What The Closure of Screencraft.org Means for Screenwriters

When One Door Closes...Writers Keep Writing

On February 28, 2025, ScreenCraft - one of the most well-known screenwriting competition platforms - will officially shut its doors. You can go to screencraft.org to see for yourself. For many writers, this feels like another in a long line of industry upheavals. In an era where streaming platforms are tightening their belts, studios are making fewer risky bets, and traditional paths to breaking in seem narrower than ever, the closure of ScreenCraft is a signal. Not of the end - but of transformation.

It’s no secret that the entertainment industry has been through the wringer. Between strikes, layoffs, AI anxieties, changing business models, and apocalyptic weather and fire events, the once-certain path of breaking in - getting noticed through contests, fellowships, or an agent championing your script - has become, at best, unpredictable. ScreenCraft’s decision to shut down is a sign that even established screenwriting institutions are struggling to adapt.

What’s Happening (and What Has Happened) to Screenwriting Organizations?

I get a little direct and potentially harsh, here, everyone, but I’ve been seeing this coming for a long time…this downward spiral of screenwriting organizations. I’ve worked in this space for over 20 years. I’m just going to be blunt.

The last decade has seen an explosion of screenwriting organizations, contests, and platforms attempting to help writers break into Hollywood. Script Lab, The Black List, Stage 32, and many others that have undoubtedly provided invaluable resources, yet the market has become saturated with competition rather than collaboration.

On the surface, this seems like a good thing - more opportunities, more communities, more ways for writers to get noticed. But in reality, many of these organizations have prioritized contests, paid services, and surface-level networking over what truly matters: craft, education, and long-term development. And guess what else they’ve prioritized. Profitability. While I can’t blame them, of course, their roads to profitability have been paved with what I just said…surface-level networking and pay-to-play services.

That’s where the disconnect is happening. Screenwriting isn’t just about getting a script in front of the right person; it’s about being ready when the opportunity comes. Outreach, networking, and exposure won’t get you nearly as far as you think if you’re not constantly working to improve your writing.

Let me ask you this: when was the last time you read a screenplay just for the fun of it? Sorry folks, but if you’re not reading, you’re not a writer.

A poorly written script, no matter how many doors it knocks on, won’t open any of them. This industry is NOT a pay-to-play kind of industry unless you have the ability to fund the budget and production of the script you’ve written. That’s the only true “pay-to-play” in this business.

A lot of the organizations closing their doors (and make no mistake, ScreenCraft is just the beginning - others will follow very soon) have failed to prioritize the one thing that keeps a writer in the game: education and craft development.

Why Competition in Screenwriting Organizations Is a Problem

It’s strange, isn’t it? An industry built on storytelling - where collaboration is key - has somehow turned its support system into a competition. Instead of working together, many organizations operate as if they’re vying for writers’ attention (and pocketbooks), pushing their own services while ignoring the fact that a rising tide lifts all boats.

This is why The Story Farm and the International Screenwriters’ Association (ISA) have always taken a different approach. We don’t just promote our own services - we promote everything we think will help writers, no matter where it comes from. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about which organization “wins” the most writers; it’s about getting writers to where they need to be.

That means more than just finding industry connections. It means making sure that when a writer does get an opportunity, their script is exceptional.

Screenwriters Need Ongoing Development - Just Like Actors

The best actors don’t stop training once they book a role. They take classes, work with coaches, and refine their craft for their entire careers. So why do so many screenwriters believe that once they’ve written a script (or two, or five), they’re “done”?

Screenwriting is a lifelong craft. It’s not enough to take a single seminar, get a one-time set of notes, or win a contest and expect the doors of Hollywood to fly open. You have to keep learning, keep writing, and keep refining your skills.

Many of the organizations that will struggle (or shut down) in the coming months and years have missed this crucial point. They’ve built businesses around opportunity without preparation, when the truth is that writers need both. That’s why real, lasting screenwriting support has to focus on education, craft, and development - first and foremost. The networking and face-to-face communication with executives will come.

