How much do you spend a year on your scripts in terms of competitions, software, feedback/notes, copyrighting, etc?  :o

I just started writing this last year, and this s**t adds up. Just having two features, a few shorts and I'm going to need to start cooking meth to fund this addiction.

Follow-up question, anybody know a writer who succeeded without doing the competition/feedback/notes/listing gambit?

I'm at $105 for software, copyright, for one single listing. I haven't even done a paid competition yet.

All I'm going to say here is that InkTip is a real waste of money. It used to be decent, but now it's pretty much worthless. Last week there were only six production companies looking for scripts, so I'm thinking even the filmmakers have found other avenues to find scripts.

If you do have a listing at Inktip and you find a lead that seems promising, now you have to pay more money on top of the listing fee, to get the query link. It used to be pretty decent, but is now just a money thing, IMHO.

Quoted from Grandma Bear All I'm going to say here is that InkTip is a real waste of money. It used to be decent, but now it's pretty much worthless. Last week there were only six production companies looking for scripts, so I'm thinking even the filmmakers have found other avenues to find scripts. If you do have a listing at Inktip and you find a lead that seems promising, now you have to pay more money on top of the listing fee, to get the query link. It used to be pretty decent, but is now just a money thing, IMHO.

When you say 6, you mean 6 on the entire site or just who viewed your scripts?

I spend a grand total of £0

I think Pia means there were 6 producers looking for scripts on their weekly newsletter, there's sometimes more than 10.

Personally, I dipnin and out of Inktip, trying to figure out if the new monthly fee structure is going to be different/better... So far no real difference and coats more ;-(

Competitions... Won a couple of smaller ones and then stopped, they're not really gonna help you or your script unless it's one of the really big ones, and they attract 5000+ entrants so the odds are against you (but not impossible if the script is great)

Software, well Trelby is free, and others are a one off cost... Unless you go for one of the monthly subscription type services which I'd advise against as I see no real benefit.

My personal approach is to only spend on Inktip, VPF etc occasionally and only using any monies I've made from selling scripts.

Yes, I meant InkTip used to have about 12 - 16 producers looking for scripts every week, but are now down to 6! IMO, that would probably mean that fewer filmmakers are using the site, so even less incentive to spend any money there.

I only spend money on coverage. The nice people here at SS give great feedback, but sometimes it's good to see what someone who reads a lot of scripts, but don't know you thinks about your scripts.

I have yet to query anyone, but that will probably be my next step in trying to get some interest in a script. I don't think that costs anything. :)

@Robert

I've been updating my screenwriting articles recently... they may be useful, http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles/4593048841

I do spend more than I should, but I've built up a separate successful career in business software development and treat this as a hobby. Each month I spend a bit on competitions as a treat, but try to submit early to keep the prices down. I can afford to go to events, festivals etc and I've also self-financed three of my own short film productions, but again I treat it as a hobby and try to have fun.

I don't know how people cope trying to do this as a living or if they have little income. Writing is not a well paid career for most, yet costs a huge amount to break into professionally.

Before this year, I'd spent almost nothing on screenwriting. I'm self-taught, I did buy a couple of books at the beginning (over 10 years ago) and relied on reading scripts, online resources, podcasts, and free sites like this for my education. And practice, lots and lots of practice.

I only ever paid to copyright one script, I don't bother any more. Copyright is retroactive, so if I ever feel the need to I will after the fact.

I've never paid for notes, and before this year I'd never entered into paid competitions. (I did pay for a Blacklist listing and a couple of evaluations for one script, the one currently in competitions.)

I used free screenwriting software until I got a free copy of Final Draft by doing beta testing for them, so I didn't even pay for software.

What has that gotten me? I sold a script early on, for not much but still a significant amount of money. I discovered I'm actually quite good at teaching what I've learned and curating material for courses, so I've made quite a lot of money doing that and for consultations and helped a lot of writers improve and even get stuff made. I did some gigs writing coverage for a little money, and sold shorts for a little money. I've had shorts made and a feature in the works that give me credits and awards.

Screenwriting really is one of the few things you can do for free and make money with if you put in the time and effort. That's the real cost, there's no skipping over that.

Thanks, everyone, for your input and experience.

It's amazing how much we can spend if we're not careful.

I have a short and a full length listed on Inktip but each listing (even shorts) must be registered/copyright.

I have had a few requests to read the short. Bunch of log line views for the full length but of course those are a bigger time sink.

The Blacklist is expensive to keep paying for feedback just to only want an 8 or above.

I'm not saying I or anyone else does this Robert... but you know you can make up the copyright info on Inktip ;-)

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I'm not saying I or anyone else does this Robert... but you know you can make up the copyright info on Inktip ;-)

Ha, I was wondering about that. ;D

Not a whole lot in the grand scheme of things.

I bought maybe 20 books on screenwriting and story structure when I first started maybe 7 or 8 years ago. I still have them all hidden away somewhere. The only one I keep by my side is The Screenwriter's Bible.

Since then... I entered a feature into several comps in 2019 and have entered one into several comps this year.

I used a free website building tool for my website and I think it came out all right and it suits my needs.

My software... um... fell into my lap.

