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��̳ Writersroom - Our place in the ��̳ and the television drama landscape

2023-02-06T11:39:31+00:00

Who are you?

��̳ Writersroom holds a unique position in the UK’s screenwriting landscape. Many members of the wider writing community are aware of us and some of the work we do; but when I am lucky enough to speak at public-facing events I’m often asked about how ��̳ Writersroom – in practical terms – fits into ��̳ Drama Commissioning and the wider ��̳. I hope I’ll be able to fill some of the gaps in people’s knowledge about us, how we fit in and what we can and can’t do when we work with writers.

How do you fit into the ��̳?

��̳ Writersroom sits as a unit within ��̳ TV Drama Commissioning and thus our strategic direction is guided by the needs and wants of the TV Drama Commissioning Editors across the UK. This vision is, by its nature, quite long-term: we discover and develop writers whose work may not mature for several years; so, it is important that we are alive to both the immediate needs of our commissioning colleagues and our partners in independent production companies, as well as the longer-term evolution of Television Drama as a form.

We also work, on a project by project basis, with colleagues in other scripted departments or departments that need scriptwriting expertise. This includes Radio Drama, Childrens, Comedy, Research and Development and others.

So, how do you do that?

Our job is to work with emerging writers and to engage with those whom we feel are starting to find their authorial voice. We look for people who can bring the best characters and stories to the screen. We achieve this through our various groups and projects – e.g. Drama Room, Voices or the Pilot Programme (formerly The TV Drama Writers Programme); and the majority of our writers come to our attention through our annual Open Call script submission window.

We also try to ensure that we are across as much new writing as we possibly can by attending plays, short films, script-readings and taking meetings with writers. To that end, the staff in each of our offices (Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, & Salford) is constantly engaging with the writers and writing in their particular area of the country. Each office is headed up by an Assistant Commissioner or Development Executive whose brief is to work with and develop the talent in their area; and, simultaneously, to work with their respective Drama Commissioning Editor to help early writers understand and shape what ��̳ Drama might look like in future years.

How do the writers you work with get their scripts produced?

We always stress that in ��̳ Writersroom, we develop writers, NOT projects.

Writers often think that when they send a script to us, we are reading it with the intention of making that specific script for broadcast. This is not the case. Although ��̳ Writersroom sits within the ��̳ Drama Commissioning department, we do not pitch projects to them. The Commissioning teams only consider ideas and scripts which come via production companies – either ��̳ Studios, or one of several independent drama companies. The Commissioning Editors take pitches from those production companies and make decisions on projects based on a combination of the idea, the writer and the company. They are assessed not just on the talent of the writer, but also the talent and track record of the people who will be responsible for making the show.

So, for example, if you have a drama series idea that you want to submit to the ��̳, you must first get a production company interested. If someone in that company – maybe a Head of Development or an Exec Producer – thinks it’s a great idea, and they believe you can write it, they will then work with you to develop the series, and to shape it to fit their knowledge of what the ��̳ is looking for. You should start being paid once you are writing more than a one-page outline.

The company will then pitch it to a ��̳ Commissioning Editor, who, if they like the project and believe in the talent of the writer and producer(s), will commission further paid development, including scripts. Eventually, if the development process creates a brilliant show, and the Drama Commissioner and Channel Controller believe it will work for the audience, and there is a slot for it, and funding is in place (including potentially a co-commission with another broadcaster), and great talent is attached by then, and all the pieces fall into place – then it will be ‘greenlit’: in other words, the commission will be confirmed, and the project will go into production. As you can see it’s a long, hard, competitive and – at times – frustrating road.

Does ��̳ Writersroom help forging relationships with production companies?

Yes. Independent production companies are always on the lookout for new talent capable of delivering original and exciting drama. For many companies and producers, just the knowledge that a writer has been selected for one of our development groups is sometimes enough to spark their interest in a particular writer. From our perspective, we aim for writers on our development programmes to have various levels of engagement with independent companies, dependent on the group they are in. For example, those on one of our Voices groups will start to become familiar with some indies and how they work; whereas writers on the Pilot Programme, which develops our most experienced writers, will work one-to-one with one of our indie production partners.

And how does that fit in with the rest of the ��̳?

Home-grown Drama is a key component of the ��̳’s strategy to provide the licence-fee payer with the best in British screenwriting and it is the job of ��̳ Writersroom to ensure that the country’s writers have the skills and knowledge to better approach their creative career. By providing writers with key skills and opportunities early in their career, we believe that we will be rewarded with excellent British drama in the future.

