Hi everyone! I'm interested in joining the Writers' Room primarily for learning and understanding the scriptwriting process. I wanted to ask a few questions before joining:
Can I join initially just to observe and learn? I'd love to attend the weekly Zoom sessions and learn from executives and other writers.
My primary language is Hindi, so I'm not very comfortable with speaking in English yet. Will this be an issue? Can I participate by listening and learning first?
Can I start writing scripts later when I feel more comfortable and confident?
Is the Writers' Room membership free or paid? If paid, what is the cost?
I'm really eager to learn, but want to make sure this setup works before joining. Thanks for your guidance!
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Hi, Sumit Kumar! You can sign up for your first month of the Writers' Room free here (www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip). You can use that month to join events (to observe and learn) and use the resources in the Writers' Room.
The events and resources in the Writers' Room are English. You might need a translator.
"Can I participate by listening and learning first?" Yes.
Yes, you can start writing scripts later when you feel more comfortable and confident.
The monthly cost for the Writers' Room is $39.00.
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The Writers’ Room offers the first month free and then charges $39 per month. I wanted to ask—does this membership also provide any opportunity for earning or monetization? Please guide on how creators can financially benefit through this program, as understanding the earning potential will help in deciding whether the subscription is a worthwhile investment.
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You can use the resources in the Writers' Room to learn how to write scripts, pitch scripts, and network, Sumit Kumar. These things could lead to you selling scripts and getting paid jobs in the industry.
And you can submit your scripts to Open Writing Assignments (OWAs) in the Writers' Room. Here's a post that explains what a Writers' Room OWA is: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/What-is-an-OWA
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Thank you for the suggestion. You mentioned that I might need a translator. Could you please recommend which translator or translation tool would be most suitable according to Stage32’s professional standards, so I can work accordingly?
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You're welcome, Sumit Kumar. I don't know of any translators or translation tools, but you could probably find one on Google.
And there's a lot of perks in the Writers’ Room:
The Coverage Reports are every Monday. WR members read a member's script and write feedback on the script before the Coverage Report, then everyone gives their feedback during the Coverage Report.
There's an Executive Hour webcast every week where an executive comes in and talks about the industry, gives advice, etc.
There's also a Writers' Cafe different times throughout the week. The Writers' Cafe is like a writing accountability group/encouragement group.
Pitch Practice is every Thursday night at 5:30 P.M. PST/8:30 P.M. EST. You can sit in and listen to members practice their projects and give them feedback. You can pitch your project too, but you have to sign up. The hosts, Noel Thompson and John Mezes, take names during Pitch Practice for people to pitch the following week. You have to sit in and listen at the practice before you can pitch (I think once or twice). One night each month is the Pitch Practice Happy Hour where everyone hangs out and gets to know each other better. I think it's the 3rd or 4th week every month.
The Pitch Tank in the Writers’ Room is where you pitch your script to an executive and get feedback. The Pitch Tank is once a month.
The Writer's Toolkit. The toolkit has documents to help you on your screenwriting journey. Documents like scripts you can read, pitch decks, a query letter template, etc.
And there are other WR perks (I'm copying and pasting from the "Frequently Asked Questions" section on the Writers' Room portal page):
10% off Stage 32 Coverage, Consultations, Contest entries
10% off Stage 32 Next Level Education Labs and Classes
Annual members receive 1 (one) free contest entry per year
Surprise Perks including Free webinars, discounted Pitch Sessions, and more! The savings that you’ll get on the services pays for the Writers’ Room membership! The more you utilize the Stage 32 services, the more valuable the membership becomes!
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This is my last question. Based on this, I wanted to ask: for earning purposes, what is the minimum number of characters or words required in a line to be eligible—whether it is for writing a script, pitching a script, or selling a script? Thank you for your support and guidance.
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You're welcome, Sumit Kumar. I'm not sure what you mean.
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For pitch eligibility, what should be the minimum script length? Could you please clarify the required characters and word count for a script to qualify?
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I don’t think the word count is important in screenplays, Sumit Kumar. The number of pages is important though. A feature screenplay can be different lengths. My feature scripts are usually around 90 pages. Try to keep your script under 120 pages. That’s not a rule, but some producers, directors, etc. don’t like reading really long scripts.
Stage 32 has two written pitch examples (one for a show and the other for a movie). Stage 32 also has a verbal TV pitch beat sheet and a verbal feature pitch beat sheet. You can get them by emailing success@stage32.com.
Here's three Lounge posts with pitch advice:
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitch-Advice
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-44
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Why-Pitching-Matters-And-How-to-Mak...
Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Write a 2 Page Pitch for Your Television Series" (www.stage32.com/education/products/free-stage-32-webinar-how-to-write-at...).
Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Create a 2 Page Pitch For Your Feature Film" (www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-create-a-2-page-pitch-for-your...).
Stage 32 also has a free pitch webinar: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...
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I just want to clarify something — for a screenplay of 90–120 pages, is it usually typed using software, or is a handwritten script also acceptable?
And for software like Final Draft, do writers have to purchase it themselves, or is it usually available in the writing room/platform provided by the production?
Also, one more thing — when writing a screenplay, is there a specific template or structure that writers follow, or is it completely driven by personal creativity? Does a template make the writing easier, or does the writer have to build their own creative flow?
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Screenwriting software, Sumit Kumar. From what I've learned, the writer buys the software. Check out this blog: www.stage32.com/blog/screenwriting-software-to-use-if-you-cant-afford-fi...
I use the three-act structure to write a feature script. And check out this webinar called "13 Steps to Nail Your Feature Screenplay Structure": www.stage32.com/education/products/13-steps-to-nail-your-feature-screenp...
I suggest using one of the structures (like a three-act structure) when outlining a script (if you want to outline) and writing the script. Structure is a BIG part of writing scripts.
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Scrivener is priced at $59.99 — is that a lifetime access license? And is Scrivener considered industry-acceptable in both Hollywood and Bollywood? The UI looks easy, but I wanted to ask your opinion — do you recommend using Scrivener for screenwriting, or is there a better software option you suggest?
If there are more affordable software options that are still reliable and industry-friendly, I would love to know your recommendations as well.
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I'm not sure, Sumit Kumar. I haven't used Scrivener. Someone in the Screenwriting Lounge might have experience with Scrivener (www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting).
I use Final Draft 12 to write scripts, and I use WriterDuet as a backup. WriterDuet is fast and easy to use. You can write three projects for free with WriterDuet, then it's $9.99 a month for WriterDuet. www.writerduet.com/pricing
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WriterDuet allows me to write 3 free projects, but I’m a beginner. I want to know where I can generate ideas for my short film projects. How should I start writing, what should I write first, and what is the basic step-by-step process for beginners? Please guide me.
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You can get ideas for scripts from movies, shows, life, the news, social media, photos, and videos, Sumit Kumar. You can also ask "what if?" like "what if _______ (a movie) took place in ________ (another place, country, or planet)?"
Pick the story idea you're most excited about/the idea that's most unique and write that one. That's what I do.
Check out this outline template I made. It's for feature scripts, but you can use some of the things in it for short scripts. www.stage32.com/profile/811418/Screenplay/Outline-Template-for-Feature-S...
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How much time does it usually take to write a project script — both minimum and maximum? And do I need to register my name with any writers’ association to write scripts? If yes, is there any annual fee for that registration?
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It depends, Sumit Kumar. Writers write at different speeds.
You don't need to register your name with writers' association to write scripts. I suggest registering your scripts with the Copyright Office in your country before posting them online or sharing them with anyone, but it depends on the copyright laws in your country. You might not need to register your scripts.
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I know writers work at different speeds, but I wanted to ask: approximately how much time does it usually take to write a script? What is the minimum and maximum time for writing a short film, a TV pilot, or a feature-length script? Also, how much extra time do rewrites normally add?
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There isn't an approximately time to write a short script, feature script, etc., Sumit Kumar. It depends on the writer. It can also depend on the story. Some stories are harder to write, so they could take longer to write. The same thing goes for rewrites.
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I found many pages online with the name Maurice Vaughan, including several Wikipedia results, but I’m not sure which one—if any—belongs to you. Could you please share the correct link to your official page or profile?
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My main page is here on Stage 32, Sumit Kumar. I'm also on Twitter/X (https://x.com/ScreenwriterMaV), Instagram (www.instagram.com/screenwritermauricevaughan), and some other sites.
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IMDB?
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Sumit Kumar www.imdb.com/name/nm3288923/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_7_in_0_q_Maurice%...
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On Stage32, how can I check someone’s IMDb credits, especially their writing credits? Where exactly can I see if their name is listed as a writer on those projects?
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Thank you very much for your time and guidance. Your insights on writing timelines, project ideas, the script-writing process, and profile verification were extremely helpful. I truly appreciate your support.
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You can see a person's IMDb credits on their Stage 32 profile, Sumit Kumar, like in the screenshot (the credits on my profile).
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You're welcome, Sumit Kumar. Hope my comments help! And I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. If you ever have any questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know. We have badges on our pictures. Or you could email support@stage32.com.
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Thank you so much for guiding me. Your support as a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator is truly valuable. I appreciate your help, and I will definitely reach out if I have any questions.
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You're welcome, Sumit Kumar. Okay. Have a great rest of the week!