Thanks to the miracle of the internet, rejection no longer comes in slim envelopes, but in tender emails. I just heard yesterday that my script “Wildflowers of the West” did not make the quarterfinals of the Nicholl Fellowship. The Nicholl Fellowship’s form rejection letters grow sweeter every year.

“ … we have to inform too many writers of scripts featuring compelling stories, intriguing characters and excellent craft that they have not advanced into the next round.”

That must indeed be difficult.

But what, my readers ask, is the Nicholl Fellowship?

Their website replies: The Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting is the world’s most esteemed screenwriting competition. Each year up to five $30,000 fellowships are awarded to authors who have previously earned less than $5,000 writing for film or television.

Then, my readers usually ask, does it have anything to do with Mike Nichols?

No. It does not.

Does it really matter?

Well, no. I mean, except in the sense that it is better to advance into the quarterfinals than to not advance. And it is better to ultimately win a $30,000 fellowship than to not. No one regards winning the Nicholl Fellowship as a sure-fire way to advance a screenwriting career. But among contests, it is the queen bee.

“P.S.” concludes the email “your script finished among the top 15% of all entries – one of the top 1000 scripts.”

P.S. Thanks.

Labels: screenwriting contests, Wildflowers of the West

posted by Elizabeth at 10:44 AM