Entry requirements

Entries are accepted via the online Entry Form. By making an entry, entrants acknowledge to have read and understood these Program Guidelines.

Pitchable seeks submissions of ideas, concepts and pitches for development and/or adaptation into fully-fledged works.

A completed work, manuscript or script associated with the concept is not required to enter and no attachments are accepted. Where associated work exists, entrants should submit concepts only for original work that is unpublished, unproduced, and uncontracted.

• Entrants acknowledge that no agreements have been entered into relating to the funding of the associated work, or any project based on the work, or interest in the work including any copyright interest, for publication, production, development, or adaptation purposes.

• Entrants should be Australian or New Zealand citizens or reside in Australia or New Zealand.

• Entrants under 18 years are eligible but should contact QWC prior to applying, and will need permission from a guardian.

• Multiple entries are permitted. Each entry incurs a separate Entry Fee.

Successful entrants will be publicly announced on QWC’s website and Pen & Pixel email newsletter. Entrants will be personally notified of the outcome of their entry prior to public announcements.

Key dates

Applications open: 6 July – 11 August 2026 (5 weeks)
Shortlist announced: Early September 2026
Development workshop (all applicants): Late August 2026
Market Day: Early October 2026

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 ($30)

• Non-member (standard) application fee ($50)

Fees include GST. Fees contribute toward Program administration expenses.

Discounted 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, if applicable, except as expressly identified by QWC in written agreements.

Application fees with add-ons:

• Application fee + One Year Membership ($99)

• Application fee + Pitch Practice Session ($129)

• Application fee + One Year Membership + Pitch Practice ($199)

Applicants can take advantage of a discounted One Year Membership ($69, valued at $89) with QWC. If the applicant is already a member their current membership will be extended by one year.

Refunds are not available for ineligible applications and/or applications that are withdrawn following the application period.

Process

QWC staff and trained readers will assess all entries. Entries or a proposed shortlist may also be judged by an external panel appointed by QWC.

Criteria for judging will include but is not limited to:

• Originality and creativity

• Potential for development and/or adaptation

  • Feasibility of production of a complete work

  • Commercial appeal.

QWC will select up to 10 entrants, at its discretion, for the Program shortlist, to attend a pitching session and networking event with creatives, producers, and industry professionals at a Market Day.

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 online.

Additional terms

Entries not meeting the requirements outlined in these guidelines may be deemed ineligible.

QWC will take all reasonable steps to protect the intellectual property and artists’ rights of all entrants to the competition.

• Note that ‘copyright does not protect ideas or information, only the original expression of ideas or information’ (Copyright, Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department: www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/copyright). The creative work of entrants including written work and synopses are inherently and automatically protected under Australian intellectual property and copyright laws, however this may not apply to intangible concepts and ideas.

• Note that the discussion of ideas in an open forum with other entrants, creative producers and QWC staff is an expected element of this program for shortlisted entrants.

QWC does not guarantee the future development, production or publication of submissions made to or developed during the program.

The final numbers selected for the Program’s shortlist are at the discretion of QWC, and may depend on the quality and number of entries received.

QWC will record and securely store information provided on the entry form as necessary.

Up to 3 places on the Program shortlist may be reserved for Queensland-based writers (currently residing in Queensland). Up to 5 places in the Program shortlist may be reserved for emerging writers (defined as those with no more than one full-length commercially published work).

By making an entry and/or accepting a position on the shortlist entrants acknowledge their responsibility for all travel and accommodation expenses required to attend theMarket 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.

Where there is Indigenous content or participation in the proposed work, entrants should comply with Screen Australia’s First Nations Australian Content or Participation guidelines and/or Creative Australia’s Protocols for using First Nations Intellectual and Cultural Property.

QWC reserves no rights over work, concepts, or work associated with concepts submitted to or developed during the program. Unless selected for the Program shortlist, QWC allows writers to submit work associated with the submission to any other competitions, courses, publishers, agents or producers, prior to, during or following their participation in the Program. If shortlisted for the Program, full rights will be exclusively embargoed (successful entrants cannot continue to separately enter this work into competitions, promote, pitch or sell the rights of the work) until 3 months after the conclusion of the Program.

If work selected for the Program shortlist is optioned or sold, produced or published, the entrant is asked to acknowledge 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.

QWC does not take a percentage of any future royalties, option or sale of submitted work, and all relevant rights and intellectual property remain with the entrant, regardless of their final placement in the competition.

Successful entrants are encouraged to promote and support the Program and QWC through social media and other forms of media and may be asked to provide a testimonial for the program. These Entry Guidelines were developed and updated for the Pitchable program. Queensland Writers Centre reserves the right to amend Program guidelines for this and future Programs.