Screenwriting Contests and Social Media: Keeping the Troops Informed

by David Cook

David Cook

When was the last time you checked your Facebook or Twitter account? Let's be honest, chances are it was within the last hour or so.

Chances are things were much the same as your previous visit. Proud parents posting the umpteenth round of pictures of their crazy kids, the latest funny viral video, maybe even another grumble from those friends who love nothing better than to grumble about how unfair life is. When Robert McKee spoke of 'mankind's insatiable appetite for stories,' this probably isn't what he had in mind.

Yet for all this, social media can be as much a boon as a distraction to the screenwriter, especially during contest season. An increasing number of screenwriting competitions now run a dedicated Facebook page or Twitter account, offering followers added value when it comes to submitting screenplays for consideration.

"We feel it's very important to keep an open dialogue with our community of screenwriters through social media," says Jennifer Berg, Administrative Director of the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards. "It helps us better understand the current concerns and needs of our contestants, and helps us find new and better ways to help them."

Innovation appears to be the word in mind as contest hosts strive to engage writers in this rapidly expanding territory. Aside from the run of writing tips and motivational quotes, the contests bring a unique flavor to each of their pages.

Consider the video pep talks posted by BlueCat Screenplay Competition; Scriptapalooza's meme campaign; PAGE International's Logline e-zine. It certainly seems that the contest organizers get some enjoyment in posting updates to their individual networks.

"Quite clearly entrants have been most excited by our posting of positive reader comment excerpts during the 2011 and 2012 competitions," says Greg Beal, Director of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. "It's been fun sharing the enthusiasm as writers claimed particular comments as their own."

Beal states that the goal in publishing comments on unidentified screenplays was 'to convey the excitement readers describe after encountering a great script.' However, there's no doubt that subscribers found these to be entertaining and morale boosting, judging by the number of comments left by frequent visitors. When subscribers were equally hungry for negative feedback, The Nicholl Fellowships obliged accordingly.

"The posting of negative comments was done in response to constant requests to do so," says Beal. "We've grouped them on particular screenwriting topics with the thought that they might be educational. We have plans to follow up with links to sites or articles that address the issues raised."

Along with the educational stance, the contest runners agree that social media platforms are a good way to keep writers informed of upcoming deadlines, contest news and rules, along with success stories from previous entrants. It's all about keeping that dialogue going, and it's anything but a one-way channel.

"A wonderful advantage of the boom in social media is that it's now so easy for writers to connect with each other," says PAGE International's Jennifer Berg. "Writing is such a lonely endeavor and I think most writers feel very isolated. Now it's much easier for writers all around the world to interact with each other, exchange information and build a network of support."

Nowhere is this more evident than during competition season, as entrants sit out the long wait until the results are announced. Each contest's Facebook page takes on the semblance of a virtual campfire as writers swap tips and tales of their experience, while waiting in hope for the doors to open.

The buzz of excitement is palpable when they finally do. Some dreams are justified; others need a little more push from the writer. Yet the camaraderie experienced on the page is all too clear. Messages of support go out to finalists and are returned in kind. In short, the gist of it is 'never stop writing.'

This simple advice also serves as a mantra for Scriptapalooza's current meme campaign, where the phrase accompanies daily picture posts of iconic film scenes, characters and personalities - examples of dreams made a reality. "I think it keeps people motivated," says contest President, Mark Andrushko. "When they see it, they think about finishing that script or going back for a rewrite."

The original intention was to post one photo a week, but this was ramped up to a daily post when subscribers started sharing these with friends on their own networks. "Our page has definitely become more busier, which we've always wanted it to," says Andrushko. Referring to site analytics from his Facebook page, he reveals that Scriptapalooza's latest postings have reached an additional 1,000 people outside of the contest's subscriber base. "It's just mind-boggling. When people share something on their own page or they like us, their friends see that on their newsfeeds. It's a continuous flow of people and it's just remarkable."

Analytics aren't just useful for page runners, but competition entrants too. As the new competition year gets into swing with the announcement of upcoming deadlines, the contests are using their presence on social media to provide writers with statistics on the preceding year's entries. The total number of scripts received, details of the most popular genres and in some cases, an indication of how many scripts of each genre advanced to the quarterfinal stages.

Take from it what you will. Of one thing that's certain, the number of screenplays submitted to screenwriting competitions increases year on year. Irrespective of genre and the odds, a genuinely heartfelt story told within the parameters of our craft has every chance of progressing to the later stages of a contest. Belief and perseverance are the key ingredients here.

Add to that a little knowledge. It can be said that every motivational quote or link, script comment and mini-poster posted on Facebook or Twitter goes some small way towards a writer's ongoing development. If you see something that inspires you to sit down and get writing, it's a moment on social media well spent.

Better still is to allocate some time into collecting these nuggets into a folder or document that keeps you focused for the forthcoming year, be it for a particular project or for your career in general. Make a pact with yourself to gather intelligence and further your opportunities. In doing so, you'll perceive those trips to your favorite social media sites as more personally rewarding than trawling through the sea of throwaway comments.

Updated: 01/24/2013