Paramount Writers Mentoring Program
Programme · 2026Prestige 72/100
Paramount's eight-month TV writing mentorship, now incorporating the Nickelodeon Writing Program as its kids, family and YA pathway.
Deadlines & fees
Closed for this cycle
The 2026 window ran 1 April to 1 May and is closed. The next window has not been announced.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 14 Jul 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- TV Pilot
- Genres
- Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Music, Mystery
- Eligibility
- US residents18+
- Open to
- United States
- Required materials
- Application · One spec script PDF · One-page resume PDF · Short bio (500 words or fewer) · Two essay answers (75 words or fewer each) · Signed submission release and Schedule A
18 or over. Previous unsuccessful applicants may reapply with a different spec each cycle.
Prizes
A salaried programme with writers' room experience and mentorship. Not a cash-prize contest.
Judging
Selection by Nickelodeon. The General Track runs 12 months; the Preschool Track runs 6 months.
The PreList verdict
If you came here looking for the Nickelodeon Writing Program, this is where it went. Paramount has folded it into the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program, with a dedicated kids, family and YA pathway covering the Nickelodeon brands. The merged programme, now in its 21st year, is an eight-month mentorship pairing each writer with a Paramount brand executive, plus showrunner and executive workshops.
The honest part: the integration is recent, so the track record of the merged programme is still the sum of its parts rather than its own, and Paramount has not published pay details. The application window is short and spring-shaped: the 2026 window ran 1 April to 1 May and closed quickly.
Apply if you write for television and want executive-level mentorship inside a major studio group, and especially if your natural voice is kids, family or YA, where this is now the definitive pathway. Old links to the standalone Nickelodeon programme are dead; watch the Paramount programme page for the next window and prepare through the winter.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 14 Jul 2026
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the Nickelodeon Writing Program?
It has been integrated into the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program as the kids, family and YA pathway. The old standalone programme page now redirects to nick.com.
What does the programme involve?
An eight-month mentorship pairing each writer with a Paramount brand executive, alongside showrunner and executive workshops. It is now in its 21st year.
When can I apply?
The 2026 window ran 1 April to 1 May and is closed. The next window has not been announced; recent cycles have opened in early spring.
Is your script right for Paramount Writers Mentoring Program?
Upload your screenplay and The PreList scores how well it fits this programme: genre, format, eligibility and readiness, before you spend anything.
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