The fellowship was conceived with the desire to center emerging talented diverse and under served playwrights and screenwriters in an environment that understands the context of their work, thereby providing an inclusive portal to new worlds and the truths therein.

The fellowship hosts an annual playwright & screenwriting competition with prize monies, Table Reading Workshop of new scripts, Industry Guest Symposium and an overall improvement program in writing ability that meets the current landscape to launch young writers’ careers. We are highly focused on providing mentorship, practical industry advice, and career guidance that these writers need in today's industry.

Awards & Prizes

One playwright will be selected to receive:

- $1,000 cash award to the winning playwright.

- A reading and reception in New York City.

- The winning playwright will be flown to NYC. Transportation, room, and board will be provided.

- The winning playwright may be asked to participate in a script development workshop, working with a professional dramaturge, the director, and an assembled cast.

Rules & Terms

This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.

Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.

The Mamie and Jimmie Writing Fellowship is intended to support emerging playwrights from the BIPOC community. Playwrights may win the competition only once.

Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.

Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.

Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.

1. Plays must be typed/word-processed and page-numbered.

2. The Mamie and Jimmie Writing Fellowship reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.

3. The Mamie and Jimmie Writing Fellowship reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.

4. Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.

5. Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.

6. Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.

7. Plays must be typed/word-processed and page-numbered.

8. The Mamie and Jimmie Writing Fellowship reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.

9. The Mamie and Jimmie Writing Fellowship reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.