Field guide 08 · 8 lessons
The Writing Business
Competitions, queries, pitches, production companies and the professional etiquette around the work.
Read in order, or pick what you need today
The the business shelf
Screenwriting Contests
CareerHow to decide which competitions are genuinely useful for your script, your budget and the next step you want.
Major Screenplay Competitions and Labs
CareerA clear-eyed look at the better-known competitions and labs, with current official links and no promise that one result changes everything.
Choosing a Screenwriting Course
CareerHow to judge a class, degree or mentorship by the teaching and feedback—not by promises of access.
How to Approach Production Companies
CareerHow to find companies that might honestly suit your film and approach them without ignoring their boundaries.
Cold Emailing for Screenwriters
CareerHow to write a short, specific email that sounds like one person contacting another—not a campaign landing in an inbox.
Writing a Screenplay Query
CareerWhat to put in a screenplay query, what to leave out and how to ask for the read without hype or apology.
Pitching a Screenplay
CareerHow to talk about the film so people can picture it, feel its promise and still have room to join the conversation.
Screenwriting Agents and Managers
CareerWhat agents and managers can actually do, when representation helps and how to look for a relationship that fits.