I have spent a ton of cash on my comic book which was a direct result of one of my scripts, but I also made a good chunk of change from the sale of the first issue on Kickstarter.

I'm not sure how much value entering comps has, I personally do it for the fun of it and definitely don't expect to be picked up or discovered from a comp.

I've never really looked into paid hosting sites, to me that seems like a complete waste of money, especially for a hobbyist writer. Everything that I've had made or optioned has been picked up on a free hosting site.

Oh, and I did copyright one script several years ago.

Close to ten years and I’ve probably spent a a grand total of maybe $500. That’s on a few screenwriting books, software, a couple comps and coverage.

Software is essential. So there’s that. Books can be interesting and helpful, but I never relied on them. Coverage is okay, but it never really helped me much. I get better notes and take more on board from all the great writers here who read my work.

Downloading and reading scripts are free. Email queries are free. Writing costs time and effort.

If you have the time, make the effort.

I bought Final draft and probably entered into less than 10 comps in my illustrious career. So I'm probably in the vicinity of $$600 or so over the last ten years. I try to only enter into recognized contests specifically for writing. Most film festivals with writing comps tend to overlook the scripts and concentrate on the films. You can win a pretty piece of paper, though.

Now, what I've spent on film making gear to shoot my own stuff? Entirely different conversation.

James

As they say, your mileage may vary.....

LEARNING THE CRAFT

I spent zero. Started as a raw rookie here in 2014. Everything I have learned about screenwriting I have learned here or via Google, web articles, etc.

I did shell out for FINAL DRAFT - no regrets.

SELLING

I tried:

INKTIP - Sucked. Waste of money for me.

VIRTUAL PITCHFEST - Sucked. Waste of money for me. Now, I do know that some of the writers I have networked their have had success with script requests, etc - I know none that have gone through to completion.  The model there is really a false one. They advertise you get a guaranteed response. Well, you do - but since that response is a tick of the box form letter, you really have no clue if they read your pitch or not.

STAGE 32 - Okay for networking.  I would not buy anything there.  They do provide you nice details on who actually is going to be reviewing your pitch or doing your review - problem is, once you look them up - they're really nobody that is going to move the needle for you.  

BLACKLIST - A money pit, pyramid scheme IMO. Very early on (around 2015) gave them a whirl. Clearly - they are sent up to incentivize you to buy more reviews and chase that illusive 8. They are definitely in my rear window.

E-MAIL BLAST SERVICES - tried it once. Waste of money.

COMPETITIONS

I absolutely fucking love them. Two reasons.

It's fun. I do this for a hobby and I look at comp fees no different than if I played chess for a hobby and there was an entry fee for tournaments.

Two - they have been by most successful inroad to the industry (limited as it is). All of my feature options have come via contests or via Coverfly (a contest score aggregator).  Again, these ultimately failed (well, two are in the process of failing - still wobbling)... but it has been the only road that has worked for me. And I consider it merely the cost of competing in my hobby anyway.

Quoted from eldave1 As they say, your mileage may vary..... LEARNING THE CRAFT I spent zero. Started as a raw rookie here in 2014. Everything I have learned about screenwriting I have learned here or via Google, web articles, etc. I did shell out for FINAL DRAFT - no regrets. SELLING I tried: INKTIP - Sucked. Waste of money for me. VIRTUAL PITCHFEST - Sucked. Waste of money for me. Now, I do know that some of the writers I have networked their have had success with script requests, etc - I know none that have gone through to completion.  The model there is really a false one. They advertise you get a guaranteed response. Well, you do - but since that response is a tick of the box form letter, you really have no clue if they read your pitch or not. STAGE 32 - Okay for networking.  I would not buy anything there.  They do provide you nice details on who actually is going to be reviewing your pitch or doing your review - problem is, once you look them up - they're really nobody that is going to move the needle for you.   BLACKLIST - A money pit, pyramid scheme IMO. Very early on (around 2015) gave them a whirl. Clearly - they are sent up to incentivize you to buy more reviews and chase that illusive 8. They are definitely in my rear window. E-MAIL BLAST SERVICES - tried it once. Waste of money. COMPETITIONS I absolutely fucking love them. Two reasons. It's fun. I do this for a hobby and I look at comp fees no different than if I played chess for a hobby and there was an entry fee for tournaments. Two - they have been by most successful inroad to the industry (limited as it is). All of my feature options have come via contests or via Coverfly (a contest score aggregator).  Again, these ultimately failed (well, two are in the process of failing - still wobbling)... but it has been the only road that has worked for me. And I consider it merely the cost of competing in my hobby anyway.

Thanks, Dave for that great overview - and everyone else. Helps get a better feel for the screenwriting world right now. Like you, I'm using Inktip, but so far it feels like being in a used shirt bin at Goodwill. Haven't been back into writing long enough to do a major competition yet, but I will.

Quoted from Robert Timsah Thanks, Dave for that great overview - and everyone else. Helps get a better feel for the screenwriting world right now. Like you, I'm using Inktip, but so far it feels like being in a used shirt bin at Goodwill. Haven't been back into writing long enough to do a major competition yet, but I will.

No problem - best of luck in your endeavors