Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country 2024

What is Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country? 

Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country is an eight-week development programme specifically designed to support emerging writers and creatives who are at the early stages of their writing careers. Through a series of engaging workshops, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities, they’ll explore the art of crafting compelling stories for television, empowering participants to develop their own new original series idea.

This professional development programme is led by BBC Writers in collaboration with their programme partner organisations: Create Central; Birmingham Rep; Script Sirens; Dudley Creates; Creative Black Country; and Black Country Touring.

Selected writers will take part in a range of craft and industry sessions designed to grow their professional skills, cover the foundations of storytelling for the screen, and demystify the process of writing for television. They will learn how to generate exciting ideas for television by analysing recent shows that have resonated with audiences and exploring techniques that spark creativity. Writers will hear from industry guests such as screenwriters, producers, and commissioners, as well as connecting and developing working relationships with peers amongst the group.

During their time on the programme all participants will define and develop an original idea for a television drama or comedy drama series, laying the groundwork for a one-page pitch document. Writers will work collaboratively with support from the BBC Writers team, industry experts and with their peers in the group to develop this idea, receiving editorial feedback and creative support along the way. It is hoped that the pitch will function as a creative springboard for the writer to develop further.

BBC Writers are excited to invite up to 12 talented writers to join this programme, which will run from July to September 2024. Most sessions will be delivered digitally via online video calls, allowing flexibility, with select in-person sessions and workshops taking place in the Black Country and wider West Midlands region. Participants can expect approximately one workshop session per week, lasting 90 minutes to two hours. Participants’ commitment to attending all sessions is vital, and they will strive to accommodate the group’s existing work and personal commitments when scheduling. They will endeavour to give as much notice as possible regarding dates and times of sessions, but they might need to be flexible on occasion, owing to speaker availability. On those exceptional occasions where participants cannot attend live, they will endeavour to record the sessions. Support will be provided for any participants who need assistance accessing the online workshops.

To ensure accessibility, this programme is free to attend for all successful applicants. They will cover all reasonable travel costs and access needs. Please note that this is a non-paid writing opportunity.

Who are they looking for? 

BBC Writers want to find the next wave of exciting and passionate storytellers from Birmingham and the Black Country. They are looking for a diverse mix of writers and creatives who are at the beginning of their television writing career but who can demonstrate an interest and commitment to dramatic writing, alongside a growing creative track record, e.g., attending local writing workshops or theatre groups, performing their own material, or writing short films/plays.

They’re looking for writers with an original voice, a fresh perspective, and a keen interest in the medium of television and learning more about writing for it. You do not need to have any produced TV, film or theatre credits in order to apply.

Given the specific remit of this programme it will not be suitable for writers who already have a TV credit.

Eligibility 

Writers should be over the age of 18 and currently live full-time in Birmingham or the Black Country (specifically the City of Birmingham, and the metropolitan boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and the City of Wolverhampton).

You can check whether your address is within the eligible region on the gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

BBC Writers strongly encourage applications from individuals who have been historically under-represented in the screen industries.