Read a book. There are dozens of how-to books on screenwriting. Some focus on the mechanics of formatting the screenplay, while others delve into the craft of telling stories in a visual way. "Writing Screenplays that Sell" by Michael Hauge covers a little of both, including a detailed analysis of the screenplay for "Karate Kid." Robert McKee's "Story" is deeper and broader in scope, but the 466-page tome may be a little overwhelming for beginners.
Take a class. If you live outside of Los Angeles, it may be difficult to find an affordable class taught by an experienced Hollywood insider. However, it's not that hard to find teachers who have studied screenwriting at the college level while living in L.A. They may not have a ton of real-world experience, but they'll still have plenty of useful information to share. Look for a class that encourages you write. Be careful, because not all of them will. After some initial instruction, the teacher may ask you to write one scene, for example, and share it with the class.
Write an outline. In an article in "Creative Screenwriting Magazine," screenwriter Jack Adams describes a simple outlining method. In Microsoft Word, create a numbered list from 1 to 40. The first 10 entries will be Act 1, the next 20 entries will be Act 2, and the last 10 entries will be Act 3. Write a one- to two-sentence description for all 40 scenes.
Write a first draft. To be able to focus on writing, as opposed to formatting, invest in one of the leading screenplay programs, such as Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter. They're expensive, but well worth the money for serious screenwriters. It takes just a few minutes to learn the basics of entering scenes, character names and dialogue. Use your outline as your guide and start writing. You don't have to start at the beginning. Read over the scenes from your outline and start with the ones that are vivid in your mind. Continue until you have about 120 pages.
Get feedback. Join a local screenplay discussion group or try websites such as TriggerStreet.com, that allow you to trade feedback with other aspiring screenwriters. It's always difficult to listen to someone ripping apart your work, but it's even tougher if you're sitting in that person's living room. Getting feedback from an anonymous user online is less personal but also less painful.
Write a second draft. Don't be a slave to the feedback you've received, but don't ignore it either. Be brutally honest with yourself. What parts are working, and which scenes need to be axed? By now, you know your characters well, and you can almost think of them as real people. Don't be afraid to let the made-up people in your head guide your revisions. They know what they're doing.
Enter the contest. Read the rules and then read them again. You will be making lots of copies. Make sure you have the rules with you while you're making copies. Make a checklist for everything you need to send, and check it again before you seal up the envelope.
Plan your next move. Don't even look at your screenplay for a week or two. Then, with fresh eyes, read it again, and look for ways to make it better. It could be time to face the fact that what this story needs is a furry, unpredictable and hilarious poodle.