Write Across Birmingham & The Black Country – Terms and Conditions of Entry
1. To be eligible to enter the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programme Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country you must meet the following criteria:
a) You must be aged 18 years or over on the date of your submission.
b) You must be resident, but do not have to have been born in, the UK or Republic of Ireland. If selected you must remain resident for the full duration of the programme, which is approximately 6 months from June 2024. If you are currently living overseas, only consider submitting your script when you have returned to the UK or Republic of Ireland.
c) You must be currently living full-time in Birmingham or the Black Country (specifically the City of Birmingham, the Metropolitan Boroughs of Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell or Walsall or the City of Wolverhampton). You can check whether your address is within the eligible region on the gov.uk website at .
d) You must not be employed as part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers or a person connected to this scheme.
Proof of age, identity, residency and eligibility may be requested. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s decision as to the eligibility of individual entrants will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
2. Entrants must submit no later than 12 noon on 5 March 2024:
- A sample of your previous dramatic writing. This should be an original written piece of drama or comedy-drama (we are unable to accept sitcom scripts), in the form of a radio, theatre, television, or film script. Samples should be a minimum of 20 pages (excluding title and/or character pages) and submitted in the form of a complete script, we cannot accept unfinished scripts or extracts.
- A response to the creative task set within the programme brief; and
- Your writing history
You do not need to have any credits, awards or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing and a little bit of the journey you have been on up to this point.
- The above writing sample and response to the creative brief should be submitted as two separate PDF files (each no more than 10MB in size).
a) The submission should be submitted via the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers E-Submissions System using the following link:
b) Your application must be legibly typed and formatted. Entries must be written in English. If you submit any part of a script in another language you must also include your own translation of this into English.
c) The submission should be entered either individually or as part of a writing team of up to a maximum of 2 people. If entering as a pair, both entrants must meet the entry requirements. Please note that if you are accepted onto the programme as a writing team you will be required to work collaboratively on a single shared project.
d) Only one entry per writer or writing partnership.
3. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, as data controller, is responsible for handling personal data provided to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, including in any contributions, in accordance with data protection law. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has a legitimate interest in using the personal data for journalistic, artistic and literary purposes and in the public interest and in using the personal data for the performance of the contract with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. For more information visit: /writers/opportunities/privacy-notice/
4. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.
5. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers receives a high number of submissions, and similarities of subject matter often occur. We cannot undertake to compensate you if material similar to yours, received coincidentally from another source, is subsequently commissioned or produced.
6. The following are ineligible and will not be considered:
a) Given the specific remit of this programme it will not be suitable for writers who already have a TV credit.
b) Multiple submissions from an entrant.
c) DVDs, videos, CDs or audio tapes, or any video/audio material (whether it accompanies a script or otherwise). Any links to video/audio content will not be considered in the reading process.
d) New scripts written for existing or previously produced shows and/or characters (for example scripts of Doctor Who, EastEnders, Sherlock or using characters from these shows).
e) Short stories, novels, unpublished prose manuscripts, poetry or work you wish to have adapted into a script.
f) Adaptations for broadcast of another writer’s idea (including adaptations of other writers’ novels).
g) Comedy sketch shows and pure narrative comedy series or sitcoms.
7. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- The quality of the writing sample (evidence of a compelling story; ability to write interesting characters and believable dialogue; ability to authentically bring the story world to life).
- The originality of the response to the creative writing task.
8. Entries will be judged and selected using the following process:
Every submission will be read by a member of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers team and/or one of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers programme partner organisations; a shortlist will be drawn up in accordance with the criteria set out above and successful candidates will be selected from this shortlist. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers reserves the right to set up informal conversations with applicants to help determine the selection of the final group.
If we receive an unexpectedly high volume of submissions, we may also use the expertise of a pool of experienced script readers to assist with the review of submissions, however the final selection of successful applications will be made by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers.
9. We receive a considerable number of submissions for our Write Across programme so it will take a number of months before you are informed of the outcome of your submission. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
10. Entrants must agree to take part in any post-scheme publicity if required.
11. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reserves the right to disqualify any entry which breaches any of these terms and conditions, is inconsistent with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Editorial Policy Guidelines or which may bring the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ into disrepute, including any entries which profit from criminal activity.
12. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reserves the right to cancel or alter the scheme at any stage, including members of the judging panel if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: /writers/
13. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any stage, including changing or substituting the selection process and the development opportunities. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: /writers/
14. By applying for the scheme, entrants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the scheme and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
15. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.