Screenwriting Blog

For many writers, times are tough. But instead of focusing on what you've lost, we want you to find hope. The world needs your story now more than ever, and we're willing to pay you to tell it. Are you stuck at home? Are you stressed about money? Are you finding it hard to be productive? Let's flip the script. We're choosing one deserving writer to win $4,000. The catch? You must write a screenplay in one month. You'll emerge from 2020 $4,000 and one screenplay richer. Think you've got what it takes? Entering is quick and easy. Continue reading

Illinoisans! Have you recently found yourself googling “screenwriting classes near me” with meh results? Well, don’t sweat it! Today I’ve compiled a list of the best screenwriting classes in Illinois, along with some information about why each of these options deserves your attention. Know of other screenwriting courses or resources in the state of Illinois? Feel free to drop the information in the comments, and we will update this post. Chicago Screenwriters Network: Chicago Screenwriters Network (CSN) is a nonprofit organization assembled by writers for writers, that aims to provide educational programming, develop ... Continue reading

Internship Alert! There are SO many more remote opportunities for film industry internships than ever before. Are you looking for internships this fall? If you can earn college credit, there may be an opportunity here for you. SoCreate is not affiliated with the following internship opportunities. Please direct all questions to the email address provided for each internship listing. Do you want to list an internship opportunity? Comment below with your listing and we'll add it to our page with the next update! Continue reading

Is there such a thing as a dramedy-light? I know the term may not exist, but I’d argue that the genre does. And veteran TV writer, comedian, and producer Monica Piper agrees, so much so that she’s willing to bet that the genre will be the go-to for writers in the future. Piper is known for hit shows, including “Mad About You,” “Aaahhh!!! Real Monsters,” “Rugrats,” and “Roseanne.” Her focus has always been to find the funny in real life and real people. We asked her what the future looks like for screenwriters and what they should be focusing on. “I think it’s going to be, more and more, shows that are really basically ... Continue reading

All writers should continuously strive to keep learning and better their craft. What better way to do that than by checking out some screenwriting books! Save The Cat!, Screenwriting for Dummies, The Screenwriter's Bible and more … today I'm talking about some of my favorite books for screenwriters! Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder: Probably the best-known screenwriting book, Save the Cat! Breaks down story structure in a way that allows writers to recognize and understand format and key beats easily. While some writers love it, and others hate it, I think it's ... Continue reading

Like many screenwriters, I've entered my fair share of screenwriting competitions. Screenwriting competitions can be an excellent way for writers breaking into the industry to network, gain access to opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise, and even earn money. If you're a writer looking for new scriptwriting contests to enter, then you've come to the right place! Here are my top five favorite scriptwriting contests! Austin Film Festival: This is one of the largest screenplay competitions out there! Austin has multiple categories, including features, shorts, teleplays, digital series, podcast scripts, playwriting, ... Continue reading

Before we launched into a new screenwriting contest with SoCreate’s Screenwriter Stimulus, we wanted to know: Are our contests helping writers? That’s our number one goal, of course, followed by spreading the word about SoCreate. So, to find out, we caught up with our most recent contest winner Zachary Rowell. Zachary won our “So, Write Your Bills Away” Sweepstakes in late 2019, so it’s been almost a year since we handed out that honor. We paid his bills for three months so he could work less and write more. And you know what? It worked! I was so encouraged to hear ... Continue reading

After having a couple of scripts under their belts and having entered screenplay competitions, many writers will start to think about representation. Do I need an agent? Should I have a manager by now? Today I’m going to shed some light on what screenwriting agents do, when you’ll need one, and how to go about finding one! What is an agent? A screenwriting agent deals with contract negotiations, packaging and presentation, and getting assignments for their clients. Agents tend to take on clients who have either already sold something, have a real vested interest by someone who ... Continue reading

Not all screenwriting competitions are created equal. Some are better than others. How do you go about deciding which ones are worth your time and money to enter? Today I’m talking about what to look for and consider when entering screenwriting competitions. What are you getting out of entering or winning the contest? Different competitions have different rewards, and when considering which ones to enter, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of your return on investment. Entering competitions will require a good amount of your time as well as your money for entry fees. Any competition that offers cash ... Continue reading

Being John Malkovich - Charlie Kaufman earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for “Being John Malkovich,” which debuted on this day in history at the 1999 Venice Film Festival. Kaufman originally wrote the spec script in 1994 and sent it around to many production companies, but to no avail. He later sent the screenplay to filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, who, in turn, sent it to his daughter’s boyfriend, filmmaker Spike Jonze. Jonze also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Director for the movie, and Roger Ebert called it the best film of 1999. John Malkovich himself had doubts about not only ... Continue reading