Some rule updates and reminders.
New Software Post Restrictions
As we are being repeatedly contacted by people vibecoding their own software, we've found it necessary to update this rule. No software posts of any kind may be made without moderator approval. In general we are not accepting new software listings or research requests. We may look at your request, but unless you’re offering something of significant value to screenwriters specifically, it’s likely we won’t consider it.
We’re even less likely to consider your request if you have a brand new account, a concealed/blank post history, or you have spam-posted your app across multiple subreddits. If you’re offering something that is already available to filmmakers generally (ie: production software or organizational apps) slapping “for screenwriters” isn’t enough to make it of unique value to the community.
We may, depending on our availability, canvas the community for their favourite screenwriting adjacent apps for a future wiki, but for now, users are fully able to research supplementary apps on their own.
Note that requests to post vibecoded software may result in an instant permanent ban. We’re very serious about keeping AI out of this community.
Post Pages Requirement
This is mostly for the newer writers, so if you're an experienced member of the community, this probably doesn't apply to you.
We’ve updated some of the language around ideas crowdsourcing and pages removal. There has been a considerable uptick in users requesting development help with early stage script planning. This is problematic for many reasons, including putting the ownership of ideas in question, publicly workshopping unprotected material, and attempting to farm out creative labour that rightly belongs to the screenwriter. While script theft risks are minimal, ideas are not property. That begins (in the US) at the outline/detailed treatment stage.
At the moment, the majority of “help me with my idea” or “here’s a hundred words of my idea, how do I make it good” stems from a desire to avoid making a mistake, or to make something perfect before it even exists. The reason posts get the “Pages Takedown” is because the process of feedback can’t really begin until the screenwriter has made an attempt. If you’re so afraid of making a mistake that you feel the need to crowdsource approval, then you’re not ready for the feedback process. Making mistakes is the process.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming can be a helpful practice, when done in private with a small, dedicated group. It's not as effective on a public stage with total strangers, and again runs into the issue of trading on ideas you don't control, and can't stop someone else from using. There are plenty of private groups and discord servers where this kind of engagement can be done more effectively.
Note: we will be making future announcements about writers clubs and groups.
If brainstorming is something you feel the need to do here, Logline Monday is the place to do it--at minimum, you’re workshopping something you will actually use.
We will (on a casual basis, or based on reports) be evaluating these early development posts based on whether they’re actually asking a specific question about well-thought out material. If we see evidence that there’s significant work already done and that the question being asked is targeted on a specific issue without being needlessly generalized we may allow the post to stand. Vibe checking or asking for feedback on a single page of prose where you are not asking a very specific question may be subject to takedown.
Outlines
Requests for critique of entire outlines will be more strictly dealt with, as anyone with an entire outline should be moving on to the scripting phase, and not seeking development help on the structure of their script. All structure is execution dependant. Someone can easily recite Syd Field or any other readily available generic text on structure, and your execution can still fail. If structure proves to be your problem, someone will address it when giving feedback on your script--and you’ll have a script to fix rather than something you haven’t started yet.
Minor Business
In addition to the new software rules, we’re blending the script cattle call rule with crowdsourcing ideas rule. The removal reasons will be specific, but they all refer to that rule.
We've also updated some of the language in our removal reasons. Please read them and check out the resources they provide prior to messaging the mods.
It’s worth mentioning here for the people who feel they’re being censored from putting their ideas out into the world — serious industry stakeholders (ie: producers, representatives, etc) are not known for searching this subreddit for development materials. They do not want “ideas”. They want finished scripts, very few of which they source directly from r/screenwriting. Those that attempt to are do so have dubious credentials, and are breaking our cattle-calling rule.
r/screenwriting is a stop on the path towards marketable product and network connections, not a community that will make you into a writer if you aren't one, or lead you to a career. It's a workshop, not a marketplace. The more you can think of it as a resource for improving your work and your peer connections (and for helping others) the more you'll get from it.
If you want more information on how best to proceed, check out these posts:
