Why should I join the ISA?
If you're interested in pursuing screenwriting, the ISA is a great place to get started. We're here specifically to help proactive screenwriters improve their craft, make connections and forge a career doing what they love most - writing.
Free Basic Membership registration will give you your own personal profile, and allow you to have all of your screenplays in one place - as well as your bio, your resume, and your personal accomplishments.
All Basic members and visitors to the site have access to our Guides & Resources, where you can find listings of literary agents and managers who are willing to consider untried screenwriters, as well as script services, screenwriting groups and many other helpful links.
But upgrade to a paid membership - ISAConnect - and you’ll get even more.
As an ISAConnect member, you'll be able to not only answer posts in our "help wanted" section known as Writing Gigs, but you'll be able to post your own. Your loglines will be added to the Writer's Showcase, where over 3,000 Industry Pros search for writers and projects. You can post your accomplishments and awards to your profile, and possibly be featured in the ISA Spotlight, where Industry Pros look for writers who have had some success and experience.
Plus, ISAConnect comes with discounts on pretty much EVERY resource on the ISA site, saving you hundreds of dollars on Classes, Contests, Events and more, and we’re constantly adding new features to enhance your ISA experience.
In short, the ISA offers proactive and determined writers a chance to grow and succeed.
If you're interested in learning more and signing up for a free Basic account, just go to ISA Register Now to get started. You'll also have the opportunity to sign up for an ISAConnect account at the same time. Welcome aboard!
I forgot my password, what do I do?
If you’ve forgotten your password, just click on "Forgot Your Password?" under the username and password fields on the login page, and you’ll be sent an email with instructions for setting up a new password.
If you’re still can’t log in to your account, please contact support@networkisa.org for assistance and we’ll manually set up a temporary password for you.
I didn't get the password email.
Check your "Spam" or "Junk" folders first. Sometimes these emails land there and can be easily missed. If that's where the reset email ended up, please add the address to your "Not spam" whitelist so we can be sure future emails don't get lost. Also please let us know! It might be something we should look into.
If you don’t see the email there, please contact support@networkisa.org and we’ll manually set up a temporary password for you.
And don't forget to clear your cache, cookies, history and stored passwords before trying to log in again. (Please see “How do I clear my cache and cookies?”)
I have my password, but I still can't log in.
When encountering problems with registering, logging in, upgrading, or editing your profile, the first thing you should always try is clearing your cache and cookies, as this can clean up a lot of errors. (Please see “How do I clear my cache and cookies?”)
That should take care of the problem, but if you continue to experience issues, next try accessing the site using a different browser, as switching browsers can often get you past a glitch. For example, if you normally use Safari, try Chrome. If that fails, then try switching to another device.
If you still can’t log in even after trying all of these steps, please contact support@networkisa.org and we’ll see what we can do to get you into your account.
Please be sure to explain in detail what steps you were taking and what happened after each one.
How do I clear my cache and cookies?
First, make sure you’re using the most up-to-date version of your browser. Then:
For WINDOWS:
1. Go to your browser’s SETTINGS or HISTORY. The location should be somewhere in the upper right of your browser screen, but this will depend on the browser you are using. You may have to click on an arrow, a small gear, some dots or make a selection out of a list.
2. You should then have a choice to select a tab or button that says one of the following, or something similar.
• HISTORY
• PRIVACY
• CLEAR COOKIES & CACHE
• CLEAR BROWSING DATA
3. Select the appropriate link. Please be sure to clear your cookies "From the beginning of time".
For MAC:
• Click on Safari.
• Click Preferences.
• Select the Privacy tab.
• Select Remove All Website Data.
• Click Remove Now.
How do I add an image to my profile?
Log in to your account.
1 .Select MY ACCOUNT.
2. Select MY PROFILE.
3. Scroll down to MY PROFILE PHOTOS.
4. Click on +ADD NEW.
5. BROWSE your hard drive for the image you want to use and SELECT it. Images must not exceed 2 mb.
6. Adjust the size and centering of your image.
7. Click DONE.
That’s it!
