Every screenwriter dreams of the moment when their script catches the attention of producers and studios, but how do you know when it’s good enough to get it out to them? There’s a delicate balance between refining your story for too long versus rushing and sending it out too soon.
Sending your script out too early could mean ruining a golden opportunity — yet waiting too long could leave you stuck in an endless cycle of rewrites and maybe someone else even comes up with the same idea.
To help you navigate this pivotal decision, I’ve crafted a 12-point checklist to determine if your screenplay is truly ready to make its debut. If you’ve done all of these, then there’s a good chance you’re as ready as you’re ever gonna be, so go for it!
You Have Completed Multiple Drafts
The first draft you write will never be your Final Draft if you are trying to write a good screenplay. Screenwriting is an iterative process and it simply takes time to craft everything together well. Before you market your script, be sure to refine it through several drafts. If you’ve only written one draft with a few touch-ups, it’s almost guaranteed it’s not ready to market.
The process of screenwriting is much aligned with how Michaelangelo said he created the statue of David saying: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Likewise with your script, you have to work on it over time and allow it to emerge. Each time you complete a draft, the script gets better and more nuances that you can do come to light. Then you fix those and you may well see some others!
Countless times I’ve worked with screenwriters on developing their scripts and and see how their script evolves much like sculpting a statue. When you go through it over and over, you see more and more of the unneeded junk that you can chip away it so that the heart of the story stands out.
Thankfully, unlike sculpting with marble, you can always put something back into your screenplay if you think it was a mistake to take it out! But that is also part of the process of completing multiple drafts. Something may not have fit at one point, but now you see how it does so your bring it back. THAT is the process!
Received Constructive Feedback
Objective feedback is crucial. Getting feedback from knowledgable peers or a professional script consultation can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement that are hard to see on your own. While not everyone is equally knowledgable and some people simply have different tastes than you do, you can always look for recurring themes in the feedback. If several people point out the same issues, those are likely things that need further refinement.
Melody Jackson was named one of the Top Script Analysts Three Times out of three in different blind surveys conducted by Creative Screenwriting over an 11-year period, receiving especially high marks on on value for the price and depth of analysis. Melody has a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and has critiqued thousands of screenplays in depth, working with all levels of screenwriters from new to produced established writers. Click to learn more about Script Analysis by Melody.
Polished Formatting and Presentation
The industry standard for script formatting should be followed. Ideally use professional screenwriting software like Final Draft to ensure your script meets these standards and makes it much easier to do it correctly than a general writing program. This includes using the correct font (Courier, 12-point), proper margins, and appropriate use of slug lines, action descriptions, dialogue, and parentheticals.
A well-formatted script shows professionalism and respect for industry norms. There are reasons the formatting is done the way it is. If you don’t know if yours is in the right format, it’s worth finding out or even using the Smart Girls Script Typing service to make sure it’s correct.
Strong Opening
Your script should grab the reader by no later than page 10. Your opening sets the tone and pace of the story. A weak, directionless, rambling opening is a dead giveaway to a producer and readers that the script may not be worth reading. You may not have another chance to convince the producer it’s a good idea, so be sure your opening is captivating.
A couple of tips is to establish your main characters, the setting, the central question (the direction of the script), and the conflict clearly and in a compelling manner. Without it, the producer will assume it won’t get better.
Clear Structure and Pacing
Analyze the structure of your screenplay. Does it follow a recognizable act structure (typically three acts)? Are the transitions between acts smooth? Is the pacing consistent? Your script should maintain a rhythm that holds the audience’s interest throughout. Scenes should build upon each other, escalating the conflict and tension towards a satisfying climax.
Your writing style should flow and the way you write should establish an appropriate pacing for the genre you’re writing in, while also varying it a bit to make it dynamic.
Well-Developed Characters
Your Lead Character needs to be well-rounded and relatable. All of your main characters should also have a distinct voice and be delineated from the others.
Your protagonist should have a clear goal or need — something he or she is on a mission toward. To be clear, not every single Lead has to go thru a major transformation, but most of the time that is what makes them most interesting. As they go toward that mission, they will typically face significant obstacles, and undergo a transformation by the end of the script.
Secondary characters should also be delineated from each other and have a distinct purpose for being in your story. You don’t want to be plopping in a bunch of different characters that are basically the same.
Distinctive Voice
Does your script embody a unique voice? The best screenplays show the writer’s specific viewpoint and style. This can be seen in the choice of theme, tone, dialogue, and even in how scenes are described. A distinctive voice helps your script stand out in a crowded market.
Compelling Dialogue
Strong Logline and Synopsis
Before you send your script to anyone in the industry, prepare a compelling logline and possibly a one-page synopsis. The logline should encapsulate the essence of your script in one or two sentences.
The synopsis should hit on the major movements of the plot, demonstrating the flow of the narrative, character arcs, and major turning points. Both should be engaging and reflective of your story’s tone and genre.
I personally advise writers to NEVER OFFER a synopsis to a producer since you want them to invest in reading the whole entire script. If you have a great story, the more time you can get a reader to spend with your characters, the more invested they are. If they read a synopsis, it shortcuts the investment. Of course they may like it or not, but the preferable idea is to only send them a synopsis because they requested it.
Intellectual Property Considerations
Ensure that your script does not infringe on any copyrighted material and that all intellectual property rights are in order.
In fact, let me clarify something… My recommendation is to NEVER writer a “sequel” to someone else’s movies, whether they are old or new or franchises. Normally, it’s not up to you to secure the rights, it’s a producers job, but if you feel you must build on someone else’s IP, then I suggest to deal with getting those rights instead of wasting all your time and effort on something for which you have no idea if you’ll be able to get the rights.
One exception is when you find someone’s life story or life event that you want to turn into a script, then sure, that’s often a great resource for material… so go ahead. Likewise, if there’s a book you want to adapt. But I would work on getting those rights before writing the script and having no clue about whether someone else has already bought those rights.
But putting that aside… when you’re dealing with your Original Idea and Content, you should either register your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) or with the U.S. Copyright office — or the copyright agency in your country if you don’t live in the U.S. The U.S. Copyright office covers you for many more years than the WGA.
Market Research
Understand the market where you intend to sell your script. You could have an idea that a very, very small number of people would love, but is that big enough of a market that someone would want to put millions of dollars into it to make it? Could they get their money back? Producers look at things from that perspective… can they make money from putting their name on the line to make it. Is it a story they want to live with for a few years though development, production, post-production, theatrical run, streaming, and so on and so on.
Do your best to understand the market for your type of stories. Are similar stories popular? Who is producing films in your genre?
If you’re confident that your script has a strong market potential, then tailor your marketing efforts to producers who are interested in your type of script. This targeted approach can increase your chances of getting noticed. You can do this research on your own or Smart Girls Productions can also help you write your query letter and research producers to target with the Genre Genie Marketing Services.
Personal Preparedness
Finally, ask yourself if you are ready for the business side of screenwriting. This includes pitching, negotiating contracts, and facing rejection. Be prepared to discuss your script passionately and succinctly, defend your creative choices, and consider feedback from industry professionals.
Learn as much as you can about how the film and TV business works. The more you know about it, the more confident and clear you will be as you move forward and interact with other industry people.
Wrap Up
If your screenplay checks off all the items on this list, you verywell may be ready to introduce it to producers.
Remember, the journey of a script from page to screen is often long and requires not just talent, but persistence and resilience. Good luck and get to it!
