December is finally here and Advent has arrived!
It’s the perfect time for focusing on finishing off any writing projects you planned to complete during the past year.
Here are a few opportunities to help focus your creativity over the week ahead.
And in the meantime, enjoy any Advent treats that may have come your way!
Prize for Authors
The Nine Dots Prize asks writers to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving $100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas. The question for 2020/21 is: What does it mean to be young in an ageing world?. Entrants must submit their 3,000-word response, an outline structure for their proposed book, and a justification statement of their ability to complete the book within seven months. Find out more here.
Calling Drama Scriptwriters
BBC Writersroom’s annual call for drama scripts is set to commence next week. The window will open for submission of unsolicited scripts (written for TV, film, radio, stage or online) at 11am on Monday (December 7). Writers can enter their work until 5pm on January 6, 2021. Get all the deats here.
Crafting Character in Fiction Writing
Author Claire Messud will be teaching a virtual masterclass next week on character-driven fiction. The Craft of Character-driven Fiction session, run by Arvon, will take place next Tuesday (December 8) from 7pm-9pm. Tickets are £35, with grants available for those on low incomes. Further information, and to book, visit Arvon’s website.
Broadcasting in Crisis Event
The RTS and The Media Society are hosting two sessions on the theme of British Broadcasting in Crisis. The first session covers public service broadcasting, and the second focuses in on the UK commercial channels and SVODs. Part of the Steve Hewlett Scholarship Fund events programme, the virtual sessions take place on Monday and Tuesday next week (December 7 and 8) from 5.30-6.30pm. Further information about booking is available here.
Financial Planning for Freelancers
A reminder that BECTU Vision is running financial advice workshops on Planning for Your Future on Thursday and Friday (December 3 and 4). Aimed at freelancers based in Scotland, you can find out more here.
Playwrighting Shorts
Slackline Productions is accepting submissions for Slackline Sleepover, its latest Slackline Stories event. Running overnight and online from January 13-14, it aims to showcase the best new short plays written by female playwrights, directed by female directors and featuring at least one strong female character aged 35 and over – all written, rehearsed and ready to perform online in 24 hours. Submissions will be accepted until December 13 (or when 150 submissions have been reached, whichever comes first). Find out more how to enter.
Mentoring for Women Journalists
Women in Journalism Scotland has launched a mentoring scheme for Scottish-based female journalists. The aim is to link up emerging Scotland-based journalists with some of the most successful women with careers in print, broadcast and radio journalism. Applications are open to members of Women in Journalism Scotland until Friday (December 4). Applications can be submitted here.
Writing for TV Awards
The TV Foundation, in association with the Edinburgh TV Festival, is calling for emerging and established writers to enter its 2021 New Voice Awards. Information about the categories, which also includes producers, directors, presenters, (as well as companies and agencies), can be found here. The deadlines for applications are all in late January.
Still available…
International Screenwriting Opportunity
TIFF Writers’ Studio is opening up its Canadian programme to international screenwriters and writer-directors. The programme offers a whole host of mentoring and workshops for anyone at mid-level in their career and, for this round, it will all be delivered online. Applications are open until December 18, for more visit the TIFF website.
Screenwriting Competition
The Screenwriter Showcase @Pinewood Studios has a call out for scripts from screenwriters for its next event as part of the Lift-Off Network, which includes the Lift-Off Film Festivals and Showcases. Scripts should be submitted before the final deadline of December 7 in order to be considered for the next event on January 29. You can find out more here.
Call for Plays
Act Your Age has a call out for writers who have written plays that feature actors over the age of 40. They are looking for either one act plays or radio series of either four or six episodes. The vast majority, if not all, of the characters have to be playing roles over 40-years-old and plays should be of 30, 45 or 60 minutes in length. They can be in any genre but must be fully formed and complete. The deadline for submissions is December 18. Find out more on their website.
If you know of any interesting opportunities for writers, please do get in touch and we can circulate them for FREE to our growing community of budding and accomplished writers. Simply drop us an email using the button below putting the word Newsletter in the subject heading.
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