How to Enter Screenplay Contest ...And Win!, 2nd Edition

I would describe this as a market listing more than a how-to book. It provides information on more than 150 screenplay competitions, with the usual market directory information: entry fees, categories, sponsors, contact information, deadlines, rules, etc. But when it comes to making that leap from an overwhelming list of contests to THE contest that is best for a screenplay (if such a thing exists), the pickings are fairly slim here. The book contains a smattering of short interviews and features on specific contests, but the focus here is on where to go and not how to get there.

The fact is that contest information is available (and often more current) in the trade magazines and on numerous websites. This book might provide a good place to start searching for the right contests, but ultimately it hasn't filled any need that I wasn't able to fill elsewhere.


ABOUT THE BOOK   August 2, 2001
4 out of 10 found this review helpful

When the first edition of this book was released, there were only 40 screenplay contests to enter. Today there are over 150 legitimate screenwriting competitions across the U.S. Entering screenplay contests is the best and most affordable way to get a screenplay noticed, optioned, sold, and ultimately produced. Guaranteed prizes, beatable odds-minimal investment for maximum return! Learn the odds of winning. This book contains comprehensive listings of screenplay contests to enter as well as provides insider information, testimonials and seasoned advice for writers ready to make their first pitch.

"Entering screenplay competitions can open the door to a lucrative career in writing for television or movies The fact is, Hollywood looks to screenwriting competitions for new talent. --Scr(i)pt magazine


Author's Notes   July 1, 2001
Erik Joseph (Los Angeles, CA United States)
4 out of 11 found this review helpful

I am very pleased to offer this total screenwriter's guidebook. Nearly everything the beginning screenwriter needs is here. It's packed full of updated info and resources. Good luck to all the writers--enter the contests, heed the expert advice, and keep writing!


Effective advice, but I would have liked more   July 18, 2000
Bull Durham (United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

For the price of this book, there isn't a lot of information presented here. But the author, Erik Joseph, does at least provide an overview of what to expect when entering a screenplay contest.

The first part of the book describes structuring. I was skeptical about this section in particular since I've seen some great screenwriting books devoted to this. And, the author doesn't really go much into structure but scratch the surface, relying on quotes to guide the novice screenwriter.

But Mr. Joseph does at least cover what the screenwriting contests consider standard formatting for screenplays. So I'd say his advice on formatting was effective and helpful.

As for the screenwriting contests themselves, Mr. Joseph provides a one page overview of 42 screenwriting competitions. This section could definitely have been condensed. I think about every screenwriting journal out there lists these contests frequently in their respective publications ("Creative Screenwriting," by the way, is my personal favorite of those publications).

Further along in the book are a few interviews. I always like interviews in screenwriting books, and I will sometimes buy a screenwriting book just for the interviews. However, these are very short and terse and could have been more effective (I guess not everyone can interview like Barbara Walters, so I'll cut the author SOME slack).

An excellent chapter (only two pages though) is entitled "Good Examples of Bad Screenwriting." It contains actual samples of bad writing in submitted entries. Examining those atrocities was very helpful. However, I thought the author could have expanded on these a little more or explained why he chose specific ones for inclusion (are these frequent mistakes? how can one best avoid them? what are good sources for further refinement of grammar?)

Overall, I will give "How to Enter Screenplay Contests & Win!" four stars because it is effective in its discussion of screenwriting contests. However, I would have liked more advice and a longer book (it's 170 pages; but a lot of the pages are partially blank). And the cover of the book was not up to par due to the advertising blurbs on it that were entirely superfluous ("over $3 million in guaranteed cash!" on the front cover; and "win millions of dollars with your movie idea!" on the back cover).

In short, I'd like to see a second edition of this book that is expanded upon. However, I do think the product as it stands now is effective in accurately describing screenwriting contests and motivating aspiring writers to enter them.