Adaptable 2024/25 Program Guidelines
Annual program. 2024/25 applications open: 18 November 2024 – 21 January 2025
Since 2018, Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable: Turning the Page to Screen program has been forging creative connections between the literary and screen communities. The Program seeks material for film or television adaptation, and accepts submissions of books and manuscripts across a broad range of genres and formats, published and unpublished.
Successful applicants to the Program are given the opportunity to pitch works with potential for screen adaptation to producers, showrunners, screenwriters and industry professionals.
One-on-one Feedback Sessions to receive reader feedback on the submitted manuscript and discuss next steps (regardless of the application outcome), are available as an add-on for all applicants with an unpublished manuscript.
To ensure all writers receive value from their application, QWC has also committed to providing a relevant development workshop to all applicants as part of the Program (included in the application fee), tailored to address commonalities found by reviewers across the cohort of applications.
View the Application Form.
Submit:
For novels, novellas, and other full-length books – the first three chapters (or approximately 10,000 words, to a maximum of 15,000 words) of a completed manuscript
For plays, graphic novels, children’s books, short stories and other short-format writing – the complete manuscript.
A 400-word synopsis is also requested.
Unpublished manuscripts should be presented according to standard formatting:
12pt Times New Roman font
Left aligned paragraph formatting
Double line spacing
1” or 3cm margins on an A4 page
Page numbered
Include the title of the manuscript in the file name. Please do not include the author’s name or identifying details on any portion of the manuscript.
Published manuscripts and forthcoming published works are accepted in publishers’ formatting/typesetting, or as per the above standard formatting.
Applications not meeting the requirements outlined in these guidelines may be deemed ineligible.
Screenplays, feature/short film/television scripts, and other forms of screenwriting – with the exception of work specifically intended for adaptation (i.e. from a feature film to web series) – are not eligible to apply. Writers looking to pitch film scripts may consider QWC’s annual Scriptable program for emerging screenwriters, accepting film scripts of all formats.
Application criteria
Adaptable seeks material for film or television adaptation. The competition accepts submissions of published and/or publication-ready manuscripts with potential for screen adaptation.
Applications are accepted via the online Application Form. By making an application, applicants acknowledge to have read and understood these Program Guidelines.
Applicants should submit their own original work.
Applications may be made by agents, publishers or authors’ representatives on behalf of and with the consent of the applicant.
Manuscripts may be of any genre or style, with the exception of self-help, business, and cookery manuscripts, or works designed for the education, training, advertising, marketing, or tourism sectors.
Applicants should be Australian or New Zealand citizens or reside in Australia or New Zealand.
Applicants under 18 years are eligible but should contact QWC prior to applying, and will need permission from a guardian.
Multiple applications are permitted.
Up to 10 places on the Program shortlist may be reserved for Queensland-based writers (currently residing in Queensland). Up to 7 places in the Program shortlist may be reserved for unpublished works (to encourage and hold space for emerging writers).
Applicants who have applied for previous years’ Programs are eligible to enter.
Previously shortlisted applicants are eligible to enter but not with a previously shortlisted manuscript.
Writers making resubmissions may be asked to provide a short statement regarding any changes made (if any) since the previous application.
Where there is Indigenous content or participation in the work, applicants should comply with Screen Australia’s First Nations Australian Content or Participation guidelines and Creative Australia’s Protocols for using First Nations Intellectual and Cultural Property.
Applications should be compliant with Screen Queensland’s Terms of Trade.
Applicants should not be employed by a government screen agency, or broadcaster. Applicants should not be involved with any projects in default with Screen Queensland, or seek retrospective funding.
Applicants acknowledge that no agreements have been entered into relating to the funding of the work, or any project based on the work, on interest in the work including any copyright interest, for screen rights or adaptation purposes.
Manuscripts should not be part of a current program of study or coursework. (Work completed as part of a prior program of study or coursework is eligible.)
Key dates
Applications open: November 2024 – January 2025
Longlist announced: March 2025
Shortlist announced: March 2025
Feedback Sessions: March – April 2025
Program dates – Market Day: 1 May 2025
Successful applicants will be publicly announced on QWC’s website and Pen & Pixel email newsletter. Applicants will be personally notified of the outcome of their application prior to public announcements.
