Why join?
Southwest Scriptwriters offers the rare chance to get feedback on your drama scripts and to hear how they come across in performance. This process will help you improve subsequent drafts and give you a better chance of having your work professionally produced.
The group offers actors a chance to sharpen their performing skills by sight-reading scripts. It's also the place to find unusual audition pieces and be in at the start of possible productions.
For writers and actors alike, the group is an opportunity to socialise with others committed to the creation of new drama. There are always a few drinks afterwards where we talk over projects informally.
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What writing experience do I need?
All you need is enthusiasm for new drama writing. You don't need to have any writing experience or production credits. We come from every level of experience and everyone benefits from taking part. Members include professional dramatists, scriptwriting teachers and postgraduates in creative writing, as well as writers who are just starting out.
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How do I join?
The easiest way to join is to come to one of our meetings (see our Diary page for a list of upcoming dates) and ask for a membership form.
If you'd like full details of our programme before coming to a meeting, you can receive a free copy of our e-newsletter by clicking Join/Contact and filling in the form.
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How much does it cost?
Members pay an annual subscription of £6, for which they receive our bimonthly newsletter. Everyone pays £1 at the meetings.
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I don't live anywhere near Bristol and can't make it to your meetings; can I still join?
You can join without coming to meetings, and are very welcome to, but the benefits are very limited. We don't offer advice or feedback on scripts outside meetings and many of the other advantages of membership come through active involvement.
Our newsletter reflects our strong regional bias and, while this is of some interest to those living beyond easy travelling distance of Bristol, we produce it specifically for those who can attend meetings.
It might be more useful for you to have a look at these websites, which have lists of similar regional organisations elsewhere in the UK:
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How do I get my script read?
If you're new to Southwest Scriptwriters, please come along to a few meetings to get used to the workshop process before asking for a script to be read.
We programme full-length script readings ahead of our six-weekly seasons and announce them in our newsletter, so you need to tell us well in advance if you have a full-length script to be read. We are less formal with shorter pieces of work, so please ask at a meeting if you'd like to workshop a script extract.
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I'm looking for a script to produce; can you help?
Yes. As well as working to develop scripts, Southwest Scriptwriters aims to connect writers with drama producers.
We're interested in hearing from you whether you're an established drama producer for film, TV, radio or the professional theatre, or looking for something new and different for your non-professional drama company.
Please contact us with a brief description of the kind of script you're looking for. We might be able to suggest something immediately and, if not, we can publish your request in the next edition of our newsletter so that our writers can contact you with their ideas.
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