Script Writing Opportunities

Hello, readers,

Below is an email I received from Screenwriter's Goldmine. It's offering a script contest and an internship as a script editor for a production in London. If you are interested in these, check them out.





Hi,

We still need your scripts. The competition still has four weeks left to enter, and the deadline for standard submissions is next Thursday. After that we move to Late Submissions, with doors closing finally on December 10th.

This competition can kick start your career, so if you have a script that you have entered elsewhere, then why not send it to us too?

More here: http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com

Enter here: http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com/the-awards

'The Dumping Ground' celebrations

You may be interested to hear that the series of The Dumping Ground on which I was script-editor has been nominated for two Childrens' BAFTAs. It's up for 'Best Drama', and 'Interactive' - huge congratulations to all involved!

More here: http://awards.bafta.org/award/2015/childrens

What does a script editor actually do?

If you've ever wondered what a script editor does, I've written an in-depth blog post that explains some of it.

More here: http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com/what-do-script-editors-do

Trainee script editor internship at ITV Studios

Having read that blog post, if you fancy a go at it yourself, ITV Studios are currently offering fantastic opportunity to intern as a script editor on ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde.

I don't know when the doors close, so don't delay if you fancy it. It's a golden opportunity to enter the industry if you fit their entry requirements. (All roles advertised through Creative Access are only open to UK nationals from a black, Asian or non-white ethnic minority, and you will need a degree.)

More here: http://creativeaccess.org.uk/opportunities/trainee-script-editor-internship-at-itv-studios

Variety's Funniest Films

Variety have posted a list of the WGA's member's choice of the funniest films of all time.

More here: http://variety.com/2015/film/news/annie-hall-funniest-screenplay-writers-guild-1201639002/

They seem to have left out Withnail and I but included Blazing Saddles. Clearly an administrative mix-up.

Robert McKee in London

Tomorrow is Robert McKee day in London. Ten hours of lectures on story structure as it applies to TV series drama, with special reference to Breaking Bad. I can't wait. It's sold out now, but if you are coming along do look me up and say hello.

Till next time,

Philip

 
 

Tradejammer Ltd, 63 Lansdowne Place, Hove, E. Sussex, BN3 1FL, United Kingdom 

Horror Story Setting: The White House

We all love a good horror story. I've seen a lot of them. The other day I got to thinking about the setting of horror stories. They're all typically in an old house, a castle, an old building, anything abandoned. The characters involved are usual nobles,  rich people, families, single woman, children, groups of friends etc.

SOMEONE SAVE ME!

In America there has been some historical based horror stories set in the old south. However there has never been a horror story set in the White House. I was thinking the other day that the White House would be the perfect setting for horror with the President and his or her family as the main characters. The White House is a very old place rich in history. A writer could come up with all sorts of tales.

If you're trying to think of a setting for a horror story you plan to write, consider the White House.

 

New Agents 10/ 28/ 2015

Here are two new agents seeking writers.


2 New Agents Seeking Queries and Submissions NOW 

Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying! 

1. Sandy Harding of Spencerhill Associates

She is seeking: Sandy is seeking mainly upmarket commercial and literary fiction for the adult market. She enjoys women's fiction for book clubs, smart page-turning thrillers, works of suspense with complex protagonists, mysteries of all sorts (cozies, historical, traditional), and romance. Most of all she's seeking writing with a voice so penetrating and a story so captivating the reader simply must keep reading.

2. Caitlin McDonald of Donald Maass Literary

She is seeking: 
- All science fiction and fantasy fiction (and subgenres) for adult, YA, and MG - especially secondary world fantasy and alternate history
- Genre-bending or cross-genre fiction, and stories that examine tropes from a new angle
- Diversity of all kinds, including (but not limited to) race, gender, sexuality, and ability, in both characters and world-building

New Agents To Query 10/24/2015

Here are two new agents seeking authors:

Newest Agents Seeking Queries NOW 

Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying! 

1. Tricia Skinner of Fuse Literary

She is seeking: All kinds of romance. 

2. Anjali Singh of Ayesha Pande Literary

She is seeking: As a literary agent, she is looking for new voices, character-driven fiction or nonfiction works that reflect an engagement with the world around us, literary thrillers, memoirs, YA literature and graphic novels.

Writing Tips: Queries, Novel Scenes,

Hello, readers!

Here's some helpful information from an email I got today.  

