Writers of prose, poetry or plays, are you ready to bring your storytelling to the screen?

This free development lab is designed just for you!

Screen Yorkshire is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive screen industry. This programme supports writers in West Yorkshire who face additional barriers  to accessing opportunities and career progression.

Delivered by Screen Yorkshire, the training is funded through the West Yorkshire Mayor’s £4.2 million ‘You Can Make It Here’ programme, designed to support and grow the region’s creative industries. This program will support 10 writers through the craft and business of screenwriting.

Over the course of the programme, you’ll:

• Learn the essentials of screenwriting from concept to finished script.
• Gain confidence in creating treatments and screen-ready material.
• Map out your next career moves in the screen industries.
• Connect with a network of industry contact who can help open doors.

What’s included:

• Six focused online masterclasses led by top writers and development executives.
• Check-ins and one-to -one mentoring
• A networking lunch with senior industry professionals.
• An invitation to a wider industry networking event.

The programme is open to anyone writing in a genre other than screenwriting (e.g playwrights, dramaturgs, lyricists, poets, novelists etc) who are working in or living in West Yorkshire.

This is not an entry level programme and you must be able to demonstrate professional writing experience to be considered for a place. By professional writing experience we mean a piece of writing that has been published, publicly performed, funded, or commissioned. You do not need to be a full time professional writer to participate, but you must be able to demonstrate professional writing experience outside of screenwriting. This is to ensure a consistent level of programme to all participants.

Participants must be available for the online sessions and in-person dates as this is as a prerequisite to accepting a place on the programme.

In-person sessions will be held within the Yorkshire region where reasonable travel costs will be covered.  

 The programme will involve six online tutorials and keynote sessions from writers, producers, and key industry from across the screen industries. You will receive insights and guidance about how to pivot into screenwriting, what skills are needed, and one to one contact time to help develop an action plan and take the next steps in your career.

You will also be invited to an intimate working lunch with industry guests to help build your network of contacts. The cohort will also be able to attend a wider networking event at the end of the programme.

Core Sessions

Six online sessions to be held at 5.30 pm on the below dates. Each session will be approximately 90 mins.  

Session 1 and 2 – Thursday 23rd October and Thursday 6th November, 2025

The fundamentals of screenwriting. Explore dialogue, stage directions, pacing, action, end of parts and episode hooks. These sessions will be delivered by Cathianne Hall, BAFTA winning development executive and Northern Film School lecturer. This session will provide writers with a grounding in how to pivot their work.

Session 3 – Monday 10th November, 2025

With professional coaching expert Sasha Damjanovski. This workshop will guide you through how to communicate your vision with clarity, confidence and impact. You’ll learn what commissioners, funders and collaborators are looking for, and how to make your work stand out in a competitive industry.

Session 4 – Monday 17th November 2025

A masterclass with writer Jackie Okwera. In this session, the  writers will learn from Jackie as she shares how she has worked across different mediums and successfully pivoted into screenwriting, cementing her professional career.

Session 5 – Monday 24th November 2025

Led by David Tanner from Turbine Studios, the production company behind the multi award winning series, Small Axe. This session will explore the current commissioning landscape, and the writer’s role in the development process.

Session 6 – Monday 1st December, 2025  

This will be a guided session to support the cohort to develop a plan of action for next steps and point them to further resources.  

INDUSTRY WORKING LUNCH EVENT – Wednesday 12th November, 2025

An intimate networking lunch with the cohort and a selection of invited senior industry guests.  

INDUSTRY NETWORKING SESSION -Wednesday 10th December, 2025

An exclusive industry networking day to encourage relationship building and next step planning.  

Check-in sessions and support will be tailored at the beginning and end of the programme, meaning every participant will receive mentoring.  

•  Programme Launch  & Applications Open Tuesday 9th September
• Applications close Midnight Sunday 5th October
• Interviews: Monday 13th October & Tuesday 14th October
• Offers made Thursday 16th October
• First online session commences Thursday 23rd October
• Intimate working lunch Wednesday 12th November 12pm-2pm
• Networking event Wednesday 10th December (early evening)

Got questions? Come along to our online  FAQ session 15 September 12.30pm.

Register for the Q & A session  here

To apply for The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme, please complete the below application form including details of your creative background, and by submitting a maximum of  two pages of professionally commissioned work e.g. prose, play, novel etc.

Applications close Sunday, Midnight 5th October

Offers for the programme will be made on made Thursday 16th October and the Programme begins 20^th October 2025.

Please note: we will do our very best to support any access needs, get in touch with us at jo@screenyorkshire.co.uk  to advise if you need any additional support.