Your script has been "almost done" for how long now? Six months? A year? Three years? Here is the thing nobody tells you about finishing a screenplay. It does not get finished because you finally feel inspired. It gets finished because you finally focus the f up and power through to the end. And then the pesky rewrites. Without a deadline, you can be dead in the water. I once had to call my writing partner and tell him he had to give me a deadline on something because I wasn't working on it, but I thought about working on it all day. And he'd made the mistake of telling me, oh just finish it up whenever. So he told me next Thursday and next Thursday, it was done! That is what a script competition is actually for. A script competition can be your "next Thursday." Forget winning. Forget the laurels. Forget whether the contest "matters" or whether the judges "get" your work. None of that is the point right now. The point is a date on the calendar that you cannot move. Pick a comp. Mark the deadline. Now your draft has a job. A few real ones with real runways: Austin Film Festival. May 27, 11:59pm Central. Two days. If your feature is in shape, hit send. Tubi x Black List Horror Initiative. Open through June 30. One Black List evaluation gets you eligible. Tubi produces the winner. Scriptapalooza Fellowship. Final deadline July 1. Mentorship, not just laurels. Five weeks to get one script genuinely ready. Big Break, PAGE Awards, Shore Scripts. All have summer windows. Look them up. The number of writers in this community who have a script that is 85% there is enormous. The number who have a finished, submitted draft is much smaller. The gap between those two groups is not talent. It is a deadline. So here is the ask. Drop a comment below. Tell us: 1. Which competition you are entering 2. The deadline 3. The script you are sending Public commitment. We will check in. You do not have to win. You have to finish. More on the full comp calendar next week. For now, post your next Thursday.

Hello Writer's Forge Community! It was so great to see so many of you on the call today and I'm really excited to stay in touch with this wonderful writer's group. For those who I didn't meet today, my name is Melissa Verdugo and I'm the Director of Ops & Events, and former Sr. Manager of Career Programs, at Women In Film (WIF). I wanted to offer some 1:1 Business Guidance time slots to any women in this group who might be interested in WIF. And happy to offer any advice I can lend on your projects or careers. Here is a link to sign up for 30 minute Business Chat 1:1s, starting June 8. If you are in a different time zone, please feel free to reach out directly to find a good time. Thanks everyone and happy writing! Melissa

I just want to say I'm absolutely floating from today's business talk with Melissa Verdugo. @David Stem so grateful for this community and your dedication to our personal development as writers. Thanks to all who showed up. If you weren't there in person, David will be posting the video soon! PS here's a link to the fellowships offered by WIF. Something to consider! https://womeninfilm.org/fellowships/ Here is the link to all the global affiliates of WIF: https://www.wifti.net/membership/ There are so many opportunities through this organization worldwide!

JOIN US THIS WEEK as we welcome industry pro MELISSA VERDUGO, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS at WIF ( WOMEN IN FILM ) to our Wednesday night business talk. Melissa Verdugo is a Talent Developer, Programs Manager & Producer with 15+ years of experience in the design, implementation, and long term success of multiple career development programs, creative projects, and client careers. Before being promoted to Director of Operations at WIF in 2024, Melissa served as Senior Manager of Career Programs running the organization’s Talent & Career Development Programs, including the Mentoring Program, Emerging Producers Program, Financing Intensive co-produced with the Sundance Institute, and the flagship Fellowship program created in honor of WIF’s 50th anniversary. Founded in 1973 as Women In Film Los Angeles, WIF advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries—in front of and behind the camera, across all levels of experience—to achieve parity and transform culture. You can find more information at www.wif.org. Some of the topics Melissa will be covering: - How to get your scripts seen (especially when unrepped) - How to effectively network - Managers & Agents — what do they each do and what does a writer need ⭐*⭐*⭐*⭐*⭐ This is going to be a very exciting talk, and not just for the women of The Writer's Forge, but for ALL MEMBERS. Don't miss it! Once a month, our goal is to bring in an INDUSTRY PRO to share their story with us and to give insights and advice on the screen industries. ZOOM LINK TO THE CALL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86801093456?pwd=ZJ3PaCO0HkYL6erJ43ZSz5HiavzfKb.1

Today's BIZ TALK video is in two parts because of a little technical glitch. Attached you'll also find the slides to the presentation that contain the topics, points of discussion, and the HOMEWORK that everyone is invited to do and then follow up on in our next practical & tactical business talk. It was a great turnout!! Thanks a million to everyone who showed up and contributed, especially @David Stem for sharing your personal experiences, and for being generous with your time and your knowledge.