To prepare a screenplay for contests and readers, confirm the story works, do a final listening pass to catch false lines and typos, check standard formatting and page count, clean up the title page, export a PDF, and follow each submission's rules exactly, including file naming and whether your name may appear.
You have finished a draft. You have rewritten it. You are ready to send it out. Before you do, it is worth spending a few focused hours making sure the script is as easy as possible to read and as hard as possible to put down.
This checklist covers the story, a final listening pass, formatting, the title page, and submission details.
Is your screenplay ready to submit?
It is ready when the story works, a full read produces only minor notes, and the formatting is clean. If you still have big structural doubts, keep rewriting.
Ask yourself a few honest questions:
- Can you state the story in one or two sentences?
- Does something compelling happen in the first few pages?
- Is the main character's goal clear by the end of the first act?
- Does each scene change something?
- Has anyone else read or heard it, and did their notes surprise you?
If you are not sure, run another pass of the listen, note, and revise workflow before submitting.
Why do the first pages matter so much?
Because readers form an impression quickly. The opening pages tell them how carefully the script was written and whether the story will hold their interest.
Give your opening extra attention:
- Start as close to the story as possible.
- Introduce your protagonist in a way that shows who they are.
- Establish tone within the first page or two.
- Cut any line of action that describes something the reader does not need.
- Make sure there are no typos. Not one.
An invented example of a lean opening:
FADE IN:
EXT. STATE FAIR - MIDWAY - NIGHT
Neon. Screams from the Zipper. JUNE PARKS (16, braces,
clipboard) marches through the crowd like she owns it.
She stops at a dunk tank. Inside, dripping, is her
MATH TEACHER.
JUNE
You're late for your shift, Mr. Hale.
MR. HALE
I'm literally in the tank.
JUNE
Then you're early for the next one.
In a few lines, the reader knows the setting, the tone, and exactly who June is.
How do you do a final listening pass?
Listen to the whole script with action lines read aloud, and note every stumble, typo, and moment where your attention drifts.
This pass is about polish, not structure. You are listening for:
- Typos and missing words, which are much easier to hear than to see after many rereads.
- Inconsistent character names, such as "MR. HALE" in one scene and "HALE" in another.
- False lines that still sound written. Our guide to natural dialogue can help.
- Overlong action that slows the read.
- Confusing moments where you lose track of who is where.
An AI table read makes this pass easy to do alone. In Table Read, you upload a PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, or text file, and each character is read in a different voice, with optional narration of the action lines. The first five pages are free with no card, which is a good way to test your opening before anything else. For live options, see our guide to running a table read.
What formatting do contests and readers expect?
Standard screenplay formatting: 12-point Courier or a close equivalent, conventional margins, and properly styled scene headings, action, character cues, and dialogue.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Font | 12-point Courier or a standard screenplay equivalent |
| Margins | Your software's default screenplay margins, not adjusted to squeeze pages |
| Scene headings | Consistent INT./EXT., location, and time of day |
| Character cues | Same spelling every time; first appearance in action in uppercase |
| Parentheticals | Used sparingly, only where delivery is not clear |
| Transitions | Kept to a minimum |
| Scene numbers | Usually omitted in spec scripts |
| Camera directions | Rare; let the writing imply the shot |
| Page numbers | Present and correct |
Formatting is not the point of a script, but mistakes distract. Clean formatting lets the reader forget about the page and focus on the story.
How long should your screenplay be for a contest?
Within the contest's limits and the usual range for your format. Many feature specs fall roughly between 90 and 120 pages, and TV pilots have their own common ranges.
If you are over, cut content rather than adjusting margins. Our article on screenplay page count and runtime covers typical ranges and honest ways to trim.
What should the title page include?
The title, a "Written by" credit, and contact information, unless the submission rules say to leave your name off.
- Title, centered, in the upper portion of the page
- "Written by" and your name below it, if allowed
- Contact details, often in the lower left corner, if allowed
- No images, logos, or elaborate design
- No draft dates or revision colors on a spec submission, unless requested
Some contests read scripts blind. In that case, your name should only appear in the submission form. Read the rules for each one.
What file should you submit?
A PDF, exported directly from your screenwriting software, unless the rules ask for something else.
Name the file clearly, following any naming instructions. Open the exported PDF and scroll through it before sending, checking that page breaks, dual dialogue, and the title page all look right. For more on formats and conversions, see PDF vs. FDX vs. Fountain.
What is the complete submission checklist?
Story, sound, format, title page, file, and rules. Tick each one before you press submit.
- Story works, and the opening pages are strong.
- Final listening pass completed, with notes addressed.
- Character names consistent throughout.
- Standard formatting with no cheated margins.
- Page count within limits.
- Title page follows the submission's rules.
- PDF exported, opened, and checked.
- File named according to instructions.
- Logline, synopsis, or other materials prepared if required.
- Deadlines, fees, and eligibility rules confirmed.
What should you do after you submit?
Keep writing. Start the next script or the next draft rather than waiting on results.
If you receive notes, sort them the same way you would after a table read: observations first, suggestions second. Then run another listening pass on the revision. The habit of hearing your pages is one of the most reliable ways to keep improving from script to script. If you are building that habit now, how to hear your screenplay read aloud is a good place to start, and Table Read is one option for making it part of every draft.
Frequently asked questions
What do contest readers look for first?
Clean formatting, a strong opening, clear characters, and a story that moves. The first pages set expectations, so make sure they are polished and that something compelling happens early.
Should I put my name on a screenplay I submit to a contest?
Follow the contest's rules. Some ask that your name appear only in the submission form, not on the script, so readers judge the pages blind. Others allow a standard title page.
How long should a contest screenplay be?
Within the contest's stated limits, and generally within the common range for your format and genre. Many feature specs land roughly between 90 and 120 pages.
Is it worth doing a table read before submitting?
Yes. Hearing the script, whether with people or an AI table read app, catches clunky lines, confusing moments, and typos that silent proofreading misses.
Should I include scene numbers in a spec script?
Generally no. Scene numbers are a production convention. A spec script sent to contests or readers usually leaves them off, unless the guidelines ask otherwise.
Can I resubmit a revised script to the same contest?
It depends entirely on the contest. Some allow revised drafts for a fee, some do not accept resubmissions in the same season. Check the rules before entering.