Screenwriting contests

[abear111]

You're a gem, Don

[ScriptNurse]

I would have thought that, too. Besides, it's not as if I were profiting from it.

[padnar]

HI ,
I feel shelling an entry $10 and been given a cash prize is not a bad thing .
I am not speaking about the money , but if we win it will be easy to succeed
as a script writer .   Personally I find winning an award helps you greatly in promoting
oneself
padma

[ScriptNurse]

Reasons contests charge an entry fee:

1. Cash prize money has to come from somewhere.
2. Pay administrative overhead costs like duplicating scripts and shipping them to judges).
3. Some are NOT non-profit and run contests to make money.

I tried #1 with an entry fee of $10 with ALL of it being awarded as cash prizes and instead of 100 entries there were 5 and the contest was canceled due to lack of interest.

I personally bear the cost of shipping the prizes to winners. Sometimes this causes a little delay in getting them delivered but they've been understanding and patient.

The only support I've ever asked for is to make purchases through the Writers Computer Store or Amazon.com. The very first purchase and potential income for Script Nurse was in January. Last year, purchases from Amazon amounted to $6.85. I figure eventually there'll be a little something to defray costs, but it's more important to me that questions get answered and writers get help.

[laetitia]

Is it worth it to enter several screenwriting contests?

for example:
http://www.filmmakers.com
or http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/main/

There's just so many and why are they so expensive, aren't they supposed to be non-profits?