Feature articles

The Guild produces a quarterly magazine, UK Writer, sent free to members. If you would like to subscribe, but don't wish to join the Guild, please contact the office for details. Many of the articles in this section first appeared in UK Writer.

An interview with Jack Thorne

An edited transcript from the Writers' Guild podcast (24th August 2010).

The implications for writers of public spending cuts

Transcript from the Writers’ Guild podcast (24th August 2010).

RIP The Bill

Gregory Evans reflects on the end of ITV's long-running police series.

The Peggy Ramsay archive

Zoë Wilcox, cataloguer of modern literary manuscripts at the British Library, offers an insight into the life of one of the great figures of post-war theatre.

Making a drama out of a crisis

Anji Loman Field on making a film in Cambodia to promote family planning.

Jonathan Harvey interview

Talking about writing TV comedy, Coronation Street and his return to the theatre.

Getting Fast Romance up to speed

James McCreadie on co-writing a film about love, life and speed-dating.

Back to his roots

Anne Hogben interviews Alan Plater.

Rhyme and reason

Kevin McCann on the benefits – for writer and students – of taking poetry into schools.

From Garston to Hollywood

Roy Boulter explains how a community writing project resulted in a critically acclaimed feature film, Under The Mud.

Adapting Charles Paris

Jeremy Front explains how he came to adapt The Charles Paris Mysteries by Simon Brett for BBC radio.

The Write Stuff - A History of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain

Guild member Nick Yapp has researched and written an illustrated 50-year history of the Guild, from 10th October 1956 when a small group of writers met in the basement of a doctor's surgery through to the present day.

UK Writer - Winter 2009

The Writers' Guild magazine is now available online.

The delight is in the details

Archers writer Jo Toye explains how her passion for the programme led her to write the first ever ‘Miscellany’ of the show.

Hackney Empire’s tribute to Harold Pinter

Jan Woolf reflects on being the first holder of the Pinter residency.

Writ Large - new theatre writing

David Edgar on how a new Arts Council England report reveals that new theatre writing is thriving.

Introducing National Theatre Wales

Othniel Smith reports on artistic director John E McGrath's meeting with Welsh Guild members.

Face to Facebook

Amanda Whittington explains why she set up a Facebook group for her play, Be My Baby.

Licensing for amateur theatres

Tony Gibbs, Chief Executive of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, explains why amateur theatre presents real opportunities for writers.

Rutger Hauer Filmfactory

Anton Damen speaks to the writers who provided the scripts at this year’s Rutger Hauer Filmfactory for young filmmakers.

Is there a writer in the house?

Philippa Johnston looks at the opportunities for writers to work in schools and other educational and community settings.

Original Sin

Steve Hawes tells the story behind his new play.

‘Mostly it takes work’

Zoë Fairbairns meets Stella Duffy.

Mobilising Land Girls

Roland Moore explains how he came to write Land Girls – BBC One’s first daytime period drama.

Putting on the skits

A guide to staging a sketch show, by Griff Phillips.

Welcome to Riverscross

Darren Rapier on an innovative drama project built around the development of a new soap.

Tweet tweet!

Martin Day explains what writers can gain from using Twitter.

How to kill creativity while claiming to help it grow - a lesson in New Labour double-think

Tony Garnett on the state of BBC drama.

Cast-Offs

Jack Thorne on writing and disability.

Codswallop at the BAFTAs

Myles McLeod on making his red carpet debut with his animator brother Greg.

Bill Gallagher interview

Screenwriter talks about his new version of The Prisoner.

Taking Franco to France

Edward Windus recounts the experience of taking a script to the 32nd éQuinoxe screenwriters’ workshop

Short is beautiful

Elizabeth Baines charts the return of the short story.

What the Dickens?

Piers Beckley on adapting A Christmas Carol for the stage.

Writing Summerhill

Alison Hume explains how she came to write a drama about a unique school.

A phone-in, innit

Martin Baum recounts the experience of taking part in Richard Bacon's BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in.

Game on!

Rhianna Pratchett talks about her working process and the evolution of games writing.

War children

Zlata Filipović explains why children who experience war need help to tell their stories.

An interview with Guy Hibbert

Award-winning screenwriter talks about his new film, Five Minutes Of Heaven.

Writing for Wikpedia

Zoe Fairbairns contributes to the largest encyclopedia in the world.

International theatre comes to China

Richard Crane and Faynia Williams report from the International Festival of Theatre in China.

Why should writers pay extra for car insurance?

Paul Dornan calls for writers to fight back against the insurance industry.

Clips from a life

In an extract from his new autobiography, Denis Norden remembers the early life of the Writers’ Guild.

The animation game

Richard Bevan talks to Francis Vose of Cosgrove Hall.