You can upload several different images and make one your default by clicking on the gears icon in the upper left-hand corner of the uploaded image.
My picture is warped and stretched. How do I fix it?
If your picture is warped, the data was most likely corrupted during the upload. Use the trashcan icon to delete the photo from your profile and re-upload it. If the same thing happens again, you may have to choose a different photo.
Photo images must not exceed 2 mb.
How do I upload my screenplay?
Log in to your account.
1. Select MY SCREENPLAYS. Click on +ADD NEW.
2. Add SCREENPLAY TITLE. Select CATEGORY and STATUS.
3. WRITERS will already have your information filled in. Add your IMDb listing, if you have one.
4. If you have a co-writer (or writers), click +ADD A CO-WRITER. Fill in their information.
5. Add your LOGLINE.
You must have a logline. Try to make it unique and include some story details. You want your logline to stand out from thousands of others that all sound very similar.
For example: "When her father doesn’t approve, a rich girl runs away with the poor boy she’s fallen in love with.” This is very generic and doesn’t tell you anything. But this example does: “A girl from a wealthy family falls in love with the son of the school janitor, and when her politically-ambitious father demands she break up with him, she instead runs away with him on the eve of the election.”
6. Add your SYNOPSIS.
A synopsis is not required, but we strongly suggest you have one ready.
7. UPLOAD a screenplay.
A DOCUMENT LABEL is the name of the upload, not the screenplay, although you can use it here, too. If you plan on uploading several drafts of a particular script, naming the uploads can make it easier for you to note which is which when going through your list.
For example: Say your script is John Doe. You can upload it with the document label John Doe 11.25.17. Then your next draft, if you want to keep both of them, you can name John Doe 4.15.18. Or go by John Doe - First Draft, John Doe - Fast Track Draft, etc. It's up to you. The name on the screenplay will remain John Doe - the additional information is for you, only.
Screenplays must be in PDF format and no larger than 2MB.
8. BROWSE for the screenplay on your hard drive and select it. It will automatically upload to your profile.
9. Upload a MOVIE POSTER. (ISAConnect feature) Optional.
10. Upload a PITCH TRAILER. (ISAConnect feature) Optional.
11. Upload any ATTACHMENTS. (ISAConnect feature)
List anyone who has attached themselves to your project, such as actors or producers. DO NOT LIST A NAME IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THEIR PERMISSION. Optional.
12. Select TAGS. (ISAConnect feature)
You should select as many applicable tags as you can. The more information you provide, the better your chances of having your script show up in a search. Optional.
13. COPYRIGHT. (ISAConnect feature)
We strongly suggest having your scripts at least registered with the WGA, or copyrighted. Optional.
14. SHARE ON SHOWCASE. (ISAConnect feature)
This will make your work available in the Writer's Showcase. You should at least share your logline, and consider sharing your synopsis. If you have a pitch/trailer, you can opt to share that, too. We do not recommend sharing your screenplay until someone has specifically requested it.
Optional.
You should also have your screenplays listed in your public profile. Anyone looking at your profile will then be able to see you have screenplays available. Optional.
15. CERTIFY that you have the rights to the material.
16. Click SAVE AND CONTINUE.
That’s it!
I can't get my screenplay to upload!
Did you remember to click on UPLOAD after browsing for your screenplay on your computer?
If yes, then please check that your screenplay is in the correct PDF format and the file is no larger than 2MB.
NOTE: PDF files that have been rewritten and saved numerous times are often much larger than writers realize. Open your screenplay and do a SAVE-AS with a different name, and then upload that file instead.
If it still won’t upload, make sure that you’re using the most recent version of your browser, then clear your cache and cookies. (Please see “How do I clear my cache and cookies?”)
If, after clearing your cache and cookies, you still can’t upload, contact us at support@networkISA.org and we’ll see what we can do to get you up and running!
How can I change my screenplay details after I already uploaded it to my profile?