��̳ Writersroom - How we find and develop writers

��̳ Writersroom - How we find and develop writers

2022-10-12T09:04:59+00:00

The Head of New Writing for ��̳ Drama Commissioning and ��̳ Writersroom explains our work with writers and how ��̳ Writersroom and Drama Commissioning work together to develop talented storytellers.

There is a constant hunger for brilliant, original stories and storytellers at the ��̳ and for that reason the team here at ��̳ Writersroom are dedicated to finding, nurturing and uplifting writers at every stage of their careers. We endeavour to make ��̳ Writersroom a home for writers where individuals can learn, share, experiment with their craft and take risks in a supportive environment. We’re unique in the industry in that we’re a dedicated team of 15 individuals based out of five ��̳ hubs across the UK, solely committed to finding and championing writers. Our goal is to be an approachable open door to the ��̳, and we strive to create a democratic, safe and inspiring space for writers. We want to encourage writers to feel empowered to tell the stories they want to tell and for their craft to be nurtured to its fullest potential.

��̳ Writersroom is an integral part of the ��̳ Drama Commissioning team and has a direct link to the many exciting opportunities this presents for writers. Our Drama Commissioning colleagues are committed to working with the broadest range of storytellers from backgrounds and experiences that represent modern life across the whole of the UK. And so, we work closely to introduce them to some of the most exciting emerging voices from across the country that we identify during the course of our work.

Our ambition within ��̳ Writersroom is to:

Discover new voices and writers
Represent the length and breadth of creative talent in the UK
Nurture new and emerging writing talent
Propel writers to the next stage of their career
Help writers to tell stories that audiences want to see and hear

How we find and develop writers

First up it's important to stress that we're looking for writers, not projects. ��̳ Writersroom does not commission or produce television projects, rather we seek out the most exciting and promising new voices who could be the original series creators of the future, and we support them to develop their writing craft skills, industry knowledge and contacts via a series of targeted programmes of professional development.

If you are interested in submitting a scripted television idea to the ��̳ for further development, then you need first to have a production company attached who will send the project directly to the ��̳ Drama Commissioning team for consideration.

We look for new writers in a number of different ways. Our team members across the UK regularly attend new writing events, plays, festivals and screenings of new work where we can meet writers and talk to them about their work and career aspirations. We also work closely with industry partners and colleagues to share information about promising new writing talent. However, the main way that we discover new voices is through our annual Open Call script submission window.

Each year we throw open the ��̳ Writersroom doors and ask writers to send us a recent sample of their work. We ask writers to send us the script that they are most happy with at the time, and which is a strong showcase of their own original voice. This script could be written for the medium of TV, theatre, radio, film or online and should be an example of your best possible writing regardless of budget, location or any of the other normal considerations of production. We are excited to read your scripts to get a sense of your own unique voice and your potential in time to write for the ��̳. Interesting new writers we identify via the annual Open Call may be invited to take part in our Drama Room or Voices writer development groups.

Our writer development groups

For writers hoping to enrich their craft, voice and industry knowledge, we have five cornerstone writer support programmes:

��̳ Writersroom's Write Across

Write Across

Write Across is a short local 6–8-week programme aimed at identifying exciting and diverse new voices, those who are at the beginning of their writing journeys and helping to demystify the process of writing for television.
We will select up to 15 participants per Write Across group.
The programme will cover the fundamentals of writing for screen with introductions to key industry development documents and processes. We give writers the toolkit to transform their ideas into written work.
Participants will work towards identifying an original idea for a drama series and develop a pitch doc to help them articulate their ideas.
We will bring the programme to a different city or region each year and work locally with partners at the heart of the new writing scene in the chosen area to spread the word about the programme and drive applications.
Write Across ran for the first time in Liverpool in the first half of 2022. Find out more in a blog post from one of the writers involved

��̳ Writersroom's Voices

Voices

Voices is a six-month programme for emerging writers who have a strong creative track record in aligned creative fields (theatre, short film, comedy, spoken word etc) but are new to television writing.
We run six Voices groups annually across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Up to 12 writers per group (circa 70 writers across the whole of the UK each year) will be invited to take part in the six-month programme.
The programme offers an insight into how the television industry works with expert masterclasses, craft sessions, roundtables and discussions providing participants with the core tools and knowledge to write for broadcast television.
Writers will hear from industry guests such as professional screenwriters, producers, commissioners and agents, as well as connecting and developing professional relationships with writing peers amongst the group.
Participants will define and develop a new TV series outline as part of their time with us on Voices.
Hear from a recent member of our Voices group in Wales over on our blog