Tips for Queriers: The Query, the Synopsis, and the First Page  Getting a literary agent is tough, and I know firsthand what it's like to query without getting requests. I know how frustrating the radio silence and form rejects can be. If you're querying, you want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of getting requests. Here are some of my tips for the three main pieces you send out querying: the Query, the Synopsis, and the First Page. Read more ... FREE publishing leads/tips! Our expert strategies delivered by e-mail once per week.www.WritersRelief.com. BONUS: Claim your instant report today! Confidential. No spam. Writer's Relief (est. 1994) manages submissions to agents and lit mags. (866) 405-3003 6 Ways Winning a Writing Competition Helped Me Get Published Since winning the WD grand prize of their writing competition, I've published sixty short stories and two novels. I have another novel and a linked short story collection coming out this year, and a contract on a fourth novel for 2016. Here's how winning a single major contest made the difference: Read more ... 7 Things To Do After Finishing Your BookCongratulations! You finished your first book. Work-wise, you've accomplished 10 percent. Now for the hard part: doing what's required to get your book into a reader's hands. Do you know that an unknown self-published or small-press author only sells an average of up to 250 books? Once your friends and family members have purchased copies, where do you go from there? Read more ... Behind the Scenes of a Writing Competition with Thriller Judge Jodie Renner  Today, as part of our Behind the Scenes of a Writing Competition series, Thriller judge Jodie Renner discusses how to avoid common mistakes and take your submission to the top.  Read more ... Build Your Novel Scene by Scene Online Course - SIGN UP NOW! If you want to learn how to write a story, but aren't quiet ready yet to hunker down and write 10,000 words or so a week, this is the course for you. Fiction Writing 102: Building Your Novel will offer you the impetus, the guidance, the support, and the deadline you need to finally stop talking, start writing, and, ultimately, complete that novel you always said you wanted to write. Read more ... WRITING CONFERENCES YOU SHOULD ATTEND: WD staffers will teach at these upcoming writers conferences & events. Click below for the one closest to you. Most have agents attending as well whom you can pitch your book idea to. Check them out: Feb 11-14, 2016: San Francisco Writers Conference (San Francisco, CA) Feb. 19, 2016: Alabama Writing Workshop (Birmingham, AL) March 25, 2016: Tampa Writers Conference (Tampa, FL) March 26, 2016: Fort Lauderdale Conference for Writers (Fort Lauderdale, FL) March 31-April 2, 2016: Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop (Dayton, OH)

October 20,  2015 Agent One-on-One: How to Craft Query Letters  & Other Submission Materials That Get Noticed Boot Camp October 26 - October 29, 2015 Don't Miss Out! Starts Monday! Start Date: Monday, October 26, 2015 Tuition: $199.99 REGISTER NOW When your submission materials - a query letter, synopsis, manuscript, or book proposal - arrive in an agent's inbox, they land among hundreds of others. At that point, one of two things will happen. Either the agent (or the agent's assistant) will like the submission and request more materials, or they will reply with a rejection. Authors who get rejected tend to fall in one of two categories when submitting materials: they try too hard, or not enough. This Writer's Digest Boot Camp is designed to help you streamline your submission materials to stand out in a good way.  Attendees will learn how to write a dynamite query letter, tackle a one-page synopsis (for fiction) and a book proposal (for nonfiction). The instructing literary agents will also explain the importance of author platform in addition to basic etiquette in dealing with an agent and manuscript basics.  Lastly, all attendees will have an opportunity to interact one-on-one with an agent and submit ten double-spaced pages of materials (in any combination--query, synopsis, book proposal, first pages of your manuscript) for valuable feedback provided by successful literary agents. Agenda: Monday, October 26: Online Tutorials Tuesday, October 27: Agent Q&A 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (ET) Wednesday, October 28: Agent Q&A 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (ET) Thursday, October 29: Writers Submit Materials Friday, November 19: Agent Critiques Due Here's how it works: On October 26, you will gain access to a special 60-minute online tutorial presented by literary agents Kimberley Cameron and Elizabeth Kracht. This tutorial will provide nuts & bolts advice on how to help you streamline your submission materials-including the query letter, novel synopsis, nonfiction book proposal, and first pages.  After listening to the presentation, attendees will spend the next two days revising materials as necessary. Following the tutorial, writers will have two days in which to log onto the discussion boards and ask your assigned agent critiquer questions related to revising your materials. The agents will be available for a discussion session from 4-6 p.m. (ET) on both Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28. By end of day (11:59 p.m., ET) on Thursday, October 29, attendees will submit up to 10 double-spaced pages for review to their assigned agents. These pages can include any combination of double-spaced query, synopsis, book proposal, or pages of their manuscript.  For the submission, you will send in the first 10 pages of your double-spaced manuscript and a query letter for review. You are also welcome to send a synopsis, if you want to include it in the first ten pages (ie. 1 page synopsis + first 9 pages of the manuscript). The query letter is separate and does not count as part of the first ten. The agents will spend three weeks reviewing all assigned pages, provide relevant feedback and offer suggestions to help attendees improve upon them. The agents reserve the right to request more materials if they feel a strong connection to the work and want to read more.  Only registered students can access the discussion session. You'll also be able to ask questions of your fellow students. Feel free to share your work and gain support from your peers.  Please note that any one of the agents may ask for additional pages if the initial submission shows serious promise.  In addition to feedback from agents, attendees will also receive a download of "Everything You Need to Know About Literary Agents," an on-demand webinar by WD editor Chuck Sambuchino.

