WGGB launched its free series of online events for writers during the Covid-19 lockdown. You can find details of all previous sessions, including videos (where we recorded sessions), below. Closed captions are available for all our Zoom events.
Our next free event takes place on Wednesday 25 May 2022 and will focus on our recent report with Society of Authors, Is It A Steal? Our expert panel will help you navigate the hazards and opportunities of contributory publishing plus there will be the chance to ask questions. Register ahead here.
In conversation with Kevin Dyer
Writers’ Guild Awards Best Play winner Kevin Dyer was interviewed about his winning play The Syrian Baker, his work in community theatre and more on Thursday 12 May 2022.
In conversation with Hannah George, Taylor Glenn and Catie Wilkins
WGGB Comedy Chair Nathaniel Tapley interviewed the female trio who scooped the Writers’ Guild Best Online Comedy Award this year with Do You Remember the Period Talk at School #Menopause. The event took place on Thursday 31 March.
In conversation with Avin Shah
Writers’ Guild Best Radio Drama Award winner Avin Shah spoke to WGGB Audio Chair Nicholas McInerny on 17 March 2022 about his winning play The Half Widow, and more.
WGGB roundtable for writers working higher education
This event saw the launch event of our network for writers working in higher education and took place on 10 March 2022. If you’re interested in joining the network or you have any issues you’d like to discuss in a future session please contact kate@writersguild.org.uk
WGGB roundtable for early-career film writers
This event took place on 1 March 2022.
Stress-busing for writers
This event, which took place on 25 February 2022, was hosted by WGGB Books Co-Chair Corinne Sweet, who is a psychotherapist, life coach and agony aunt.
In conversation with Sarah Hanly
WGGB Organiser Nadine Edwards interviewed playwright and actor Sarah Hanly who has just completed a one-woman sell out show at the Royal Court Theatre. The event took place on 23 February 2022.
All you need to know about our TV agreements and resources
Continuing our series of ‘guided tour’ events, this took place on 27 January 2022, featuring WGGB TV Chair Emma Reeves and WGGB Caseworker John Sailing.
In conversation with Olivia Hetreed
Former WGGB President and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed spoke to The Art of Screen Adaptation author Alistair Owen on 8 December 2021 at this event in partnership with Creative Essentials.
Meet the agent
The second in our series of Meet the agent events took place on 2 December 2021 and saw Sean Gascoine of United Agents talk to screenwriter Tom Williams (Chair of the WGGB Film Committee). This was a member-only event and the video is now available in the Members’ area of our website.
Where are all the women comedy writers?
This event on Thursday 11 November 2021 saw Bafta award-winning writer Gail Renard explore the opportunities and realities for women comedy with a stellar panel.
In conversation with… Jamie Carragher
The event which took place on 4 November 2021 saw screenwriter and playwright Jamie Carragher talk to Emma Reeves (Chair of the Writers’ Guild TV Committee) about how he progressed from writer’s assistant to staff writer on HBO’s American satirical black comedy series Succession, what it was like working alongside its creator Jesse Armstrong, and about a few other projects he has up his sleeve.
Deborah Moggach in conversation with Alistair Owen
This event in partnership with Creative Essentials saw screenwriter and bestselling novelist Deborah Moggach talking to The Art of Screen Adaptation author Alistair Owen on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
Meet the agent
This member-only event, the first in a new series, saw The Haworth Agency‘s Georgina Ruffhead in conversation with WGGB Chair Lisa Holdsworth. It took place on 14 October 2021 and a video will be available shortly in the ‘exclusive member video’ section of the members’ area of our website.
How to get the TV credits you deserve
We launched our new guidelines to the ‘created by’ credit at this event on Thursday 23 September 2021, which also saw a discussion with WGGB TV Chair Emma Reeves and Blood creator and screenwriter Sophie Petzal, plus other special guests.
Sarah Phelps in conversation with Alistair Owen
This event, which took place on 11 August 2021 in partnership with Creative Essentials, saw screenwriter Sarah Phelps talk to Alistair Owen, author of The Art of Screen Adaptation, about the challenges and pleasures of adapting Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Tana French – and true events – into compelling TV drama.
Arts Council grants and how to get them
This member-only event took place on Thursday 29 July 2021. A video is available in the members’ area of our website here.
Change of scene: how the pandemic has reshaped theatre
This event (22 July 2021) saw Suba Das (Artistic Director of HighTide Theatre) explore how the pandemic has forced theatre practitioners to innovate, leading to a flowering of new works and ventures. He was joined by playwright and screenwriter Vinay Patel (True Brits, Murdered by My Father) and by playwright, screenwriter and Artistic Director of tiata fahodzi Chinonyerem Odimba (Unknown Rivers, Princess & The Hustler).
Competitions v cut-price commissions?
This event, which took place on 24 June 2021, explored how writers can tell the difference between genuine writing opportunities and those that should be offering standard industry pay and conditions. It also saw the launch of our new guidelines on this subject.