I have lots more to say about all of this, but I wanted to send out this little offer to my Substack readers. I’ve recently raised my pricing for consulting and coaching packages, but I am going to lower them for you through February. I want you to go to the ISA’s new ISAConnect Community. If you have a current ISA account, it’s totally free to use, and is connected via your ISA member dashboard after you login. If you don’t yet have an ISA account…again, free, so create one. If you want to upgrade to their Connect membership, it’s only 10/month.

Go here and check out my coaching and consulting in the ISA’s community, and use this code to get 30% off.

SFFEB2025

Let’s work together, one-on-one, in the development of YOU and your craft, alongside the development of your many scripts. With the same code, you can ALSO get 30% off any of the three Story Farm live, 5-Day writing retreats I’m hosting this year (Los Angeles, Portland, OR, and Wisconsin). 30% off is a really big discount on the retreats and it makes me cringe a little BUT…I want you to experience the retreat! They’re incredibly fun and worthwhile.

How Screenwriters Can Stay Relevant (And Optimistic!)

While some doors close, others remain wide open. The Story Farm, is growing, evolving, and actively helping screenwriters sharpen their craft and position themselves for success in this shifting landscape. And organizations like the ISA (NetworkISA.org) are pushing full steam ahead, offering resources, networking, and mentorship opportunities plus a brand new social media community - all of which are more critical than ever.

The game is changing, but the core need for great stories hasn’t. Here’s what writers can do right now to stay relevant, resilient, and ahead of the curve:

1. Write Multiple Scripts – A single great script is no longer enough. Industry professionals want to see a portfolio. Diversify your work - write in different genres, formats, and styles - and continually do so! Don’t just stop at four or five and never write again!

2. Perfect Your Bio and Brand – In a crowded field, you need to stand out. Who are you as a writer? What stories are uniquely yours? Make sure your bio reflects both your personality and professional aspirations. Study other writers and filmmakers you aspire to be and emulate.

3. Build Relationships – The days of selling a script in a vacuum are gone. Attend industry events, join writing groups and educational platforms, and connect with other creatives. The more people who know your work, the better. I’m hosting a 30-Day Screenwriting Challenge for the ISA starting March 1 - it’s a fantastic way to combine education and community AND actually get a draft done quickly.

4. Take Advantage of Emerging Platforms – Traditional Hollywood still holds power, but new opportunities are emerging. From streaming services greenlighting indie films to self-publishing platforms for novels and comics (which often get adapted), there’s more than one way to make an impact. Embrace AI as much as you feel comfortable embracing it. The opportunities to more visually showcase your work are immense, so learn how to use it and then apply it to your marketing materials.

5. Sharpen Your Craft – Competitions may be shrinking, but development opportunities are not. Work with consultants, take courses, and get feedback from professionals who truly understand storytelling. If you don’t want to work with me, check out ScriptAnatomy.com, Lee Jessup, Pilar Alessandra, Michael Hauge, or email me! I’m looking to bolster my roster of writers right now.

6. Stay in the Game – Most people don’t fail because they’re untalented; they fail because they quit. This industry tests endurance just as much as creativity…and this couldn’t be more true today. You need to evolve as a creator just like Hollywood is evolving as an industry.

The Future of Screenwriting

ScreenCraft’s closure isn’t a death knell for screenwriters. It’s a wake-up call. The landscape is evolving, and those who embrace the change will be the ones who thrive. The Story Farm and ISA are here, pushing forward, helping writers not just survive but succeed. If you want help and community, reach out. You can reply to this email if you received in your inbox. You can comment on this post (I’m making it free for all subscribers). You can join the new ISA Community and/or create a profile on their website - networkisa.org. We’re here for you, and we have a lot more to come in the form of industry events, interviews, classes and workshops, and then some.

So keep writing. Keep networking. Keep evolving. Because when one door closes, another is waiting to be kicked open.

—Max Timm and The Story Farm

--Max Timm and The Story Farm