Build your own website

Free online tools can make building your own website easier than you think.

The coming of the Guild

Nick Yapp looks back at our union's pre-history.

Phil Collinson interview

Richard Bevan talks to the Head of Drama at BBC Manchester.

Return of a native

David Evans reports from the Time Of The Writer festival in Durban.

Lyssi - the opera

Christopher Neame explains how his passion for musical theatre took him from Avignon to Sarajevo.

Who's Who?

David Lemon interviews three Doctor Who writers.

Confessions of an Edinburgh virgin

Jake Yapp takes on the Edinburgh Festival.

Tearing Puccini to pieces

Darren Rapier goes from Edmonton to the Royal Albert Hall on an education project with young offenders.

How I Carried On

Norman Hudis on scripting the first six Carry On films.

Animating King Arthur

Danny Stack interviews scriptwriter Paul Parkes.

In the footsteps of Lonelygirl15

Examining the state of online drama.

There is no plan

Richard Crane explains how he came to write The Quiz.

It's my baby - screenwriters who direct

A report from the Guild event in April 2008.

So you want to be a playwright?

A report from the Guild event in March 2008.

Stephen Gallagher

Interview with leading British scriptwriter and novelist.

Why I blog (UK Writer Spring 2008)

Helen Smith reflects on her first year online.

The Revival of the Audience Sitcom

An expert panel share their views on one of TV's most durable formats.

UK playwrights overseas

From Germany to Estonia, how plays can run and run.

Writing partnerships

Gail Renard outlines some key considerations when writing with a partner.

Friend or Foe - Working with Directors

Moe Owoborode reports from the first in a series of events about writers collaborating with directors.

The Lulu diaries

John Morrison flirts with online self-publishing.

Imaginary Worlds

Five writers reflect on the current success of British sci-fi and fantasy.

Faintheart

Screenwriter David Lemon recounts how he got his first feature film from a TAPS workshop to production, via a £1 million online competition.

From Bergerac to Wallace and Gromit

Jayne Kirkham meets screenwriter Bob Baker.

In conversation with David Edgar

Anne Hogben reports on the Guild's new President talking to David James at a special Guild event.

Geekspeak

Stan Hayward on the joy of search.

Surviving the Fringe

Dave Cohen offers some tips for those taking a show to the biggest arts festival in the world.

Late payment – writers’ rights

Andy Walsh offers some advice on how to get paid on time

Robert Jones interview

Screenwriter Robert Jones talks about his two new series: Party Animals and Rough Diamond.

 Adrian Hodges interview

Tom Green talks to Adrian Hodges about Primeval, his new prime-time series for ITV

Gwyneth Hughes interview

Scriptwriter Gwyneth Hughes talks about her original BBC TV serial, Five Days, and how her background as a documentary maker informs her writing.

Audiobooks

John Morrison investigates the market for audiobooks and considers the prospects for a format poised to enter a new era of change and expansion.

Theatres for writers

Richard Bevan talks to the people responsible for new writing at the Hampstead and Soho theatres.

Don’t mention Bollywood

Niraj Kapur explains how he has fought expectations about the subjects a British Asian writer should choose.

Paul Laverty

Tom Green speaks to screenwriter Paul Laverty about the reaction to his Palme d’Or winning film, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and ten years of collaboration with Ken Loach.

Inside the Shed

Richard Bevan talks to the people behind Shed Productions, creators of Bad Girls, Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road.

Romantic comedy

Writer and consultant Billy Mernit offers rom-com scriptwriters a final exam.

Jeffrey Caine

The Oscar-nominated screenwriter talks about awards, directors and why writers must demand more respect.

Deborah Moggach interview

Edel Brosnan speaks to Deborah Moggach about adaptations, arbitration and Austen.

Digital defence

Andrea Sanders-Reece explains how the Creators' Rights Alliance is facing the challenge of the digital age.

Screenwriters guru guide

Don’t know your Aristotle from you Aronson? Jamie Sherry provides a quick guide to who’s who among the advice-givers.

Youth Workers

Kevin Dyer, Action Transport’s first Associate Writer, explains how the company develops new work for, by and with children and young people.

Going Dutch

Screenwriter Thessa Mooij offers an insight into the Dutch film industry.

Syd Field interview

Jamie Sherry speaks to influential screenwriting teacher Syd Field about the three-act structure, Renoir and why Sideways should have won the Oscar for best film.

Ray Cooney interview

Ray Cooney OBE talks about his love affair with the stage.

A brief guide to slam poetry

David Morgan explains how competition performance poetry is taking off.

China Miéville interview

Edel Brosnan meets novelist China Miéville. 

Please insert coin

Andy Walsh sets out the challenge and opportunities of writing for video games.