Sesame Workshop Writers' Room

Deadlines & fees

Dates and fees checked against the official site 9 Aug 2026.

Key facts

Formats

TV Pilot

Genres

Family

Eligibility

US only21+Free to enterNo credit required

Open to

United States

Required materials

An application form · An original script sample, 12 pages maximum (the governing terms ask for two samples with synopses, one labelled Primary, which differs from the programme page's single-sample framing) · A synopsis of up to 100 words · A resume, 2 pages maximum; anything longer is disqualified · A personal statement of up to 250 words

Applicants must be a United States citizen or permanent resident; the FAQ is explicit that applications cannot be accepted from anyone without US citizenship or permanent residency. Minimum age 21. NO WRITING EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED, and the operator says what matters most is a passion for writing, but THERE IS A CREDIT CAP: applicants cannot have extensive media writing experience, defined as having written more than six episodes for a network or cable scripted or narrative series. Individual writers only: if you are in a writing pair you must submit a script you wrote by yourself. One application per person. No income cap is published. Participants must be able to attend and complete writing assignments for all 8 sessions and attend the 12 office-hours sessions, delivered virtually from August to November. The sample must be an original script of 12 pages maximum in script format, for a play, television, film or similar, modelling a three-act structure, aimed at viewers up to age 12, and containing no Sesame Street elements, characters or intellectual property. PDF, 8.5 by 11 inches, minimum 1 inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman or Courier. Use of any artificial intelligence resource or tool to prepare the submission or personal statement is prohibited and may be grounds for disqualification. CORRECTION TO A COMMON DESCRIPTION: this is not an eight-week intensive. It is eight three-hour sessions plus twelve one-hour office hours spread across roughly four months.

Prizes

NO STIPEND, GRANT OR CASH AWARD IS PUBLISHED. The programme is free to apply to and free to participate in, is delivered virtually so no travel or lodging arises, and nothing is payable at any point. The material upside is contingent: up to two of the six participants are offered creative development deals and further mentorship, and NO VALUE IS ATTACHED TO THOSE DEALS anywhere on the page or in the terms. RIGHTS, AND THIS IS THE HEAVIEST TERM IN THE BATCH BECAUSE IT BINDS BEFORE YOU KNOW YOUR DEAL. As a pre-condition to participating, a selected candidate must enter a formal written agreement conferring on Sesame certain rights of first negotiation and last refusal to acquire rights in and to any and all materials created by you as part of the Program, including creative concepts, scripts, stories, titles, drawings, formats, renderings, characters, pencil tests, designs, music, themes, contents and protectable elements, AND THE CLAUSE EXTENDS TO MATERIAL WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT CREATIVELY RELATE TO YOUR APPLICATION SUBMISSION. If you are selected for a creative development deal, you must enter a further agreement granting Sesame rights of ownership in the property, on terms described only as generally standard in the children's educational media community and commensurate with your experience. There is also a broad idea-misappropriation waiver headed No Limitation on Exploitation of Materials, permitting Sesame to use without payment any part of a submission that is similar to something already under consideration or in development, is not unique novel original and concrete enough for legal protection, or is similar to something independently created by Sesame or a third party. Plus a perpetual worldwide royalty-free name, likeness and biography release without further notice or consideration, a confidentiality obligation, an indemnity, exclusive New York jurisdiction, and an irrevocable waiver of any right to seek rescission or equitable or injunctive relief.

Judging

No judge or selector is named. The process is explicitly anonymised across three reading phases: third-party readers, then readers from Sesame, then representatives from the Sesame development team, then a selection committee of Sesame employees and executives with interviews. No written feedback is offered at any stage.

Frequently asked questions