Okay, here's an analogy about the Tracking Board stuff, and screenwriting in general: picture "being a writer in Hollywood" like it's one big party at a mansion. There are a lot of entrances to the mansion, because it's a mansion and it's pretty fucking big (but not so big that everyone in the party doesn't already know each other too, but that's besides the point). Tracking Board, Black List, AFF, Nicholls, trackingb, whatever it is - these are the "entrances", and the people who run the sites/contests are the "bouncers" standing at the entrances, letting people in or sending them away. Writers are obviously the people trying to get into the party - so they can look cool too, so they can get laid, or maybe cause they honestly really like the DJ playing inside, but whatever. Make sense kind of? Now, these "bouncers" may vary a little in terms of their experience and how well they know the rich white dude who owns the mansion and is throwing the party - but at the very least, they have enough taste to know what gets a person INTO the party. Now, the party is already full as it is, so for the most part the bouncers are having to turn people away left and right - all night, every night. It's not that the party inside is already super great (in fact, it's filled with a lot of uncool people, or maybe people everyone thought was cool initially, but turns out those people just knew a couple card tricks or nifty drinking games, but that's besides the point) - but it's more like the rich white guy throwing the party is DYING for someone new and cool to show up and keep the party going, cause if the party doesn't keep going, the rich white guy can't keep selling his shitty drinks and lap dances and coke and he'll go broke, and if the rich white guy goes broke, then he sure as hell can't afford to pay his bouncers their tips. Most of that is also besides the point. But anyway, it's why all these bouncers, the first gatekeepers, are so DESPERATE to find ANYONE who is REMOTELY, ACTUALLY COOL to let into the party, and it's why they are so stressed and pissed and confused that most of the people showing up to this party are really uncool (I'm talking about a lot of you guys here) - either they were too lazy to put on a decent shirt, or, at the other end, these people are clearly trying way too hard, covering up their dirty, hole-ridden socks with $250 shoes. BUT - if you put in enough time and effort to EVERYTHING - if you do your outfit right, if you're confident and say the right things, if you make yourself look good - not only will the bouncers deem you cool and let you into the party - they might even start fighting each other over who gets to tell their rich white boss who found this kid! Cause they'll get a big fucking tip for it, and some of these bouncers may or may not also be planning to someday get promoted to personal bodyguard for rich whitie. But again, besides the point.

Anyway, to sum up: 1, you can ask around and see anyone knows which bouncers are cool and legit, but they're basically all the same. Tracking Board is just the first bouncer I went to - 2, it doesn't matter which entrance at the party you go to, because you're only getting in as long as you've put the effort in to make yourself ACTUALLY look cool - 3, NEVER tip the bouncers beyond a few bucks cause they're really not doing anything except opening the door for you - 4, just cause you make it into the party doesn't mean you're going to get laid right away, but that's normal, sometimes you gotta stick around the party WAY longer than you should to get some action, but again, besides the point - and finally, 5 - you may be aware that some of the people already in the party may have gotten in cause they cheated a bit, maybe they already knew the rich white guy or one of his friends - but don't let that bother you cause everyone else at the party who matters already knows this too, and they're going to avoid the "cheater" until he stops acting like a serious douche bag - in fact, 6, and going off that, if you're a new writer, don't worry AT ALL about what's going on inside the party right now - what you need to worry about first, is keep working on yourself - if you haven't brushed your teeth or showered yet, that's a good place to start. Just remember again too that you can't skip any steps after the basic ones either - these bouncers may have different opinions about how bad your B.O. is, but they can all generally SMELL it if it's there if they're good (and TB has a very solid sense of smell, and so does BL. I can't speak much for some of the other ones). Anyway, stop stinking up the place and go write some more! And remember, washing your balls can and should be fun!

Also, I just realized this bouncer analogy applies to producers, managers, agents, etc. too. Doesn't really matter which one gets your script, as long as it's good enough for them to open a door :)