# Hiring a writer for a screenplay: how much does it cost and how to find a writer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199 "2010-08-13T23:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Short\_Script](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@The\_Short\_Script](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Short_Script)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/81 "2015-10-07T17:15:58Z")
Polarieus: Did you ever find a screenwriter for your script? I’m a professional screenwriter with many scripts optioned, sold, and produced. You don’t need to pay WGA scale to see your vision translate to the page. I’ve written 30+ features and hundreds of short scripts for clients just like you: they want to see their ideas in script form. Now that it’s a half decade since your post, there are resources out there so that you can try to produce the film on your own. Answers to your question: How much would this cost? Is it around $5,000, $10,000, $30,000, more? A. I write features for 5K and short scripts for 300 bucks. Screenwriting is easy for me, I’ve written hundreds of features and shorts for over 20 years. PM to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/82 "2015-10-08T05:24:51Z")
The Short Script, I reported your post as possible spam. It’s suspicious-looking enough that I thought it warranted a look by the moderators. If it is, so long. If it isn’t, my apologies, and I owe you one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Short\_Script](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@The\_Short\_Script](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Short_Script)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/83 "2015-10-27T20:09:47Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > The Short Script, I reported your post as possible spam. It’s suspicious-looking enough that I thought it warranted a look by the moderators. If it is, so long. If it isn’t, my apologies, and I owe you one. Definitely not spam 🙂 The OP can find many decent screenwriters on sites like Elance, Upwork, Freelancer… There are just a ton of avenues out there right now for people who don’t want to write, yet want to direct or produce content (which happens to be everybody and his Grandma right now…). I happen to be one of those avenues. Just wanted to post to this thread to reply to OPs questions. And for anyone else (or their Grandma) out there looking for a qualified and excellent screenwriter - there are MANY options. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/84 "2015-10-27T20:24:31Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I really was hoping that the op bumped and said everything worked out and he’s now filthy rich. It turned out that the real treasure was in our hearts all along. ---
**Author:** ![MywifeisasCrankyasaseashell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MywifeisasCrankyasaseashell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MywifeisasCrankyasaseashell)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/85 "2016-01-11T04:28:54Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > It turned out that the real treasure was in our hearts all along. Literally mucus expelled from my body when reading this. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199/86 "2016-01-11T07:49:06Z")
> [@MywifeisasCrankyasaseashell](#): > > Literally mucus expelled from my body when reading this. Gesundheit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiring-a-writer-for-a-screenplay-how-much-does-it-cost-and-how-to-find-a-writer/550199.md?page=4)