BUILDING YOUR TOOLKIT AND
KNOWING WHEN TO REACH OUT
At Fillingham Weston Associates, we’re always keen to support and spotlight emerging talent. While we cannot respond personally to every writer who contacts us, we hope this guide offers some useful pointers for developing your work, navigating the industry, and deciding when the time is right to approach agents.
We know that finding your way as a writer can be daunting. Whether you’re just starting out or already building a body of work, there are many ways to strengthen your craft, confidence and portfolio before seeking representation.
BUILD YOUR TOOLKIT: READING, RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
📘 Read scripts. Lots of them
Whether you’re writing for screen, stage, audio or digital, reading scripts is one of the best ways to understand structure, tone, dialogue and pace. The BBC Writersroom offers a brilliant, free online library: bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts
📚 Use the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook
This long-established guide includes industry contacts, submission advice, and insights into how representation and commissioning work across publishing and media. Lists of agents are useful for finding the right representation for you. If you are not a scriptwriter, then here you will also find agents who represent books.
🌐 Explore the BBC Writersroom
It remains one of the most useful hubs for UK writers, with open calls, development schemes and clear guidance on pitching, formatting and redrafting: bbc.co.uk/writersroom/resources
👥 Join writing communities
Online and local networks can offer valuable support, feedback and accountability. Look at platforms such as London Writers’ Salon, Bang2Write, or writing groups on Facebook and Discord.
🎓 Look into courses and talent schemes
From ScreenSkills to the National Film and Television School, there are excellent workshops and short courses-some fully funded that can develop your skills and introduce you to collaborators.
TOP TIPS FROM FWA
✍️ Write regularly
There’s no shortcut to this part. Focus on writing the stories that excite or challenge you, rather than second-guessing what the market wants. Your voice is your most valuable asset.
🎬 Make your work
Self-producing a short film, play or audio drama can be an excellent way to grow. Taking a script from page to production helps you understand your own writing more deeply-what works, what doesn’t, and how it lands with audiences. It can also help your work stand out from a pile of scripts. You’ll be able to show your voice in performance, start building a reputation, and potentially get on the radar of reviewers and industry contacts.
📁 Build a strong portfolio
We recommend having at least one polished, original spec script and a sample that really reflects your voice. These could be for TV, film, theatre or audio, but make sure they feel complete and purposeful. If you write across multiple formats, that’s fine – just focus on clarity and quality.
📰 Stay informed
Follow writers, agents, producers and broadcasters on social media. Read industry publications such as Broadcast, Screen International and The Stage. It’s useful to understand what is being commissioned, who is making it, and where your work might fit in.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CONTACT AN AGENT?
A key question many writers ask is: when should I get in touch?
Agents are not typically the first step in a writer’s journey. We encourage writers to do as much as they can independently first – developing their craft, producing work (where possible), and getting a clear sense of what kind of writing career they want.
If you’re considering contacting us or another agency, ask yourself:
- Do I have a clear, strong writing sample or script?
- Have I made efforts to produce, share or develop my work?
- Can I demonstrate initiative, collaboration and commitment?
These are often the qualities agents look for. When contacting FWA, we ask that writers send a CV first. This helps us understand what writers have achieved independently – whether that’s competitions, self-produced work, collaborations or writing for platforms like theatre or audio.
We do receive a high volume of submissions and we’re not usually in a position to offer representation because, as a boutique agency, we have a small client list, but we hope that by providing this resource, we can support writers in taking the next step on their own terms.
If you’re not quite ready, that’s more than okay. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep writing.