Just select the screenplay in your profile and click on the red pencil icon. This will open the edit option for that screenplay, and you can make whatever changes you need to the listing.
Once you've finished making your changes, scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on SAVE AND CONTINUE. That's it!
What are all those tabs on my Profile page for?
These tabs allow you to organize your personal info and build your profile.
Personal Info and Bio - Tell us a little about yourself.
Training / Credits - Provides a place for you to list any working credits you may have, any training you've received, and what classes you've taken. Classes taken through the ISA website will automatically appear here, and you can manually add classes you’ve taken from other sources.
To remove anything that you've listed, just click on the listing to open it, then click on the trashcan icon to the far right.
Companies - Promote your business. This portion must be filled out if you're promoting yourself as a Mentor.
Notifications - Set all of your email notifications here.
Expenses - Whenever you have any expenditures on the ISA website, like competition fees or classes, you’ll find your costs here.
Resume / Cover – Upload your most up-to-date resume and cover letters here. You can also upload Samples – a few pages of a script, for example, or a short treatment – so you’ll have something available if a Writing Gig requires it.
View Profile – This lets you see a preview of your public profile. If you click on anything on this page, you’ll be asked if you want to see your live profile. Answering “yes” will show you your profile as it is, live on the site.
What is MY RESOURCES?
Everything you list under MY RESOURCES is something that you have set up or run, yourself. If you’ve been vetted as an Industry Pro, you can set up contests, register events, offer classes and products, and post your own Writing Gigs here. Once they've been approved by ISA Admins, they'll appear in the appropriate category on the site.
What is MY TRACKER? How do I use it?
MY TRACKER is where you can keep track of all your Writing Gig submissions and Read Requests. You can find updates from the gig creators here, and requests for additional materials. You can also archive past submissions.
The GIGS TRACKER tab keeps track of all your Writing Gig submissions.
The ALL REQUESTS tab keeps track of both Showcase Requests and Writing Gig submissions.
The process is basically the same for both. When you click on GIGS TRACKER, you should see something that looks like the image below. If there is nothing to read, or if you have already clicked on the Tracker number, it will automatically be set to 0.
After you click on Content Requested, you will get a dropdown menu that looks like this:
Click SEND.
A pop-up will ask you to verify that you want to send it. Click CONTINUE.
You'll see that SEND has changed to SENT. That's it!
If you have "Shared" a file in your profile or in the Writer's Showcase, it means that an interested party can access and read it without having to wait for it to be sent. You'll still get the notification, letting you know that someone wants to read it, but you will see it marked as VIEWED. You don't have to do anything else - if they want to see more, they'll request it and you'll then just click on whatever it is they've requested, and that will automatically send it for you.
I have a Success Story! How do I get it featured in the ISA SPOTLIGHT?
Congratulations!
First you have to add your Success Story to your Profile.
Log in to your account.
Select MY SUCCESS.
Select the type of success you're adding - MY AWARDS, LISTS or MY SUCCESS STORIES.
Click on ADD NEW.
Fill out the information for the type of competition or festival you're adding. If you don't see it listed, just click on CONTACT US TO ADD NEW and fill out the email form.
Please note: We have to wait for permission from the competition before we can add them, so you won’t see them added right away.
Check the "Terms of Use" box.
Click SAVE.
That's it!
Please note: All Success Stories are considered for inclusion in the ISA SPOTLIGHT, but not all will be featured.
The MY SUCCESS feature is only available to ISAConnect members.
How do I cancel my ISAConnect account?
If you wish to cancel your ISAConnect account, just log in to your account and select ACCOUNT DETAILS. You'll find all your account details here - the type of plan you have, the benefits that particular plan offers, and options for upgrading.
You can also make changes and unsubscribe from here, too. If you encounter difficulties trying to change or unsubscribing from your plan, please contact accounting@NetworkISA.org and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Please contact us at least 5 days before the start of your next billing cycle.
How do I delete my account?