��̳ Writersroom's Drama Room

Drama Room

Drama Room is a one-year writer development programme for emerging writers who demonstrate a distinctive, original voice and an understanding of the fundamentals of writing for TV but who do not have a professional television credit.
There are normally 12-15 writers on the Drama Room programme from across the whole of the UK.
Participants will usually meet once a month (via a blend of in-person events and online) to receive targeted training and development including craft workshops with practical writing exercises, masterclasses, industry introductions and networking events.
Writers will get the chance to pitch for select writing opportunities across the ��̳ such as radio shorts, shadow writing schemes with ��̳ Children’s and Continuing Drama Series.
Participants will receive the support of a professional Script Editor to develop an original spec script.
The overall aim of Drama Room is to develop and prepare writers for the television drama industry by equipping them with the core skills, industry knowledge and connections to set them on the right track to gain ��̳ broadcast commissions.
Find out more from one of the most recent Drama Room graduates

��̳ Writersroom's Writers' Access Group

Writers’ Access Group

The Writers' Access Group is an 18-month programme for writers identifying as deaf, disabled and/or neuro-divergent.
There are normally 10 - 12 writers on the Writers’ Access Group from across the whole of the UK.
The programme design and experience level of the participating writers is equivalent to our Drama Room group.
The programme has an emphasis on developing craft and industry knowledge but also creating real opportunities for the participating writers to gain professional experience across the ��̳.
All writers leave with a new spec script after working with a script editor.

��̳ Writersroom's Pilot

Pilot (formerly TV Drama Writers’ Programme)

Pilot is a year-long programme for emerging writers with a strong creative track record: a professional writing credit on TV/radio/film/theatre and/or agent representation.
Ten writers are partnered with an established independent production company to identify a fresh new idea and develop the pilot episode.
This is our prestige, flagship programme where the writers are paid a script fee to develop their work and are also supported by a wrap-around professional development programme and mentoring.

Through our writer development groups we can work with between 120 – 150 writers each year across the whole of the UK.

We hope that there is a programme of writer development support available for all emerging writers regardless of what level or stage they’re at in their career. Many of the writers we work with take part in a number of our different groups as they progress in their careers and gain experience. This sort of career development can take several years, and the most successful emerging writers show a real dedication and investment in honing their craft and creating new work.

How do you apply?

All writers are selected to take part in our groups via open selection processes.

For Drama Room and Voices this is via the regular annual Open Call script submission window which we run towards the end of each year. The next Open Call window is open between 9 November – 7 December 2022 (at noon) and through this we will be selecting for Drama Room 23/24 and Voices 2024.

Find out all about ��̳ Writersroom's Open Call script submission window

Pilot, Writers’ Access Group and Write Across all have their own dedicated application call-out windows so keep an eye out for those on our website and social media channels.

The Writers’ Access Group selection process will open for applications on 24 January 2023 and close on 18 April 2023 - find out more

Where can you get more help and support?

There are so many exciting new writers out there, we know because as a team we read at least 7,000 scripts each year! Incredibly the standard of writing increases year on year, however, we can’t work directly with every writer we read, as much as we might want to. For this reason, we constantly develop new free-to-access content on our website and social media channels: we have an extensive Script Library where we regularly post the scripts of recently aired ��̳ Drama titles, we produce a podcast and host online Q&As with the creatives behind some of the ��̳’s biggest new drama releases.

Our lively blog shares writing knowledge, info, opinion and personal editorial pieces, as well as ��̳ Writersroom news including updates from our writing groups and information about the writers we’ve been working with. We also highlight new ��̳ drama launches and the people who have worked on them.

Our website also lists free-to-enter opportunities from the ��̳ and across the industry. It is constantly being updated with new writing opportunities so keep checking back.

We are active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube so do please follow us there. You can also meet us out in the real world as we regularly attend festivals, plays, showcases, short film screenings and industry events to meet writers and make people aware of the opportunities available via ��̳ Writersroom.

We are fortunate that so many brilliant, inspiring and incredibly generous professionals offer up their knowledge and experience to ��̳ Writersroom by contributing to sessions within our writers’ groups, taking part in webinars, podcasts or contributing blog posts and we couldn’t do our work without their input.

Personally, I consider it a real privilege to be able to dedicate my time to finding and supporting emerging writers as they navigate this inspiring but often opaque and frustrating industry. It is our role to demystify and arm writers with the skills and knowledge they need to make strides in the screen industries.

Writers are innovators and change-makers, and the writers who engage with us today at ��̳ Writersroom will hopefully go on to share new perspectives and pioneer original modes of storytelling for future audiences. What could be more exciting than that?!

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������̳ Writersroom - Our place in the ������̳ and the television drama landscape