The Veterans Writing Project
Programme · 2027Prestige 68/100
Ten free months writing a script with working WGA mentors, ending in a pitch to executives. Veterans only.
Deadlines & fees
Closed for this cycle
The 2026-27 cycle closed on 3 February 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific, with an early-bird tier on 13 January, and applicants updated by 20 April ahead of the weekend retreat in June. No dates have been published for the next cycle. The programme is structurally stable, running annually on a two-year cycle naming with a June start and a ten-month duration, but the application front end has drifted: the deadline moved almost four weeks earlier between 2022 and 2026, and a two-tier early-bird structure was introduced that did not exist before. The 2023-24 and 2025-26 cycle dates could not be evidenced from any archived source.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 9 Aug 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- Feature, TV Pilot
- Eligibility
- US residents21+
- Open to
- United States
- Required materials
- A writing sample, preferably a complete television or feature script; partial samples need a minimum of 10 to 15 pages · Three original project ideas, each with a logline · A personal statement of up to 400 words · Your resume · A copy of your DD214 with your Social Security number redacted, or one of seven listed alternative proofs of service
Applicants must be a veteran of the United States military, a US citizen or permanent resident, and at least 21 years old. Non-veterans may apply only if their writing partner meets all eligibility requirements, and a team is admitted only if both applicants demonstrate sufficient skill. You need a clear interest in writing for film and television, knowledge of screenwriting fundamentals and some scriptwriting experience personal or professional, and must commit to completing one full screenplay or television pilot during the programme and to attending all meetings. Veterans who took part in 2015 or later cannot return, though previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply. You cannot work on an existing project with your mentors: you must develop a new concept from start to finish. The Foundation states the programme is not recommended for anyone entirely new to screenwriting, anyone interested only in business contacts or in workshopping an existing script, or anyone wanting to write a personal or autobiographical story.
Prizes
No cash, stipend or grant of any kind. The value is instruction and access: ten months developing one complete television pilot or feature script under working WGA writers, in a small group of four to six peers with two or three mentors matched to your format and genre, and on completion a pitch opportunity to industry executives, managers, agents and showrunners. Tuition is free thanks to donors. THE REAL COST IS GETTING THERE: the Foundation states plainly that those from outside the Los Angeles area are expected to cover their own transportation and lodging. Sessions are typically at the Foundation's Shavelson-Webb Library in Los Angeles, currently hosted online via Zoom with some in-person events, and the cycle opens with an in-person weekend retreat. Monthly workshops run Tuesday evenings Pacific time, so a participant outside the US must also be available on Pacific evenings for ten months. RIGHTS: none published. No option, first refusal, exclusivity, development consideration or misappropriation waiver appears anywhere on the programme pages.
Judging
Assessed by a committee comprised of writers and showrunners, most of whom serve as mentors in the programme; individual mentors are not named. Interviews are possible but not guaranteed. Applicants rank three format and genre preferences, which drive group placement. Note that the early-bird deadline buys process advantage rather than a discount, since there are no fees at all: it offers early review by the admissions committee and a smaller pool of competing candidates in the first round, though all admission decisions are released on the same date regardless of when you apply. Mentor notes run throughout the ten months for participants; no evaluation is offered to unsuccessful applicants.
The PreList verdict
Ten months of structured mentorship from working WGA writers, entirely free, ending with a pitch to industry executives, managers, agents and showrunners. You join a breakout group of four to six peers with two or three mentors matched to your format and genre, and you write one complete new script from scratch. For a veteran with some screenwriting grounding, there is nothing else structured like this, and the Writers Guild Foundation has been running it since before 2015.
The gates are strict and specific. You must be a US military veteran, a citizen or permanent resident, and at least 21. Non-veterans get in only as the writing partner of someone who qualifies, and both halves of a team must be strong enough on their own merits. Previous participants from 2015 onwards cannot return.
The honest part is the cost of getting there. Tuition is free, but the Foundation states plainly that anyone from outside the Los Angeles area covers their own transportation and lodging, and the cycle opens with an in-person weekend retreat. Sessions are largely on Zoom with some in-person events, and monthly workshops run Tuesday evenings Pacific time, so ten months of your calendar has to bend to a US west coast schedule. One useful thing to know: the early-bird deadline buys no discount, since there is nothing to discount, but it does buy earlier review and a smaller competing pool, even though everyone hears back on the same day.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 9 Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost?
The programme itself is free thanks to donors. But anyone from outside the Los Angeles area is expected to cover their own transportation and lodging, and the cycle opens with an in-person weekend retreat, so that is a real cost for a non-Californian participant.
Who is eligible?
Veterans of the United States military who are US citizens or permanent residents and at least 21 years old, with some scriptwriting experience. Non-veterans can apply only as the writing partner of someone who qualifies, and both must be strong enough to be selected. Anyone who took part in 2015 or later cannot return.
Can I work on a script I have already started?
No. The Foundation states you cannot work on an existing project with your mentors and must be prepared to develop a new concept from start to finish. It also says the programme is not suited to anyone wanting only to workshop an existing script or make industry contacts.
Is the early-bird deadline worth hitting?
There is no discount, since there are no fees. What it buys is early review by the admissions committee and a smaller pool of competing candidates in the first round. All admission decisions are released on the same date regardless of when you applied.
Is your script right for The Veterans Writing Project?
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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