If you would like your account deleted, please contact accounting@Networkisa.org and we’ll be happy to assist you. Please note that once your account is deleted, all uploaded information, documents, resumes, screenplays and contacts will be lost forever.
If you change your mind later, you'll have to re-upload and manually input everything all over again.
What is the ISA refund policy?
Modification to CONNECT Membership:
ISA reserves the right to change the price of the CONNECT membership at any time. If you are a member when the price increases, you will remain at the lower cost. However, if you cancel or your credit card expires or declines, your membership fee will increase to the current price at the time of renewal.
Authorization:
Registering for an ISAConnect membership authorizes the ISA to bill your account monthly or yearly, dependent on the subscription selected.
If you have additional questions or require clarification, please refer to the ISA Terms of Use page.
Can anyone apply to a Writing Gig?
You must be an ISAConnect member in order to apply to Writing Gigs.
How do I apply to a Writing Gig?
To apply to a Writing Gigs, click on the gig you are interested in. The Gig Registration Form will open.
REGISTRATION DETAILS should already be filled in with your profile information. If it isn't, fill out this part.
If there is a co-writer on your screenplay, click on +ADD CO-WRITER and fill out their information.
The Writing Gig owner will have indicated what files they want to see. Select your screenplay, and the files from that screenplay will attach to your submission form.
If they have requested a Resume, Cover Letter or Samples, you'll be able to select those, too. If they have not requested those files, you won't see those options.
You can add a short note in the NOTE field. There is a limit of 350 characters.
Check the ISA Terms of Use box.
Click SUBMIT.
That's it!
I applied to a Writing Gig but never heard anything back. Can I contact them to ask why?
Unfortunately, writers do not always get a response after they've submitted to a Gig. Some Gig postings will make this clear in the description, but many times the posters will simply be overwhelmed with applications and are unable to respond to each one.
If a Gig poster decides they want to speak with you, they will contact you directly. We ask all our members to please respect this policy.
Why isn't my Writing Gig submission going through?
You must have a screenplay and logline already uploaded to your profile before you can submit to a Gig.
It also helps to have a synopsis and/or a resume already uploaded, too. When you fill out the registration form and select which screenplay you're interested in submitting, the appropriate documents will be attached to your submission form automatically. The Gig Poster will have checked off what they are interested in seeing.
If you really want to communicate something to the Gig Poster, you can add a Note, too.
How can I keep my screenplay from being included with my Writing Gig submission? It’s attaching it automatically!
Don’t worry, your screenplay is not being sent with your Writing Gig submission.
Your submission will only include what the gig poster has requested. In fact, there’s no way to send anything other than what they’ve requested!
When you upload a screenplay to your profile, you also upload your logline and a synopsis. They are separate files, but they are attached to that screenplay.
If a Writing Gig asks for a logline, you can only send a logline. Nothing else will attach to the submission form. But in order to select the logline you want to send, you have to see your list of screenplays, first. By clicking on the screenplay, you are telling the submission form, “Send the logline from this screenplay.”
It’s the same with Resumes, Cover Letters and Samples. If you have more than one in your profile, you’ll see a list and will have to select the one you want to be attached to your submission form.
You will always have complete control over the information you want to share.
How do I subscribe/unsubscribe to Writing Gig notifications?
Log in to your account.
Select MY PROFILE.
Select NOTIFICATIONS.
Select the type and frequency of notifications you prefer. That's it!
How do I place a Writing Gig?
Log in to your account.
Hover your cursor over the GET CONNECTED tab in the red bar across the top of the page. Click on WRITING GIGS.
On the right side of the page, click on +ADD NEW>>.
1. Under GENERAL INFORMATION, fill out all requested fields.
DATE TO END GIG REQUEST
Put in the date you want your Gig listing to end. Please don’t leave your Gig open-ended. You can always re-list it again later if you need to.
PAYMENT DETAILS
If you’re offering compensation, you must state the details clearly and up front.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WRITING GIG
Provide details of the Writing Gig, including such information as if it’s an off-site or remote gig, if it is for a permanent position or a one-time project, and the type of documents you’re looking for.
