Screenwriting, Writing Contests

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Write for Script Magazine

Introduction

Script magazine is a bi-monthly publication that examines the film industry through the eyes of the screenwriter. The magazine serves as both a resource for the craft of screenwriting and source of inspiration from professionals in the field. We have featured interviews with such talented screenwriters as: Ron Bass, Frank Darabont, Robert Duvall, Randall Wallace, Les and Glen Charles and Richard LaGravenese. Each issue of Script offers writers information about writing, marketing and selling screenplays throughout the industry. Having been established in the industry since 1989, Script magazine offers writers the edge they need to break into the screenwriting community.

Editorial Guidelines

Script is currently seeking writers presently working in the industry to contribute meaningful articles on the craft and business of screenwriting.

Submission Guidelines

Types of Articles

We are interested in articles written by or dealing with currently working screenwriters, agents and producers. Any articles submitted should be timely, in-depth and of interest to screenwriters in particular. We accept articles about both the craft and business of screenwriting, with an emphasis on writing excellent screenplays and managing a successful career. We are interested in both feature articles and interviews. We do not accept comparative book or software reviews, or film or festival reviews in the print magazine. We do, however, consider those types of pieces for the web site. Please do not submit fiction, poetry, cartoons or reviews. We only publish original, previously unpublished material.

IF YOUR ARTICLE PERTAINS TO OR PROMOTES SOMETHING YOU ARE SELLING, WE WILL NOT PUBLISH IT. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Sending a Query

We ask that all potential writers send a query letter proposing your article before sending a complete manuscript. Please do not telephone our editors, as we only accept proposals in writing. All unsolicited and assigned articles are on speculation unless prior arrangement is made. You should receive a response in four to six weeks (please enclose a SASE). For a faster response, feel free to send queries via e-mail , being sure to supply a return e-mail address.

Articles and Style

All articles must be between 2,000 and 3,000 words unless other arrangements are made with the editors. Please consult the General Style Guidelines for further information.

Submission Format

Accepted articles can be either e-mailed or sent on a Macintosh compatible disk in Microsoft Word, RTF or Text Only format. All submissions should be neatly typed and double spaced, include a title, your byline and a suggested deck. Please place an asterisk around any italicized words or movie titles, (i.e. *Raging Bull*). For interviews, please list contact information for the interviewee(s). Additionally, a list of any photo stills or illustrations that you feel would best illustrate your article would be helpful. Please check with the editors before submitting photos.

Revisions

Depending on the number of revisions that need to be made, we may either return the article to you with suggestions for changes, or make minor changes before publication. Any articles which are significantly longer than the assigned length will be returned to the sender to be edited. Writers who provide us with a fax number will be faxed a designed copy of his article.

Payment

An invoice must accompany all articles accepted for publication. Writers are responsible for submitting invoices! Payment will be made 30 days from receipt of the article and invoice (no exceptions). Rate is $0.05 to $0.08 cents per word based on edited word count, amount of research and style of the article and is for first-time reprint rights. An additional $25 may be paid should the editors decide to print all or part of the article on the web site. Invoices must be submitted on a separate piece of paper, hard copy, and must include the date, your name, address, contact information, social security number, article title, intended print issue and amount due. A kill fee of 50% of the agreed upon fee may be paid for materials originally solicited by the editors.

Issues

Sample issues of Script are available for $8 per issue plus postage. Send check or money order to: Script magazine, 5638 Sweet Air Road, Baldwin, Maryland, 21013. Issues are also available at most major bookstore chains, or purchase a back issue or subscription online.

Online Articles

Scriptmag.com accepts a wide range of articles for the e-articles. Film, book, software, video, and seminar reviews are accepted. Payment is between $25 and $50 per article. Please contact editor@scriptmag.com with your article ideas.

General Style Guidelines

Script uses the AP Style Guide for copyediting and proofreading all printed material. Please use this guide as a reference for all article submissions.

Movie titles will be printed in italics.
When e-mailing, please put an *asterisk* in front of any movie titles because the text will not transfer with italics.
For emphasis, please underline. Do not use all caps, bold, or italics.
Use a comma after the conjunction or disjunction in lists of three or more items.
African-American, Asian-American AP Style Guide notes that a hyphen is always used to indicate dual heritage. No hyphen however for French Canadian or Latin American.
Capitalization (in titles)-depends on use of word, not length; i.e., all verbs, pronouns, and nouns have initial caps and all prepositions are lower case.
Chair, not chairman or chairwoman or (ugh) chairperson
dialogue
DJ ( as in disc jockey)
DTV - use the phrase "direct-to-video" in all first references; it should always be hyphenated, as it is by nature an adjective.
Etc. - spell out only if used in a direct quote.
Filmmaker
Film school (graduate)
Green light (n.) green-light (vb.)
Live action (n.), live-action (adj.) - Who Framed Roger Rabbit blended animation with live action. Disney has just released a live-action version of 101 Dalmatians.
Money: a million dollars and over; spell out million but use digits for dollar amounts, e.g. $43 million. Money under a million dollars: use $ and digits not spelled out
Moviemaker
Non - hyphenate all except the following, which have specific meanings of their own: nonchalance, nonchalant, nondescript, nonsense, nonsensical.
Numbers: spell out through nine; 10 and over, use digits for double digits and higher (except money and percentages)
Okay
Percent: percentages: always use digits (example: 33 percent) phone numbers: (000) 000-0000
P.O. Box
Possessive of names ending in "s"; use apostrophes only, not 's
Prefer digits (1960s, 1970s, '70s, '80s, etc.) to spelled out decades.
Pre (no hyphen following)
Premier - first in position
Premiere - first showing (of a film)
Theater (not theatre, unless a proper name)
Trade-off (n.)
Vice president (no hyphen)
Vietnam
Warner Bros., Inc. is technically the name of the motion picture division, therefore "Warner Bros." is the reference most often used in print.
Words with "mid," "re" or "pre" (there are probably others) are printed solid, also "re."
Generally use quotation marks unless it's a quote within a quote. Quotes within a quote are generally set off by single quotes.
Periods and commas are generally used inside the quotes. Other punctuation depends on usage.

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