Screenwriting : Timeline by Pink Matzke

I have the same question, I'm also waiting.

Can be three months, maybe more.

it does vary a lot Pink Matzke - but if you reach the one month mark, you can gently check in on an updates status. and congrats on the script request!

Congratulations on the script request, Pink Matzke! I agree. it varies. Sometimes weeks, sometimes a month, sometimes months. I like to wait 3 months before checking, but I suggest just move on. That's through email though. Did you get the request on Stage 32 or through email?

thanks guys these have helped a lot!

Could also be NEVER. There was a time in late 2023/early 2024 when I was pitching a romantic drama. My pitch success was excellent....two out three would request the script. This included agents and producers. like Robin Galloway, Thresa Burkhart Gallagher and Sarah Cornelius (there are the ones I can name off the top of my head, there are at least 8-10 others). When did I next hear from them? Never. That's when I learned silence is the loudest "no" you'll ever hear.

You're welcome, Pink Matzke. Hope you hear back soon and it's great news!

I have sent out a query and forgotten about it and then months later, I get a request for a script. I think I had to get into the mindset that I am one puzzle piece of the complete picture of their work flow.

I also wanted to add, I have sent out hundreds and hundreds of queries and heard nothing as well. I honesty don't get hung up any longer on rejection or silence. I just keep sending things out with the hope that someone will align with my vision. That is how we got one of our scripts optioned, someone saw something special in one of our scripts.

My experience is that a 'NO' can take a long time to receive or it can never come. Every 'YES' I've received has come immediately.

In my experience, once, however, the person never followed up with me after our initial phone call. I tried emailing and texting her about a week after but I got no response. After about a month or two had passed, I considered it a lost cause.

I wish someone could see me, I'm literally a ghost, no one sees me or sees my strength in writing, directing, designing, and even drawing and martial arts. I'm tired of being transparent. I want someone to see me and see my strength. Why am I like this?

AZ.AZ. There are times when we all feel unseen, unheard, and unappreciated. It just means you haven't come across people who will. Not everyone will get your or I but I prefer quality over quantity. If you find one person who listens it is better than many who act like they do.

Hi, AZ. AZ. I'm about to post some things on Your Wall that might help.

Hey Pink Matzke There is no specific timeline to hear back from an exec after they receive your script. It's always up to any exec's discretion, needs, mandates, interests, or otherwise on how long they take to crack open your project and dive in. In our experience, some move fast others move slow. There's no firm rhyme or reason, just mainly based on current workflow, existing projects, and other obligations.

I understand how empty the silence can be after receiving a script request. This waiting period is one of the most challenging aspects of the screenwriting journey, and patience is key.

Here's what's likely happening behind the scenes: executives receive numerous script requests and operate on varying timelines based on their current production schedules, development priorities, and reading capacity. Some review material within weeks, while others may take several months. The silence doesn't reflect the quality of your work - it's simply the reality of how busy industry professionals manage their workload.

Consider this perspective: the fact that they requested your script means something in your pitch, logline, or previous material caught their attention enough to warrant further review. That's already a meaningful accomplishment and a very positive signal for you in a highly competitive field.

While you wait, channel this energy productively if you can. Continue writing or outlining your next project, refine other scripts in your portfolio, or research additional industry contacts who might be interested in your work. The most successful writers use these waiting periods as fuel for continued creativity rather than letting uncertainty stall their progress.

Script requests represent genuine industry interest, even when followed by extended silence. Many writers have shared stories of receiving responses months later that led to meaningful opportunities, such as our past contest winner Richard Zelniker, who after earning a general meeting with Executive Producer Brodrick Haygood for winning the 1st Annual Rom Com Contest, spent 2 years toiling away before eventually collaborating as a writer/director on his 2025 film THE VORTEX with Brodrick as his EP. Your material is being considered by someone with the power to advance your career - that's worth celebrating regardless of timeline.

Stay focused on what you can control: continuing to write, improving your craft, and building multiple pathways for your work to find the right champions. Your persistence and dedication to storytelling will serve you well throughout this process.

Thank you Pat, that actually helped me A LOT! I truly appreciate all that you said.

I heard back in a week with very helpful and actionable notes.