2. THE WRITERS WHO SUBMIT MUST PROVIDE
Check the boxes of the documents you want applicants to submit. Please be sure that what you ask for here matches what you’ve written in your description. Members can’t submit the appropriate documents unless these boxes are checked.
For example, if your description states that you want to see resumes, but you forget to check the “Resumes” checkbox, there will be no way for applicants to attach their resumes to their submissions.
3. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE WRITER
If you want additional information that can’t be provided by the checkboxes, you can ask here. For example, you can ask if they’ve won any contests or what their favorite genre is.
4. CHECK ALL TAGS FOR THIS WRITING GIG
This can narrow down the applicant field for you. If you only want to see thrillers, you should state it in the description field, and check it here. Otherwise, if all you say is you want to see screenplays about police detectives, you may end up seeing a lot of buddy-cop comedies and horror films.
Check the ISA Terms of Use agreement.
Click SAVE AND SUBMIT.
That’s it!
IMPORTANT: You won’t see your Gig published on the site right away. All Gigs must be verified first, and are then published one-by-one (or just a few at a time, depending on how many are submitted). This insures that each Gig is featured at the top for at least a little while, and gets individual attention. If you haven’t seen your Gig for a couple of weeks, or if it’s time sensitive, please contact support@networkisa.org.
I posted a Writing Gig. Why isn’t it on the site yet?
Writing Gigs must be approved by ISA Admin before they go live, so you won’t see them up on the site immediately. Gigs are also posted a few days apart so each gig has a chance to be featured at the top of the page for a short while.
Approval doesn’t take long, though. If it’s been a few days and you still don’t see it, please contact support@networkisa.org for assistance.
How do I unsubscribe from the newsletter and other eblasts?
When you receive a newsletter or notification, scroll all the way to the bottom of the email and click on the “Unsubscribe” link. It may say “Update Preferences”, or something similar.
Where can I read past newsletters?
Some of our past newsletters can be found in the Forum here: https://www.networkisa.org/forum/isa-forum-section.php?id=45. We may soon make more available, so check back occasionally!
Why isn't my screenplay getting any views?
If your screenplay isn’t getting views, there may be a couple of reasons.
PROFILE
Consider making your screenplays available in your profile. While this may not seem to be a big deal, it can affect whether someone looking at one script will immediately know that you have others available.
LOGLINE
Since that’s the first thing after the title that grabs a potential reader's attention, you want to be sure it’s as compelling as possible, and contains a hook that makes it something the reader can't ignore. Remember, your logline is competing with thousands of others in the WRITERS' SHOWCASE - many of them nearly identical.
SYNOPSIS
Although it’s not required when uploading a screenplay to your profile, it’s generally a good idea to have one. If someone decides that your logline intrigues them, you might want to have the synopsis right there for them to read, as opposed to making them request it and then wait for a response from you. After all, they're interested now.
TAGS
You definitely want to have as many appropriate and descriptive tags checked as possible.
If you address these issues, the odds of your screenplay being read goes up.
Can you help me get an agent to sell my screenplay?
The ISA is committed to providing information and resources for all of our members, but we are unable to assist you in acquiring representation. Our services offer screenwriters and industry professionals (like agents, directors, producers, etc.) a way to connect and work together, but we do not manage any relationships or deals which may result from those connections.
What happened to my stats? How can I tell how many times my script has been looked at?
During the ISA website update, the Stats feature was removed, but it will be returning to the site. Just check back periodically.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience!
How can I make my screenplay better?
There are many ways to improve your writing skills and elevate your screenplay to the next level – far too many to list here. But these are good places to start:
1. Take advantage of the many resources and guides available on this website.
2. Take part in classes and programs the ISA provides.
3. Consider a mentor and listen to their advice.
4. Visit Pro Tips and Tricks under the GET CONNECTED tab in the red bar at the top of the page.
5. Don’t take criticism of your writing personally.
6. Be honest and critical of your own work.
7. Talk to other screenwriters.
8. Read as many professional scripts as you can.
These are just a few bits of advice. It’s up to you to be proactive and to want to become the absolute best writer you can be. That’s what the ISA is all about!
