Danomatic.Com

New information about this year’s Disney ABC Writing Fellowship was revealed last night at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. ScreenPlayLab hosted the event with speaker Frank Gonzalez, Director of Talent Development for Disney. The basics remain the same: every year they pick 4 aspring feature film writers and 10 television writers, contract them for $50,000 and put them through 12 months of workshops, mentoring and working on an ABC/Disney owned show. 

The big news last night was the announcement of this year’s deadline: July 31, 2008. Finalists will be chosen in November and they will start in February 2009. Out of the 2007 Fellowship, all 10 of the 10 television writers went on to get staff gigs on shows (something that isn’t guaranteed.)

Along with a spec of a current show (no "Friends" or "Mary Tyler Moore") for the tv program, you will also have to write a Letter of Intent. Frank emphasized that this letter goes a long way in getting you into the program. In 500 words or less, they are looking for why the program is right for you and what you bring to the table. For the latter part, they want to see you sell yourself by being clear about your writing voice and how you can contribute in the collective experience that is being a staff tv writer.

In fact, they have found that writers’ ability to sell themselves to be lacking in most applicants and part of getting in is not only doing a one on one interview, but attending a mixer party where your ability to mingle, be friendly and personable are part of your overall score. And if you get into the program, improv classes and pitching classes await you.

All the details for applying can be found at abctalentdevelopment.com. If you need to contact the program directly, you can either leave voice mail at 818-560-6894 or send an email to abc.fellowship@abc.com. They mentioned that email gets responded to faster than voice mail, but eventually they get back to every one who contacts them.

SciFiFanLetter is a blog kept by an employee at the World’s Biggest Bookstore in Toronto, Canada who oversees the SciFi/Fantasy section. She updates it regularly with upcoming books, and occasionally makes very cool lists like this list of Urban Fantasy Private Investigators. If you are interested in writing in this genre, it’s good to know your contemporaries.

If you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy novels, either as a writer or a reader, you may find these resources of use.

There is a LiveJournal community comprised of published authors including high profile ones like Holly Black. You can check out their front page at Fur, Fangs & Fey. It aggregates the blog entries of all the authors on the list.

Two links to other Urban Fantasy website resources are on that LiveJournal community page as well: Urban Fantasy Land and Urban Fantasy Fan. Both blog current news about Urban Fantasy authors and their titles, appearances and workshops.

If you are interested in the writing process behind Urban Fantasy novels, be sure to check out Jim Butcher’s site. The Dresden Files author has blogged extensively about his writing process that has led him to be one of the top authors in the field. Plus, he is putting up sample chapters of his next Dresden book, Small Favor, due in hardcover later this year.

Notices are going out this week for the Warner Bros TV Writer’s Workshop semi-finalists and the ABC/Disney TV Writing Fellowship notices aren’t far behind. But what do you do if you didn’t get in? TV writer Jane Espenson has the answer for you: either write a better spec, but not too soon or write a pilot.

She also recommends other TV writer blogs you should check out, particularly Ken Levine, Doris Egan (not updated regularly, but definitely check out the Archives for excellent advice from this ‘House’ writer) and Lisa Klink’s blog which specializes in advice about breaking in, including entires addressing questions about being a writer’s assistant.

Say what you will about the SciFi Channel’s original movies, they require the cable network to purchase many scripts which means work for genre writers. Bill Cunningham on his DISContent blog has found writing guidelines from the SciFi channel via prolific writer-director Steve Latshaw.

"Actually, based on a conversation I had with their director of development in 2005…

They used, as a perfect example for tone, an excellent Brit flick called DOG SOLDIERS. They loved that movie."

Every channel is gong to have their own needs, but if you’re writing something you think the SciFi channel would be interested in reading, then it never hurts to know what they are looking for.

I’m still getting many hits on this site every day from people looking for information about these two fellowship programs for TV drama and comedy screenwriters. Just so there is no confusion, I want to point out the deadline to apply this year has passed. For the ABC/Disney TV Writing Fellowship, the deadline was July 1, 2007. For the WB Writers Workshop, the deadline was August 15th.

You can always apply next year, but be sure to check their official websites for the exact deadline and submission requirements.

If you missed the deadline, or submitted and are waiting to hear back, the question is: what do aspiring TV writers do now? Of course, accomplished TV writer and blogger Jane Espenson has the answer. Actually, she has a lot of answers. And they are all excellent. Check it out.

If you are are a SciFi, Fantasy or Horror writer looking for an artist to colloborate on a comic book project or contest check out ComicSpace.com. It’s like MySpace for Comic Book writers, artists, inkers and letterers. Set up your own page, then start making friends with others who can help you achieve your vision.

This is a perfect resource if you, like me, are looking for an artist to work with for the Zuda Comics contest.