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How Do You Know If Your Script's Ready to Send Out Into the Industry?

Take the ultimate 12-point questionnaire to find out if your screenplay's good to go.

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by Script Reader Pro in Screenwriter Career
April 18, 2019 58 comments
how do you know if your script is ready

How do you know if your script’s ready to send out into the industry?

You’ve finished a screenplay. But how do you know if your script’s ready to send out? How do you know when it’s “finished”?

Here’s our ultimate 12-point questionnaire to find out whether your script is ready to take on the world. Or if it’s not quite there. Yet.

Answering these twelve questions will determine how much work you’ve put into the script and also into the craft of writing in general. Assessing “craft + draft” will give you a pretty good idea of whether your script’s good to go.

(Sometimes you may find it hard to pick an answer, so just pick the one that comes closest to your position.)

Click to tweet quiz.

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Conclusion.

A script is just a blueprint for a movie. In this sense, it’s impossible for a script to be “finished” by an aspiring writer sitting in his/her living room.

If it’s bought, it’ll only be the start of a long collaborative process between you (hopefully) and the studio. It’ll be rewritten, probably multiple times and often by other writers. However, it is important to get your script into the best possible state it can be before sending it out.

You need to be able to honestly say you’ve done everything humanly possible to make it as good as it can be.

Far too many aspiring writers ignore this step, though, and send out their work when it’s nowhere near ready. Then, it inevitably gets rejected and despondency sets in. Follow the guidelines in this questionnaire, however, and you will not only avoid this, but know what to do next instead.

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How do you know when your script’s finished and ready to send out? Do you use the same or similar guidelines to our own? Let us know in the comments section below.

how to know if your script's ready

Liked this post? Read more on how to become a screenwriter…

How to Pitch a Movie Idea and Sell Your Script With Style

How to Become a Screenwriter: A Pro’s Guide to Unlocking Your Career

How to Sell a Screenplay: 6 Most Popular Ways New Writers Make a Sale

[© Photo credits: Unsplash

58 Comments
  1. Hana says:

    Hi
    can I send my screenplay for your site?

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Hey Hana, you can submit for one of our script coverage services here.

  2. MK says:

    The questions were very insightful. Thank you for the encouragement ! Will spend the next six months elevating my story etc.!

  3. Sam says:

    Dis dope!

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks, Sam!

  4. Frankie Cabellero says:

    I am not wasting my time on some stupid quiz jus to read I got a great script. I no that already

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      No one’s forcing you 🙂

  5. Ali Henderson says:

    I don’t usually do quizzes but found this very helpful. Opened my eyes as to where I am at.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Sounds good, thanks for sharing, Ali.

  6. amy g says:

    I have some work to do lol.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Keep at it, Amy!

  7. Marc P says:

    Cant make much of this is my script ready to send out or what??

  8. Raj Sanyal says:

    i have great epic story of love across ocean of time set against war in India adn eygpt. Readdy to sell but need final set of eye . Can you help with me please? Thank you for you time .

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      You can find our script coverage services here.

  9. Colin Rutherford says:

    V interesting. This was useful in highlighting what i need to work on. Thanks script reader pro.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      That’s great to hear, thanks, Colin.

  10. Sonja Novák says:

    Enjoyed this as always with your posts. Keep up the great work Script Reader we (my husband and I are both writing scripts) love your content and the effort you put into helping people like us.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks so much, Sonja!

  11. Lynn Davis says:

    Huge relief I got to the end and it said my script was ready to send out. Looks like I”m on the right track!!

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Good luck with the script, Lynn 🙂

  12. Calvin Edwards says:

    I need your expert opinion on my script. 24 hours turnaround is a must. Price and procedure please.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      You can find our script coverage services here.

  13. Kris says:

    Thank you for the excellent quiz. I was going to enter the nicholl this year but I don’t think I’m ready yet.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks, Kris. You’ll get there, don’t worry.

  14. ronnie weber says:

    How do I get an agent?

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Here’s a post on how to get an agent and manager in 10 steps.

  15. Juan Figero says:

    I failed……

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      You haven’t failed, Juan! You’re just at the beginning of your journey and that’s okay because everyone has to start somewhere.

  16. Lisa Paterek says:

    Enjoyed this one as will all your posts Script Reader.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      That’s great to hear – thanks, Lisa.

  17. Wesley Clinton says:

    I came out as not ready as I expected. Just means I need to work even harder.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      That’s the spirit, Wesley.

  18. Melanie Rabadi says:

    How stupid this quiz is. I leaned nothing.

  19. Kristof Gorgensen says:

    Please I have a story that needs to be got out into the world. Very high concept producers will love. DM me for details.

  20. Cornell M says:

    It worked quite well for me.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Good stuff, Cornell.

  21. Eddy Blair says:

    I spent a lot of time thinking about whether my script is ready but this has helped me understand quite a bit. Thanks.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Great, glad it helped, Eddy.

  22. Inez says:

    If my script’s ready as you say then why don’t I have an agent?

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Have you read this post on how to get an agent (but more importantly, a manager.)

  23. Hector says:

    Ummmm ok I am supposed to care about this?

  24. Jessica says:

    This was a fun and easy way to see where I’m at. Hats off.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks a lot, Jessica.

  25. James Clark says:

    You guys always come up with the most practical and informative screenwriting advice. I realize now my script’s not ready to send out but have renwed sense of vigour.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      That’s great to hear – thanks, James!

  26. Brenda W. says:

    Do not ever let anyone tell you when your script is ready to send out or when it is not. It is purely your choice your descision that you must make based on your heart.

  27. Mica says:

    Totally agree with your questions. All writers should be asking these of themselves and looking at their script objectively before sending out into the market.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks for the comment, Mica!

  28. shane e says:

    This has opened my eyes to just how much work I have left to do , thank you, SRP!

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks, Shane – keep up the good work 🙂

  29. Rashid says:

    I need to talk to one of your professional screenwriters on the phone. We can work together.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Unfortunately, we don’t give out our readers’ numbers.

  30. Alec says:

    How do i know if my script’s ready to send out in the industry? That is what i want to know.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Have you taken the test?

  31. Gordon says:

    And a more distinctive “voice.” You’ve got the writing chops, but perhaps the story, characters, scenes, need to grab the reader more.
    Like Fortunetellers and Horoscopes, a broad brushstroke leaves a big imprint but tells you nothing.
    The first sentence is yours and infact so far from the mark you have reinforced the concept that your Industry, click bait, for the insecure Writer is rife with Shysters.
    Those you can do, etc.
    So stick to the solid stuff, the reason I follow you and leave the crap to the others.

    1. Script Reader Pro says:

      Thanks, Gordon.

      1. Lee says:

        Have what I truly believe is a great idea for a movie, one that has its funny moments but has an underlying strong message, its got love, and some action, but more importantly it’s believable it’s real life and it’s situations will resonate with most viewers, obviously this isn’t the place to go into any significant details but I’ve finally finished the screenplay after 2 plus years and don’t really know what my next step is, have been offered a very small insignificant amount of money for it but it’s not about money for me, it’s so much more important then that,
        Any help or advice/guidance at all will be greatly appreciated
        My email address is: leecoste75@yahoo.co.uk

        1. Script Reader Pro says:

          Congrats, Lee, thanks for sharing. We would recommend following the steps in this post on how to sell a screenplay. Good luck and feel free to reach out with any questions.

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