“Did a thing,” is a signpost for boasting ahead.
You know it! Time then, for a little bragging.
Recently, I did a thing. I entered two different screenplays in two different competitions.
One contest was for general spec scripts while the other was more specifically for comedies. I’m planning on entering more contests, since I have several more screenplays. I’ve got a couple more comedies, a sci-fi, a script that would work best as a computer animated feature, and a TV series. These two competitions I mentioned are the only ones which were open early 2021, so obviously I’m holding on to the other works. As the other competitions come open I’ll enter those as well.
There are multiple reasons these competitions are good.
- They have a deadline. If you’re like me, you’ll just keep on writing and writing, entering the fantasy worlds of your mind, never letting anyone ever see what you’ve produced, and keep it all to yourself. With a deadline (or should we say “due date”?), you’re forced to publicly share those worlds at a certain specified time. Without that time limit, the tendency to keep up the old habits is tremendous. Yeah, I’m expressing my own habits here. If you don’t relate, form your own habits.
- With some competitions there is promise of exposure. Flowing right out of the previous reason, this is a way to share the fantastic, bombastic, and quite often plastic worlds swirling around the imagination. Likewise, someone out there might be needing the very escapism you’ve been enjoying in your daydreams. Someone out there might be ready to pay for the brand of art you create. Let the consumers of entertainment know you have something to offer by putting your name and your art out there.
- Prizes. There are monetary prizes and swag for the winners and runners-up in these contests, so why not make the attempt? It’s a motivation of sorts. If other motivations such as pleasure in the work don’t get you moving, then possibly prize money will.
- Suspense. Believe it or not, the writer of fiction needs to know how to describe suspense. What better way is there than being knee-deep in anticipation to teach a person what suspense feels like? The due date looms—that’s suspense. The announcement of the winners is coming—that’s suspense.
- The BRAG. Number 5, and my final reason, is for bragging rights. If you think I brag too much entering the contests, just wait ’til I win.
Xenosthesia.com 