Welcome to the September edition of the Script Angel screenwriting newsletter.

2017 is flying by, so be sure to fiercely protect your precious screenwriting time.

The Drama Series Script Competition, a coproduction between C21Media and Entertainment One (eOne), produced in association with Script Angel, has opened for entries, bidding to find the next big thing in international drama.

Full information, guidelines and the online entry form can be found by CLICKING HERE.

We’re looking for outstanding pilots for a one-hour drama series from fresh writers who have what it takes to create a primetime drama series.
Winners will receive US$10,000 development funding, time in a writers room on a current series and assistance in taking their drama project to series, with unprecedented access to the global television drama market.

Runners-up receive six months of coaching and script development support from Script Angel.

The script competition is open for entries between August 9 and October 10 this year.

The final round of the script competition will consist of a pitch presentation at the C21 International Drama Summit in November.

Highly respected script editor, and screenwriting coach here at Script Angel, the brilliant Karol Griffiths has been guest blogging for us this month.

In her article 'Script Development: A Writer's Guide' Karol demystifies the script development process and looks at how writers can work with producers and script editors to produce the best possible script.

Read more.

We've seen how placing in a well-respected screenwriting contest can REALLY help you get your writing noticed by the industry.

To help you navigate the myriad of contests out there, every month we curate for you a list of the best screenwriting contests in the UK and US.

NEW - C21 Drama Series Script Competition with eOne and Script Angel.

Contests with deadlines in September include Tracking Board Launch Pad Features Contest, American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest and Cinequest Screenwriting Competition.

For the full list including dates and deadlines, see our updated contest list.

Screenwriting events are a great opportunity to improve your craft, meet peers and network with other industry professionals.

We'll be updating this list of major screenwriting events across the world every month.

If there are other events that you'd recommend, post a comment on the blog post to let us know!

Don't miss out! The 2017 London Screenwriters' Festival is now over 80% sold out!

JUST ADDED: Check out the speakers already confirmed for 2017, including Paul Abbott, Jeb Stuart, Christopher Vogler, Ashley Pharoah, Jed Mercurio, Alison Owen and Script Angel's own Hayley McKenzie and Karol Griffiths.

Running 15th to 17th September 2017, the London Screenwriters’ Festival is an annual gathering of emerging and established screenwriters. With over 1,000 attendees, 100 sessions, 150 industry expert speakers and the biggest names in film and TV (from both the UK and Hollywood), the LSF has become the premiere screenwriting event to attend.

Script Angel is delighted to offer discounted tickets for the London Screenwriters' Festival.

When purchasing your LSF ticket, use the promotional code below to claim your discount:

SCRIPTANGEL-17X

We'll see you there!

When: Tuesday 26th September, 6.30-9.30pm
Where: Leeds Beckett University, UK
From: The Writers' Guild of Great Britain

Tickets and further information are available here.

Speakers include:
Dominic Minghella, Writer, producer, showrunner
Robin Hood, The Scapegoat, Doc Martin, Knightfall
Sophie Petzal, Writer, Riviera, The Last Kingdom, Wolfblood, Medici: Masters of Florence
Vinay Patel, Writer, Murdered by my Father, Good Karma Hospital

The discussion will be chaired by Lisa Holdsworth
Writer/WGGB Yorkshire & North East Chair
Emmerdale, New Tricks, Robin Hood, Midsomer Murders

The TV drama landscape is changing. The influence of on-demand services Netflix and Amazon are transforming how we watch television. But are they changing how television is being written? Do longer series mean that the US writers’ room system is coming to the UK? And does that mean there will be more opportunities for new writers? Will that system provide an actual career structure for those writers?

Or do bigger budgets and higher stakes mean that production companies are more risk adverse? Are they only now interested in established names? And if this is the case, how can writers break through and prove themselves to be a ‘safe pair of hands’?

The future will be televised. And someone has to write it. The question is, who?