Top TV Writing Fellowships for Aspiring Screenwriters: Dates, Perks & How to Apply

Photo Credit: damircudic // iStock Photo

By Jessica Mathis

Studio and network fellowships are one way that many TV writers hope to gain opportunities to advance their careers with valuable mentorship and networking. The fellowships and labs vary in perks, but most of them offer classes or workshops, mentorship with professionals and the opportunity to network with executives or representatives.

While many studio and network fellowships target underrepresented voices, they generally select applicants from all walks of life. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Studio and network writing fellowships offer mentorship, workshops and career-building opportunities—often with no entry fee.

2. Fellowships are highly competitive and differ in compensation, format (virtual or in-person) and entry requirements.

3. Strategically applying to programs that align with your background, goals and writing samples can improve your chances of success.

How to Strategize

The fellowships are highly competitive, with most receiving thousands of entries and selecting less than 30 writers. Some select less than 10. With this in mind, you need to strategize which you submit to. Most of the opportunities hosted by networks or studios have zero entry fee, unlike competitions or festivals hosted by private organizations. 

You’ll want to consider the location of the opportunities, or if they are held virtually. If accepted to an unpaid fellowship in Los Angeles, do you have the financial means to live there and attend in-person? Some fellowships pay you to attend, others only pay for travel/accommodations Some provide no monetary compensation at all. 

Next, you’ll want to consider which ones you meet the criteria for. Some are specifically geared towards diverse groups or ages. Some are for specific types of audiences, such as family or children programming and writing. Some require two original pilots, while others require one original writing sample and a spec script from their approved list of current television shows. Before you get overwhelmed, we’ve broken down all you need to know here so you can be prepared and plan ahead for your submissions.

Summer:

Nickelodeon Writing Program

• Description: This is a one-year paid fellowship in Burbank, California that offers classes and workshops, executive mentorship and networking. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to work in the iconic live-action and animation writers’ rooms at Nickelodeon. Geared toward comedy writers who want to work in family and children’s entertainment.
• Entry Requirements: One original pilot and one spec from their approved list, and a chosen focus for age groups: preschool (2-6), kids (6-11) or pre-teens-young adult (11-17).
• Application Deadline: Submissions open around July 1 for one month. More info here.

 NBCUniversal Global Writers Residency

• Description: NBC has a variety of incubators and fellowships meant to provide career development. Coverfly, which is shutting down in August, currently hosts their writing and unscripted LAUNCH programs. You can read about all the NBCUniversal programs here. 
• Entry Requirements: Two original pilots.
• Application Deadline: Usually opens in May for a few weeks. Coverfly applications can be found by searching “NBC.” 

Fall:

Women in Film / The Black List 

• Description: This fellowship is geared toward creating more equity for writers who identify as female. They select six to eight TV writers for four weeks of sessions, including script development, pitching, a mock writers’ room and roundtables with established writers and industry executives.  
• Entry Requirements: One original pilot script. There is an entry fee of around $40 for Women in Film members and more for non-members.
• Application Deadline: Usually opens around October 1 for about a month. More info here.

Warner Bros. Unlock Writers Program

• Description: A mentorship program meant to elevate careers. Los Angeles-based in-person bootcamp weeks in March, April and June and weekly virtual curriculum for a few months in the spring. Travel costs for those located outside of Los Angeles will be covered by the program. 
• Entry Requirements: Two original pilot scripts in the same genre between 30 and 65 pages each.
• Application Deadline: Usually open September to October. More info here.

FOX Entertainment Writers Incubator

• Description: This highly competitive incubator chooses only four writers. The selected writers will undergo a three-month workshop that will hone their skills as they rewrite their material and explore the business of media and entertainment. Upon completion, those writers will be given priority in staffing meetings on FOX television shows.  
• Entry Requirements: One original episodic pilot script, resume, bio, personal statement, script synopsis (750 words or less), script genre (drama, comedy, dramedy, animation), logline (75 words or less), 2 additional original loglines of unproduced material.
• Application Deadline: Usually opens October 1 and closes after they receive 1,000 entries or November 1 — whichever happens first. More here.

Winter:

Sundance Episodic Labs

• Description: An eight to ten week lab geared toward the development of one pilot script. Those selected work alongside professional mentors. Travel and accommodations are paid for by the lab.
• Entry Requirements: One pilot script, a series overview and other personal statements, like a bio and your link to the story. 
• Application Deadline: Usually open around early February for one month. There is a $40 entry fee. More info here.

Spring:

Sesame Street Writers’ Room

• Description: This virtual workshop offers classes and education for six writers, where up to two writers will be offered development deals with a development grant and further mentorship from Sesame Workshop creators. 
• Entry Requirements: Kid-friendly content for viewers up to age 12 (in a 12-page maximum script with NO Sesame Street elements, characters or intellectual property that may be an excerpt and should model a three-act structure), more information about the script, your resume, a personal statement about yourself, why you want to write for children and how your life experience impacts your writing.  
• Application Deadline: Usually open around the end of March and due by the end of April. More info here.

Disney Entertainment Television (DET) Writing Program

• Description: This program with Disney/ABC is one of the few fellowships that pay selected individuals while they undergo the learning process. The program is aimed at staffing emerging and diverse television writers on DET scripted series and lasts for one year. 
• Entry Requirements: Two original pilots, personal statement, resume and other application information.
• Application Deadline: Dates vary, but applications open around beginning of May and close about a month later. More info here.

Paramount Writers Mentorship

• Description: This program with Disney/ABC is one of the few fellowships that pays selected individuals while they undergo the learning process. The program is aimed at staffing emerging and diverse television writers on DET scripted series. 
• Entry Requirements: One original and one spec writing sample. Original writing samples may be a pilot, a one-act stage play, or short fiction story around 3,000 words. The spec script should be half-hour or hour-long episode based on a prime-time drama or comedy series that aired or was released during the previous season and was broadcast on a network, cable, streamer. They will give specific details on the application.
• Application Deadline: Applications typically open in April and close in May. More info here. 

Get your materials ready as early as possible. Have a trusted friend or industry mentor go over your personal statement with you for feedback and make sure your scripts and polished. Most of all, good luck!

Wrapping Up:

• Give yourself time to revise and polish. Start prepping early so you’re not rushing your submissions—strong materials make a difference.

• Choose fellowships that truly align with your voice. A targeted, thoughtful application is always stronger than a scattered one.

• Remember: rejection doesn’t mean you’re not talented. These programs are highly competitive—keep writing, keep submitting, and stay ready.

Jessica Mathis (AKA Divinity Rose) is an award winning screenwriter/performer/producer from Louisville, Kentucky. She is the CEO of She Dreams Content Development and Production, which focuses on female forward projects in comedy, docustyle and genre entertainment.

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