Frequently Asked Questions

• Click on the APPLICATION FORM.
• You will be re-routed to a TWL page on the Coverfly website. (Coverfly hosts this contest and you will need a free Coverfly account to submit. You will be able to restrict Coverfly contact to correspondence from The Writers Lab if you wish.)
• When prompted, upload your script as a PDF labeled with the PROJECT TITLE ONLY. DO NOT include the name of the screenwriter(s) ANYWHERE on the PDF.
• Complete all fields of the application and click the green SUBMIT box.
• Choose one of the options for our contest and add it to your cart.
• After you finalize payment and submission, you will receive a confirmation from Coverfly that you have successfully entered The Writers Lab contest.

Submission window and fees are listed below. Please note, there is only one submission period and no deadline extensions.

• The Writers Lab UK & Europe submissions are open April 1st – April 30th, 2025
• Cost is 
  • UK/EU Lab Submission only: $45 /  £35  /  €41
  • As add-on to TWL Int’l 2025 submission: $25 /  £19  /  €23

• Biographical and contact information (name, email address, contact phone number, mailing address, birth date, etc)
  • Note: To confirm you meet the unique geographic mandate of this lab, you will be asked to provide your country of Birth, Residency and Nationality/Citizenship.
• Demographic information, including residence, nationality and identity information
• Script information, including genre, log line, format
• Responses to all questions in the application
• PDF of a feature-length or pilot narrative screenplay (Name removed), written in English. General features should be no more than 130 pages long, half-hour pilots should be no more than 44 pages, one-hour pilots should be no more than 75 pages. Script lengths beyond the number of pages listed will incur a per-page surcharge.
• Script Registration, Acceptance of Terms & Conditions
• Credit/Debit Card for payment.

Yes, the TWL UK & Europe submissions process will operate independently of the TWL Int’l Lab submissions process. However, you will only be charged $25 /  £19  /  €23 to submit.

No. If you are applying from an E.U. country, copyright law protects intellectual property from the moment you create your work until 70 years after death, with no formal application process. If you wish, you may include a copyright notice to your work, such as “all rights reserved” text, or the © symbol with the year the work was created.

Writers may submit up to three (3) scripts. Each script requires a separate completed application, and a separate non-refundable application fee paid by credit card.

Yes. Both writers must meet eligibility requirements. (See Eligibility Requirements section below.) Please designate one writer as the primary contact, and list that writer first in the writing credits on the application.

If you have concerns about method of payment, please e-mail us at submissions@twlstories.org to discuss the process.

Please e-mail submissions@twlstories.org with “Proof of Need” in the subject line to discuss the process. You will need to provide proof of public assistance with your application. 

Coverfly offers the option to upload a revised draft of your script after you have applied. Please be advised that once our evaluation process is underway your initial submission might have already been read by our evaluation team. If you are considering submitting a revision, keep in mind that our jurors are very experienced and thoughtful. A strong, carefully crafted script will stand out – even a script that needs work.

If you are not able to submit electronically, please email submissions@twlstories.org.

We use application fees to pay our independent readers, who carefully evaluate hundreds of scripts, through multiple rounds. The contributions of our primary donors cover only the costs of the Lab development programme.

At this time we do not expect there to be additional expenses for those accepted to TWL UK & Europe.

No. Our decisions are based on the material alone. Your work will speak for itself.

All Lab notifications will be made via email. You will hear from us, whether you place or not, on or before August 1, 2025.

Notifications may be made on a rolling basis. Final decisions will be made on or before August 1, 2025. 

The Writers Lab UK &  Europe has specific eligibility requirements related to age, gender, nationality, country of residence, and language.

Applicants must be residents of Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland & citizens or residents of Wales, and may be asked to provide appropriate verification.

The Writers Lab is open to women and nonbinary writers over 40. We honor the fact that gender is personal and specific and seek to create an inclusive and supportive community. In addition, applicants must be age 40 or over as of the first day of the lab to which they are applying (born on or before September 28, 1983), and submit a completed narrative feature or pilot.

Only scripts written (primarily) in English are eligible for submission, and the Lab itself will be conducted in English. We understand that English may not be your first language. This does not affect your eligibility to participate in The Writers Lab UK & Europe. 

Your birthdate is necessary for us to confirm age eligibility, as outlined in the previous question. 

No. The Writers Lab UK & Europe is open only to those actually residing in Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland & citizens or residents of Wales.

No, you do not need to submit these documents with your application. However, accepted writers may need to provide supporting documentation in some circumstances.

Although your script may include other languages, or may have originally been written in a language other than English, in order for it to be eligible for submission the predominant language of the submitted script must be English. 

If your script includes some lines in other languages, including the translation can help. BUT, we recommend keeping non-English lines to a minimum if possible.

During the lab, some writers may be encouraged to have their project translated to their original or local language, which we will do by engaging a local translator who is a good creative fit for the writer. 

Absolutely not. The Lab seeks to foster exciting voices, regardless of professional experience. However, The Lab does NOT teach screenwriting basics. Submissions must exhibit knowledge of screenwriting formatting, standards, technique and style.

