Playwriting Competition
Regular: 04/22/2025WSPro Discount: No
BlueCat TV Writing Competition
Final: 04/22/2025WSPro Discount: $10.00
Roadmap Writers Top Tier Competition
Late: 04/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
Emerging Screenwriters Action & Adventure Screenplay Competition
Regular: 04/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
Emerging Screenwriters Horror Screenplay Competition New!
Regular: 04/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
Emerging Screenwriters Thriller Screenplay Competition New!
Regular: 04/25/2025WSPro Discount: No
Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition
Late: 04/26/2025WSPro Discount: No
Hollywood Genre Sci-Fi Screenplay Contest
Final: 04/26/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Action Screenplay Contest
Regular: 04/26/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition
Final: 04/28/2025WSPro Discount: No
Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards
Final: 04/30/2025WSPro Discount: No
StoryPros Awards Contest
Late: 04/30/2025WSPro Discount: $10.00
Red Flight Pictures Screenplay Awards New!
April: 04/30/2025WSPro Discount: No
Script Pipeline Screenwriting and TV Writing Competition
Regular: 05/01/2025WSPro Discount: No
Art of Brooklyn Screenplay Contest
Extended Deadline: 05/01/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
HollyShorts Screenplay Contest
Late: 05/02/2025WSPro Discount: $15.00
Shore Scripts Short Film Fund
Final: 05/02/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Your Script Produced! 4th Edition
Late: 05/02/2025WSPro Discount: No
Shore Scripts Script Development Fund
Final: 05/02/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Frights! Camera! Action! Horror Screenplay Contest
Fourth: 05/03/2025WSPro Discount: No
Breaking Walls Thriller Screenplay Contest
Extended: 05/03/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Early: 05/05/2025WSPro Discount: No
San Francisco International Screenwriting Competition & Film Awards
Standard: 05/07/2025WSPro Discount: 25%
The Great American Script Contest New!
Last Deadline : 05/08/2025WSPro Discount: No
The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
Regular: 05/10/2025WSPro Discount: No
Hollywood Diversity Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Late: 05/10/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Hollywood Genre Action Screenplay Contest
Late: 05/10/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
WriteMovies Spring 2025 Screenwriting Contest
Standard: 05/11/2025WSPro Discount: No
BlueCat TV Writing Competition
Late: 05/13/2025WSPro Discount: $10.00
Script Pipeline Screenwriting and TV Writing Competition
Late: 05/15/2025WSPro Discount: No
FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Regular: 05/15/2025WSPro Discount: No
Faith, Hope, and Love Film Festival and Screenwriting Competition
Late: 05/15/2025WSPro Discount: $15.00
Shore Scripts TV Pilot Mentorship Program
Final: 05/16/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition
Extended: 05/18/2025WSPro Discount: No
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
Regular: 05/19/2025WSPro Discount: No
Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards
Final: 05/20/2025WSPro Discount: 25%
Emerging Screenwriters Action & Adventure Screenplay Competition
Final: 05/22/2025WSPro Discount: No
Emerging Screenwriters Horror Screenplay Competition New!
Final: 05/22/2025WSPro Discount: No
Emerging Screenwriters Thriller Screenplay Competition New!
Final: 05/22/2025WSPro Discount: No
Hollywood Genre Action Screenplay Contest
Final: 05/24/2025WSPro Discount: $5.00
