Whether you’re writing your first novel or screenplay, Spring is prime time for opportunities to expand your writing career. Polish those drafts and get ready to submit, submit, submit!
May – June 2026
- Writers Guild of America East 2026 Support Staff Basic Training Program (Deadline: May 15): The training program is a virtual bootcamp for underrepresented emerging writers looking to break into television at the support-staff level. The program will meet virtually for six weekend sessions in August. Your script must be registered with WGAE, so get started ASAP.
- My online publication, Still Life Fiction, submission window is closing on May 15th. Submit your short stories and visit the guidelines page for details:
- Screenplay Contests & Festivals (Some competitions have rolling deadlines. Click on the web links to see the final deadlines.)
- Script Pipeline Screenwriting and TV Writing Competition (Next deadline: May 15):
- Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition (Regular deadline: May 20):
- FilmQuest Festival Screenplay Competition (Summer deadline: June 1)
- Tubi x Blacklist Horror Initiative (Deadline: June 30)
- TV & Film Fellowships and Writing Programs
- 2027 Disney Entertainment Writing Program (Deadline: June 1)
- Academy Nicholl Fellowship (Deadline: Late August)
- Sundance Institute Labs & Fellowships (Deadline: Varies)
- Literary Fiction
- F(r)iction: Short story, creative nonfiction, poetry, and flash fiction (Deadline: May 15):
- Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition (Deadline: June 1)
- Writers of the Future Contest (Deadline: June 30)
- Script Libraries
What’d I miss? Drop a note in the comments and I’ll add any relevant new resources and opportunities.
Gina N. Anderson 