Writers Academy 17
"Is It Fixed?"
...I hear some of you ask. "Don't you just give places to writers you know anyway?"
It's true we do know many of the writers who make it on to the course. But that's because me and the team spend the rest of the year reading work and meeting writers. It's our job to know as many writers as possible. We read submissions from agents, go to the theatre, speak at courses, attend readings, talk to other parts of the BBC, get scripts sent from the Writersroom - all year round. I have - oh - fifteen scripts from writers who's work I've never read on my desk at this precise moment.
However, the joy of the Writers Academy application process is that total unknowns (to us) make it through. I've had a look at this year's short list to give you an idea.
28 writers were shortlisted for the workshops. Of those...
Six were writers who's work we hadn't come across at all
Six had applied in previous years (one of those had got through to the interview stage and one had been shortlisted in previous years)
Six were writers whose work we knew because their agents had sent it to us
Five were writers whose work had been sent to us by the Writersroom
One was a writer I met on a Writersroom course
Two were theatre writers who we'd met after seeing their work
One was recommended to us by Radio Drama
One was recommended to me by a Script Editor
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So I think it's fair to say that you spend a better chance of getting onto the academy if you've contact with the BBC and the academy before than if you haven't.
The chance of being an unknown and getting on are very small. Which is a bit soul destroying.
Out of interest, is the academy the only way the BBC look for new writers for it's continuing drama?
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No, that wouldn't be fair, since correlation does not imply causation.
Throughout the year, the drama department looks for writers who want to write for Continuing Drama.
Once a year, the Academy looks for writers who want to write for Continuing Drama.
It's no real surprise to find that some of the same writers are found by both searches, but it doesn't mean that being known previously increases your chance of being shortlisted.
The more likely explanation is that writers good enough to be shortlisted for the Academy are more likely to already be known by the drama department by one of the other routes mentioned above (agent, writersroom, theatre, and so on).
It's also worth noting that the presence of the second group of six (found by a previous Academy application) means that almost half of the shortlisted group this year were first discovered by their Academy applications.
We're going to be posting a bit more on non-Academy routes into Continuing Drama over the next month or so, so stay tuned for the details - but the quick answer is no, we're always looking for new writers and the Academy is just one way in.
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Interesting... Looking forward to it...
John
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Are we all singing from the same Hymn sheet - when we talk about, 'New Writers' or 'Unknowns'?
It comes across to me that there is a difference to what the regular poster's here are trying to get at as opposed to what the BBC team are trying to explain.
It's clear to me at least that writer's who get onto these schemes have some writing experience under their belt and are at a certain skill level. As a result these writers pop up on the Writer's Room Radar at some point before a scheme starts. This means;
1) their scripts are going to be good
2) they have proven experience in the writing process.
I don't see the Writer's Room or its associated schemes as 'training' schemes but more like 'development' schemes that help and teach writer's who have reached a certain skill point to gain a foothold in the industry.
Perhaps, some of the reg's in these posts should do what I have done and examine (and be realistic) about what stage their skills actually are.
Are you really a good writer or someone who thinks they are?
To balance, perhaps the Writer's Room could provide a 'Training' scheme for complete unknowns or maybe post links to organisations who do such schemes that they know and trust..for example an organisation calls TAPS helped me with my writing as did a production scheme called 'It's My Shout'...perhaps it's something for the Writer's room to consider in the future...
It can be frustrating being an unknown - the rejection and not making the grade but I will encourage any writer to hang on in there and to keep trying.
I will also advise that every writer should take a step back once-in-awhile to examine thier approach and attitude to their own skill levels, to revise the advice found on the Writer's room site and take a fresh approach to the whole of your writing process.
Good luck all!
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Couldn't agree with Marc GW more: spot on.
I can only talk about my own experience of the BBC and Writersroom, but I have been very connected to them since they picked up on something I submitted 18 months ago. Since then, I couldn't have wanted for more support or encouragement: from Writewrsroom North and London; from Continuing Drama; from Radio Manchester; and from individual Screipt Eds and Producers across the board. As I was completely fresh to tv writing back then, and am still a greenhorn by anybody's definition, I can only be amazed at what they've helped me to achieve. I have so many things going on now that I can hardly keep up with myself, mostly through their relentless encouragement. Most of all, Writersroom and Cont Drama have said to me again and again - Write what you know about, dig as deep as you can, be honest, write from your passion, your heart. For me, that advice has worked incredibly well. I'm a big fan. My connections have been hugely professional, very down to earth, thorough and appropriate. They also let me know when I've done something a bit crap. I can take it, and I want/need it. For me, writing is re-writing, and what better sounding board is there for TV drama than Writersroom.
That's just me. That's all.
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@ amacca1234
I'm glad you asked me that... as Piers said we'll be putting up a lot more information about how to write for CDS shows soon. The Writers Academy is certainly not the only way in.
@ MarcGW
Yes - very good point. It is worth pointing out that the Writers Academy course is not a beginners course, but rather for writers at an "intermediate " stage in their writing career.
@ Katyperryismymum
Great to hear when the system works!
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