Is writing a competition? How to get the most out of new writing awards

My Next Draft Presents : Is writing a competition? How to get the most out of new writing awards

With a panel of Anna Jordan (Bruntwood Prize winner 2013), Conway McDermott (Sky Studios 2021 Screen/Play Award winner) and Paddy Hughes (Bruntwood Prize ONV winner 2022) we will chat all things New Writing Awards and talk through our individual experiences with entering, missing out and eventually winning awards. We will also dig into our experience as readers for some of the biggest playwrighting and screenwriting awards in the country.

The Q AND A...

Firstly the panel will respond to a few pre-set prompts that question the importance of writing competitions . Then we will following up with audience questions (both sent in advance and live in the space).

The prompts are:

How can we use writing compeitions to impose structure on our craft?

If at first you don't suceed? How missing out can make you a better writer?

Should I ask for feedback on awards entries?

Winning an award - does everything change?

Experiences as a readers for awards. What are they looking for?

Are writing awards good for the new writing ecology?

Audience questions and provocations

Logistics...

Step 1 - Once you have booked your ticket on Evetbrite feel free to send questions or provocations to mynextdraft@gmail.com

Step 2 - On the day of the event you will be sent a zoom link which you will be able to join 5 mins before the event is due to start.

Step 3 -- The event is free to book but if you could spare a donation to help us continue delivering events like this one then that would be really appreciated:

https://ko-fi.com/mynextdraft

If the event is sold out on Eventbrite then email mynextdraft@gmail.com with a request for tickets (we are holding a few back and should be able to make sure that everyone who wants to attend can attend)

The panel

Anna Jordon

Anna Jordan’s theatre credits include Jack and The Beanstalk (Stratford East), Pop Music (Hull Truck, Paines Plough / Birmingham Rep) We Anchor In Hope (Bunker Theatre. Royal Court Theatre), Mother Courage and Her Children (Royal Exchange / Headlong), The Unreturning (Frantic Assembly – National Tour and Theatre Royal Stratford). Anna won the Bruntwood Prize in 2013 for her play YEN, which has had productions at The Royal Exchange, Royal Court Theatre and MCC New York as well as several international productions. It was also shortlisted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

Her TV credits include One Day, Succession, Killing Eve and Becoming Elizabeth. She has projects in development with Raw, MRC, Avalon, ITV and Bristol Automotive.

She is also a director, facilitator and teacher.

Conway McDermott

Conway recently had new musical - Billie The Kid, a show about queer family and youthful rebellion - staged in the Vaudeville Theatre on the West End, and is currently a writer on BBC's Eastenders, as well as the Playwright in Residence for Box of Tricks Theatre Company.

In 2021Conway won the Sky Studios 2021 Screen/Play Award, and has developed original work for the screen with Sky, and as part of Screen Yorkshire's FLEX programme. Conway has had work commissioned by The Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Popelei Theatre Company, The Theatre Royal Stratford East, and the Liverpool Light Night Festival, as well as working as an artist and performer with FACT, the Liverpool Biennale, Creative Europe, and a handful of other organizations across the UK and Europe.

Paddy Hughes

Paddy Hughes is a playwright and dramaturg based in Liverpool. He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and has an MA in scriptwriting at University of East Anglia under the tutelage of Steve Waters and Timberlake Wertenbaker. He has previously worked in the National Theatre's New Work Department and at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and is currently a Future Playmakers Associate at Box of Tricks Theatre. He has had play readings presented at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, HOME Theatre, Manchester, and Wildcard Theatre, has been longlisted for the Bruntwood twice, and his most recent play LEAVE THE MORNING TO THE MORNING won the 2022 Bruntwood Prize for the inaugural North West Original New Voice Award and Residency. In screen, Paddy’s first short film (co-written and co-directed with John Gillespie) was produced by BBC Radio 5 Live and won the ‘Well Done U’ Award.