TWL UK & Europe is scheduled for the first week in September 2025 (dates subject to change), with revision and development work and individual meetings through the end of December 2025.

TWL UK & Europe will know more about this before notifications go out in early August.

The Writers Lab is a screenplay development lab. We are not a producing lab, nor do we offer any kind of production funding. However, in addition to connecting participants with a peer group of driven and talented writers, the Lab experience offers access to, and interaction with, a range of other film industry professionals. 

Any script accepted to our Lab will benefit from further development. And, beyond script development, the Lab offers a unique chance to connect with a supportive community of peers and industry professionals.

TWL UK & Europe is a 4-month Lab. It begins with three days of rigorous sessions, followed by 4 months of individual support sessions. This time beyond the initial intensive supports writers as they revise their scripts, and allows time for writers to be connected to the industry. Participants should expect to have multiple meetings and to complete a new draft of their project. 

We understand that many of our writers lead busy lives, and will strive to accommodate individual time restraints and scheduling requests whenever possible.

Features are generally between 90 and 120 pages; half-hour pilots are 22-44 pages; and hour-long pilots are 45-75 pages (depending on genre and other factors). 

Please note that feature screenplays longer than 130 pages, and pilots longer than 44 pages (half-hour) or 75 pages (hour-long), will incur a per-page surcharge to the application.

The Writers Lab has no software preference, as long as the script uses industry standard formatting, and is converted to a PDF before submission.

All scripts must be submitted as PDF files. All film industry professionals expect scripts in PDF format, so this is a good opportunity to format your script to industry standards.

Although your script may include other languages, or may have originally been written in a language other than English, in order for it to be eligible for submission the predominant language of the submitted script must be English. 

If your script includes some lines in other languages, including the translation can help. BUT, we recommend keeping non-English lines to a minimum if possible.

During the lab, some writers may be encouraged to have their project translated to their original or local language, which we will do by engaging a local translator who is a good creative fit for the writer. 

We welcome re-submissions, as long as the script has undergone a substantial revision that has addressed the following:

• Are all characters clearly and respectfully introduced, established, and fully realized, with a clear need and arc?
• Is every line of dialogue necessary, either revealing character or moving the plot along?
• Are the descriptions well written, specific and succinct?
• Will this story speak to a wide audience?
• Is this story right for this Lab? Does it tell a story from a POV not generally seen, or for an underserved audience?
• Does the script follow standard formatting protocols? Has it been carefully proofread so that readers will not struggle with typos, long paragraphs, or confusing scenes?

Yes, we welcome scripts based on existing intellectual property as long as you have secured the underlying rights to the material. We ask for proof of rights, in the form of a contact, e-mail, or letter, if your script reaches the Finalist level in the selection process. 

No. The Writers Lab is for completed feature and television pilot scripts only.

While TWL will consider scripts at various stages of development, the draft submitted must meet the following standards of completion:

• Scripts must be either feature-length polished drafts, in the 90-to-120 page range, OR polished pilots that are 22-44 pages (half-hour) or 45-75 pages (hour-long). 
• We will not consider screenplay fragments, treatments, synopses, book excerpts, or stage plays.
• Each script should show a strong understanding of screenwriting technique and style.

We will make all reasonable and customary efforts to protect your ideas. Intellectual property is also protected under E.U. law.

Yes. We have no restrictions on material that has been to, or developed through, other labs, workshops or programs.

Clearly establish your protagonist’s need and obstacles, and make sure you see it through, so your audience cares.

Choose a main story and set it up clearly for your audience. Many scripts take on too much and lose their way.

World needs to be clearly, economically, and cinematically established (especially in genre scripts).

Ask yourself: Is that line essential? Is it stating subtext or exposition that can be SHOWN? Does it successfully build conflict? Does it reveal character through wit and/or texture?

Most film stories can be told in well under 120 pages. Every line or sentence should add to the story, not repeat or distract. Cut what you can, and keep your story moving.

Old or new, your story must stand out, with new insights into universal themes or compelling characters or perspectives. At the same time, know your cliches and tropes, and when to use or lose them.

Have you written too little? (Set your scenes! Introduce your characters! Include important visual details!) OR, do you have way too much? (Don’t describe characters’ feelings, camera shots, or back story.) And, break up blocks of description into easily digestible bites.

Make sure your story effectively uses the visual and auditory aspects of storytelling for the screen. (Note: use music references with care; referencing unlicensed songs can reveal lack of screenwriting savvy. Suggest only, i.e. “She sings something like [song name]…”)

TWL doesn’t require a woman protagonist, but we definitely notice scripts that pass the Bechdel test, and wince when female characters are introduced solely as “gorgeous/hot/pretty/curvy.” This applies to gender across the spectrum. TWL isn’t interested in gender clichés, tokenism or stereotypes. We champion complex and compelling characters, and stories that provide an authentic experience and point of view.

Proofread, proofread, proofread. It matters.

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