There are a lot of things you can do to help yourself build out a network and make screenwriter buds. One of them stands far above the rest. It sounds completely underwhelming, but I 200% guarantee if you do it, it’ll be worth your while.
Help people.
Help everyone you can in and around the screenwriting community. Not just people you think might help you break in. Help everyone. Every opportunity you see, jump on it. Be reasonable about giving your time, never be a nuisance, and never expect anything in return. Not always getting what you give is a part of life, but in the case of networking, it will eventually pay off.
Worse-case scenario you’ll make the screenwriting community a better place. Best-case scenario, someone views you as a helpful person, you make the screenwriting community a better place, and it becomes a step towards that overall deal you’ve been daydreaming about.