How do I know someone won't steal my idea if I put it online?
We understand your concern, but it is a risk you choose to take when you submit your script anywhere to producers, big or small. We highly suggest registering your script with the Writers Guild of America, the U.S. Copyright Office, or other similar services in the country you wish to submit your work to.
How can I tell if someone wants to read one of my screenplays?
You can keep track of requests to read your screenplays through the MY TRACKER tab. You can also grant and deny access and archive requests here.
(Please see "What is My Tracker? How do I use it?" for more information.)
What is The Writer's Showcase?
The Writer’s Showcase is a directory of all the scripts in the ISA database that members have uploaded to share. This includes film screenplays, television pilots and shorts.
How do I get my scripts into the Writer’s Showcase?
ISAConnect members who upload their screenplays into their profiles can choose to "Share" their screenplays, loglines and synopses in the Writer’s Showcase.
Why can’t I see screenplays in the Writer’s Showcase? Why can’t I see my own?
Screenwriters are not able to see other writers' screenplays listed in the Writer’s Showcase. This includes ISAConnect members. It also applies to your own screenplays.
The only people who can see screenplays in the Writer’s Showcase are Industry Professionals like producers, managers, etc. who have been vetted by ISA.
The only exception is Shorts, which can be viewed by everyone.
How do I get access to the Writer's Showcase?
Only approved Industry Pros may have access to the Writer’s Showcase. These would be producers, directors, literary agents, literary managers, and other industry professionals who have an interest in purchasing screenplays or hiring writers.
If you’re interested in becoming an ISA Industry Pro, you can send an email to ipsupport@networkisa.org. You will be asked to provide a resume and a link to your IMDb listing.
I keep trying to enter a competition, but it's not accepting my submission.
Do you have your screenplay already uploaded to your profile? If you’re having trouble with your submission, this is usually the problem. You will need to go back to your profile and upload the screenplay you want to submit, then return to the registration form and try again.
You might also want to have your logline and synopsis already uploaded and ready to go, although many competitions won’t require them. It’s best to be prepared!
I accidentally submitted the wrong draft of my screenplay. Can I replace it?
Most competitions will allow an entrant to replace their screenplay with an edited or later draft within 24 hours of their submission. They’re pretty firm on this because otherwise it’s not fair to other entrants.
Please contact the competition directly for further details. You can find contact information for each competition on their individual pages, under the "Contact" tab.
I need to cancel my entry. How do I get a refund?
Most competitions have a "no refunds" policy. Some competitions, however, will allow cancellations and refunds within 24 hours of the submission.
Please contact the competition directly for further details. You can find contact information for each competition on their individual pages, under the "Contact" tab.
I purchased feedback. How long do I have to wait?
That will depend on the competition or program that you’ve entered.
ISA Development Evaluation is 6-8 weeks.
Fast Track is 90 days.
For all others, please check the “Details” and “Rules / FAQs” tabs on each competition’s page.
If you don’t receive your feedback within a reasonable time, you can send an email directly to the competition admins. Contact information can be found on the competition page, under the “Contact” tab.
I entered a non-ISA contest and never heard anything back. Can you help me?
If you haven’t heard anything, and it’s been longer than a reasonable amount of time, please contact the contest administrators directly. Contact information can be found on the competition page, under the “Contact” tab.
If you get no response, please contact us at support@networkisa.org and we’ll see what we can do.
I’m having problems registering for an event.
You can send an email directly to most Event Admins by clicking on the “Contact” tab on each event’s page.
Why don’t you have an ISA Third Thursdays event in my city?
We’re always interested in adding more cities to our Third Thursdays events! If you’re interested in setting one up in your city, you can send an email to Molly@NetworkISA.org and she’ll help you get started.
We’ve been adding cities from all over the world, so why not yours?