Fees & charges
Standard application fees:
Member application fee ($55)
Non-member (standard) application fee ($65)
Fees include GST. Fees contribute toward Program administration expenses.
Discounted member application fees are available to current members of state writers’ centres in the National Writers’ Centre Network, including QWC. Applicants may be asked to verify membership of another Centre.
Participants, including shortlisted writers, are required to arrange and pay for all other expenses throughout the Program (including travel and accommodation to attend the Market Day), if applicable, except as expressly identified by QWC in written agreements.
Application fees with add-ons:
Application fee + One Year Membership ($120)
Application fee + Feedback Session ($105)
Application fee + One Year Membership + Feedback Session ($164)
Applicants can take advantage of a discounted One Year Membership ($60, valued at $89) with QWC. If the applicant is already a member their current membership will be extended by one year.
During the application period, applicants with an unpublished manuscript can take advantage of a half-price Feedback Session ($49, valued at $99).
Process
QWC staff and trained readers will assess all submissions.
QWC will select up to 40 applicants, at its discretion, for the Program longlist.
Applicants will be asked to submit full works (within 72 hours of being notified) for proof of completion. This does not guarantee selection for the Program longlist or shortlist. The full manuscript may not be read or assessed in its entirety by QWC’s reading team.
Any advice given will be based off the submission and synopsis, and is provided to allow writers to work through the rest of the manuscript.
QWC will select up to 25 applicants, at its discretion, for the Program shortlist, to attend matched pitch sessions with producers and screen industry professionals at a Market Day event.
One-on-one Feedback Sessions with QWC staff are available as a paid add-on, for applicants with an unpublished manuscript. All feedback is constructive and the opinion of the reader/s.
Correspondence with QWC will include remote and in-person communication depending on availability. With the exclusion of pitch interviews and attendance at the Market Day event for shortlisted writers, all required elements of the Program will be made available in an online format.
QWC is committed to providing a relevant development workshop, delivered by an industry professional, to Program applicants, regardless of application outcome.
Additional terms
QWC does not guarantee the future production or publication of manuscripts submitted to or developed during the program.
The final numbers selected for the Program’s longlist and shortlist are at the discretion of QWC, and may depend on the quality and number of applications received.
QWC does not take a percentage of any future royalties, option or sale of submitted work, and all rights and intellectual property remain with the author, regardless of their final placement in the competition.
Application materials (manuscripts) will be disposed of securely. QWC will record and keep other information provided on the application form as necessary.
By making an application – and/or accepting a position on the longlist or shortlist – applicants acknowledge their responsibility for all travel and accommodation expenses required to attend the Market Day and participate in the Program (see Fees & charges), if selected.
While QWC will take all reasonable steps to secure an interview/s for shortlisted writers, entry into the Program shortlist may not guarantee an interview.
QWC reserves no rights over manuscripts submitted to or developed during the program. Unless selected for the Program shortlist, QWC allows writers to submit their manuscript to producers, competitions, courses, or publishers prior to, during or following their participation in the Program.
The full screen rights of works selected for the Program shortlist will be exclusively embargoed (successful applicants cannot continue to separately enter this work into competitions, promote, pitch or sell the screen rights of the work) until 3 months after the pitch meeting/s. This is standard practice for all potential deals as producers consider the pitches.
If work selected for the Program shortlist is optioned and/or produced, the applicant will be required to acknowledge the assistance provided by QWC and the Program in published/produced outcomes and/or associated promotional materials (i.e. press releases), according to direction/consultation provided by QWC.
Successful applicants are expected to promote and support the Program and QWC through social media sites, website, and other forms of media. Successful applicants may also be asked to provide a testimonial for the program.
Credit publicly offered towards QWC and the Program should comply with directions given by QWC, approved graphics used, and notification given.
Whilst not obligated and ultimately at the applicant’s discretion, if successful in future due to exposure or experience gained from the Program, appropriate credit and acknowledgement of QWC’s role is expected.
QWC may offer unsuccessful applicants the opportunity to participate in a tailored Program at a cost additional to the initial application fee. After applications close, Feedback Sessions may also be available to book separately at full price for a limited time through QWC’s Writer’s Consult program.
These Application Guidelines were developed and updated for the 2024/25 Adaptable program.
Queensland Writers Centre reserves the right to amend Program guidelines for this and future Programs.