The Writers Lab

The Writers Lab is the only major development programme exclusively for women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40, and it exists precisely because that group is the industry's most quietly overlooked. Selected writers join an intensive residential lab (two US editions in 2026, Los Angeles in October and New York in November) working one-on-one with established mentors, with food and accommodation covered.

The honest part: travel is not covered, the cohorts are small (eight writers per lab), and there is no cash award, so the value is the development, the mentors and the alumnae network rather than anything you can bank. Fees were modest this year, US$50 to US$85 by deadline tier, with optional paid feedback.

One practical warning: the programme's old website has been abandoned and its official home is now twlstories.org, so ignore stale links elsewhere. The 2026 window closed on 30 April and selections are notified by mid-August; the next cycle is expected in early 2027 but has not been dated. If you are an eligible writer with a feature or pilot, this belongs at the top of your calendar for next cycle. If you are not in the eligible group, that is the point.