Contracts for collaborations
This member-only advice session on writing partnerships took place on 20 May 2021. The video of this event is available in our Members’ area.
Writers v podcasters – how can writers survive in a podcasting universe?
This event took place on 13 May 2021 and was hosted by WGGB Audio Chair Nicholas McInerny.
Second online festival of videogames writing
This took place on the week beginning 26 April 2021 and saw 13 speakers across five days. You can catch up with videos on the festival website page.
All you need to know about… musical theatre
This event, which took place on 22 April 2021, was the first in a new series of online guided tours to help writers and those who work with them find their way around our industry agreements and guidelines.
In conversation with… Lucinda Coxon
Continuing our series of events with Creative Essentials, The Art of Screen Adaptation author Alistair Owen was in conversation with screenwriter Lucinda Coxon on 21 April 2021.
Can stories save the planet?
The event took place on 15 April 2021 hosted by WGGB Chair Lisa Holdsworth.
Where next for women in theatre?
The event took place on Thursday 25 March 2021 in partnership with Sphinx Theatre.
In conversation with… David Nicholls
BAFTA-winning screenwriter, best-selling novelist and WGGB member David Nicholls spoke to The Art of Screen Adaptation author Alistair Owen at this session in partnership with Creative Essentials on March 10 2021.
Can you make a living writing podcast drama?
WGGB Audio Chair Nicholas McInerny spoke to writer/director Ken Bentley and actor/producer Nathan Blade in this event on Thursday 25 February 2021 at 5pm.
In conversation with… Emma Reeves
My Mum Tracy Beaker screenwriter and WGGB TV Chair Emma Reeves was in conversation with fellow children’s TV writer and WGGB Treasurer Gail Renard on 24 February 2020.
Annual videogames panel event
Our popular annual event with London South Bank University and IGDA London took place on Thursday 11 February 2021. It featured award-winning games writer, narrative designer and producer Jon Ingold talking about how to creative meaningful choices in interactive experiences.
In Conversation with… Moira Buffini
Harlots and The Dig writer Moira Buffini was in conversation with The Art of Screen Adaptation author Alistair Owen in this Zoom session in partnership with Creative Essentials. It took place on Wednesday 5 February 2021.
In Conversation with… Russell T Davies
This took place on Thursday 28 January 2021 and saw the WGGB member, award-winning screenwriter and producer interviewed by WGGB Radio Chair Nicholas McInerny. Davies spoke about Doctor Who, bringing gay comedy into the mainstream and his new Channel 4 series It’s A Sin.
Pandemic power – finding your audiences online
Led by WGGB Yorkshire rep David Allison the event featured special guests from the region and took place on Thursday 21 January 2021.
In conversation with… Amanda Coe
The event took place on 17 December 2020 and saw former WGGB President Olivia Hetreed talk to screenwriter Amanda Coe about adapting Rumer Godden’s 1939 novel Black Narcissus for a new BBC mini series.
Can you make a living writing children’s TV?
This event took place on 10 December 2020 and featured WGGB TV Chair Emma Reeves, WGGB Treasurer Gail Renard and guests.
In conversation with… Daniel Ward
This event, which took place on 4 December 2020, saw WGGB President Sandi Toksvig OBE in conversation with George Devine Prize and Writers’ Guild Award-winning playwright Daniel Ward.
Blow the Bloody Doors Off! Breaking down the barriers for disabled writers
Hosted by WGGB member Jack Thorne the event took place on Friday 27 November to mark UK Disability History Month.
Showrunning in the UK
The event took place on Thursday 12 November 2020. It saw the launch of our new best-practice guidance for showrunners and those who work with them and featured Simon Beaufoy, Emilia di Girolamo and Sophie Petzal.
The Art of Screen Adaptation
The event took place on Thursday 29 October 2020 and saw author Alistair Owen in conversation with former WGGB President Olivia Hetreed.
Can you make a living writing comedy?
The event took place on Thursday 15 October 2020 and featured speakers Dave Cohen, Bennett Arron, Emily Allen and Hannah George.
Black talent discuss getting your show on
Protecting your work: from pitching to production
The event on 23 July 2020 featured a discussion between WGGB Chair Lisa Holdsworth, media lawyer and writer Robert Taylor and WGGB caseworker John Sailing on how writers can protect themselves and their work, what to look out for in contracts and how copyright works.
Videogames writing festival
A week-long festival of online videogames writing events, featuring a stellar list of speakers from the games world and covering subjects including getting started in games writing, narrative design, and the art and craft of creating narrative settings, societies and scenarios for games.
Why Writers Need Unions
The series kicked off in June 2020 with this event hosted by WGGB President Sandi Toksvig OBE and WGGB Chair Lisa Holdsworth.
Photo: Shutterstock.com/JulioRicco