About the Instructors: Kimberley Cameron: Kimberley was educated at Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles, Humboldt State University, and Mount St. Mary's College. She began her literary career as an agent trainee at the Marjel de Lauer Agency in association with Jay Garon in New York and worked for several years at MGM developing books for motion pictures. She was the co-founder of Knightsbridge Publishing Company with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Elizabeth Kracht: Elizabeth Kracht represents both literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction, and brings to the agency experience as a former acquisitions editor, freelance publicist and writer. Elizabeth's career in publishing took root in Puerto Rico where she completed her BA in English and worked as a copyeditor for an English-language newspaper. When she returned to the mainland she found her "vein of gold" in book publishing. She thrives on working closely with authors and researching the potential market for new books. Mary C. Moore : Mary started her career in publishing as a writer. She graduated from Mills College with an MFA in Creative Writing. After freelancing for two years as an editor and writer in non-literary sectors, she began an internship with Kimberley Cameron & Associates with the desire to learn more about the literary business for her own writing. During the internship she discovered a passion for helping others develop their manuscripts. Now she balances three jobs: writer, editor, and agent, and finds that the experience in each helps and supports the other. She is looking for unusual fantasy, grounded science-fiction, and atypical romance. Strong female characters and unique cultures especially catch her eye. Although she will not consider most non-fiction, stories about traditional dance or pagan culture may interest her. Above all, she is looking for writing that sweeps her away. Douglas Lee: Douglas came to Kimberley Cameron as a writer in 2014 with the purpose of learning what hid behind the curtain of publishing. While completing his MFA, he found that he loved the work both behind and ahead of the typewriter. At this time, his sole focus is representing science fiction and fantasy that stimulates the imagination. As an agent he is looking for SFF manuscripts that utilize the craft elements of literary fiction and the best parts of imaginative genre. He is seeking novels with writing just as enticing as the story. Subtle and deft world-building techniques capture his attention; as do characters with raw magnetism and confused moral compasses. Douglas welcomes all SFF sub-genres. He has a soft spot for Cyberpunk, Weird Fiction in the flavor of China Mieville, Steampunk and noir influenced voices. He seeks writers who write against genre and bend preconceptions. LGBTQ based manuscripts are welcome, as are unconventional SFF protagonists with marginalized voices in their world. Register Now

Free Screenplay Teleconference

We are committed to bringing writers around the world quality resources and career opportunities.

with Jacob Krueger presents this FREE Teleclass Fix Your Pitch with Award Winning Screenwriter, Jacob Krueger Award Winning Screenwriter, Jacob Krueger is back again to help you revamp your pitch delivery with FREE PITCH ADVICE. Everyone can use some pitch advice to get those top influential professionals hooked on your material, so be sure to be on this call tomorrow,Thursday, the 20th at 5:30 pm Pacific Time. Register Today and FIX YOUR PITCH! Hope you can join us!   Register Today  »   When: October 20th at 5:30pm - 7pm PDT   Price: Free!   Notes: Call-in Details will be sent in your confirmation email. Please be sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a confirmation email within a few minutes. Late Deadline: October 23 Get selected to participate in Atlanta Film Festival's annual 3-Day Writer's Retreat complete with a public staged reading of an excerpt of your winning script!   Plus, get full access to events, panels and screenings at theAtlanta Film Festival! Register Early for ISA's Next Teleconference: Register Today  » When: November 14th at 10:30 am - 12 pm PDT Price: Free! The Visual Mindscape of the Screenplay with Bill Boyle Bill Boyle believes that a fully realized screenplay reveals itself primarily through images, which he refers to as the Visual Mindscape. This allows the reader or viewer to ‘discover’ elements of the story rather than being told.  It is a far more intimate and visceral experience. Bill feels this is the true magic of the screenplay and is the basis behind his book The Visual Mindscape of the Screenplay.