New York State Writers Institute Writer-in-Residence William Patrick will lead a six-week Screenwriting Workshop during the months of March, April and May, 2003. This will be a collaborative, hands-on workshop for all writers who have a specific interest in screenwriting, regardless of their level of experience with dramatic writing. The course will proceed in two related directions--for half of each workshop session, we will brainstorm and construct a collaborative screenplay, from initial premise through primary structure and characterization to a step outline, and then we will write as many individual scenes as time allows; for the other half of each session, we will turn our attention to discussing individual screenplays by writers in the workshop.
This workshop is scheduled for six Wednesday nights (March 26; April 2, 9, 30; May 7, 14) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The class will be held on the University at Albany's uptown campus. The workshop is offered free of charge for non-credit, and will be limited to twelve writers. To be considered, submit writing samples to the Writers Institute according to the guidelines listed below. Due to the volume of manuscripts received from previous workshops, we must insist that you follow the guidelines exactly.
2. Submit no more than 15 pages of dramatic writing (screenplays, plays, dramatic monologues, teleplays, etc.) OR fiction that has been written recently. The submission may be a combination of genres, and it should certainly be representative of your work. Include a brief, unsigned letter of interest.
3. All submissions must include one separate cover sheet with name, address, work and home telephone numbers, and the title(s) of the piece(s). Do not put your name on any other pages of your submission.
4. Be sure to keep a copy of your work, as your manuscript will not be returned to you.
5. Writers enrolled in a University at Albany writing class for the Spring 2003 semester, whether graduate or undergraduate, and writers who participated in the Lasdun workshop during Fall 2002, are not eligible. Auditing is not permitted.
6. Manuscripts delivered in person will be accepted up until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2003. Mailed manuscripts must be postmarked not later than Tuesday, February 18, 2003. Faxes or e-mails will not be accepted.
7. Notification of acceptance will be by Monday, March 17th. Please do not call regarding the status of your manuscript. We regret that neither Mr. Patrick nor the Institute can comment on manuscripts by writers not selected.