Roadmap Writers is proud to continue our mission of opening doors for unrepped writers from underrepresented groups. As we approach the 9 year anniversary of our monthly Diversity Initiative, we’re excited to widen the scope of our efforts to provide even more actionable industry knowledge to more applicants by expanding our monthly Diversity Initiative into the Coletta Preacely-Garcia Diversity Fellowship.
Always FREE to apply and now offered quarterly, Roadmap Writers will award ONE diverse Winner the Grand Prize of a full scholarship for Steps 1-4 of our Career Writer Program—a $1600 value! ONE Runner-Up will also be awarded Step 1: Pitch Prep. These immersive and interactive programs (Pitch Prep Program, Marketing Intensive, Portfolio Polishing, and Manager Track) give writers a competitive edge in the marketplace while helping them build relationships with as many working industry professionals as possible from anywhere in the world.
This program is for diverse screenwriters with at least 2 polished original features and/or TV pilots in their portfolio (with at least a 3rd original script in the works) who are ready to tackle the marketing aspects of their career! Roadmap defines "diverse" as anyone belonging to a group whose voice has been traditionally marginalized in Hollywood, particularly BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women over 45, and Disabled writers.
NOTE: Writers will not be able to save their application progress so before submitting, please take the time to review ALL application eligibility requirements and questions before starting.
How It Works
Opens For Applications: February 28th, 2025 at 9:00am PST
Personal Statement Deadline: March 31st, 2025 at 12:00pm PST
Submit a Personal Statement (500 words max) that communicates why you would be a valuable and hardworking member of the Career Writer Program!
- Describe how your diverse background informs your storytelling.
- Highlight your ability to craft a good story.
- Focus on your screenwriting goals.
- Demonstrate your ability to be collaborative.
- Maximum of 500 words (yes, we said it again)
All qualifying applicants will receive FREE Screenwriting Craft and Industry Resources focused on crafting strong fellowship applications. These will be distributed on April 7th, 2025.
Top 25 Semifinalists Announced: April 7th, 2025
All 25 Semifinalists will:
- Be required to submit an original, complete script (feature or TV pilot) by April 28th, 2025 at 12:00pm PST in order to be considered for the Fellowship prize.
- Receive 2 optional Q&A Strategy Sessions with the Director of Competition & Partnerships, Tiffany Yarde.
- Session 1 - April 12th, 2025: Writers will discuss what they learned from the resources provided.
- As an optional service, up to 10 of the Semifinalists can submit the first 15 pages of their script for verbal feedback ($25) during the 2nd session. These writers should submit the script they are planning to provide as Part 2 of their Fellowship application. With only 10 spots available, they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants who choose not to submit for the First 15 with Tiffany Yarde & Terra Joy will in no way be penalized during the Fellowship application review process. The intention is only to provide support in strengthening opening pages but is in no way required.
- Session 2 - April 19th, 2025: TiffanyYarde & Terra Joy will give verbal feedback to the 10 writers who submitted their first 15 pages, but all Semifinalists are encouraged to attend to learn from the feedback and insight.
Finalists Announced: May 12th, 2025
Up to 5 Finalists will be invited to participate in a 30-minute interview with the RoadCrew.
Grand Prize Winner & Runner-Up Announced: May 26th, 2025
The Grand Prize Winner will receive CWP Steps 1-4, while one Runner-Up will be awarded CWP Step 1: Pitch Prep!
Fellowship Program Begins: June 1st, 2025
The Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Up will begin the June Career Writer Program (CWP) Step 1: Pitch Prep Program.
When June's Pitch Prep Schedule is posted (will update here), please review it to ensure your availability to participate in the program should you be chosen as the Winner or Runner-Up.
*schedule subject to change*
In Loving Memory
The lack of diversity and representation in Hollywood has been at the forefront of the national conversation for a while now. At Roadmap, we want to do our part to help bring more diversity to the big screen (and the small)! For us, that starts with the screenwriters.
That's why we are proud to host the Coletta Preacely-Garcia Diversity Fellowship!
We launched this tribute in 2016 in memory of Roadmap Writer Coletta Preacely-Garcia, whose budding career was cut short when she passed suddenly shortly after Roadmap's launch. Coletta was an extremely hardworking screenwriter who was always working to better her craft—tirelessly writing, rewriting, and taking advantage of every opportunity presented to her to gain skills, make connections, and polish her screenplays.
This tribute highlights diverse writers who embody this same spirit.
"If I can evoke love, hate or make you wish you had the courage of a character in my story, then I’ve done my job as a writer."
– Coletta Preacely-Garcia, Screenwriter
View our complete Fellowship rules and guidelines.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be part of the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women over 45, or Disabled communities.
- While 25 Semifinalists will be submitting only one original feature or pilot as Part 2 of their Fellowship application, the applicant's portfolio must have at least 2 completed and polished original scripts (features and/or pilots), with at least a 3rd original script drafted by the beginning of CWP Step 4. If a writer does not have at least 3 completed original scripts in their portfolio by Step 4, they will not be eligible to apply for Top Tier, which is Roadmap's most vetted group of exec-ready writers where most signings take place.
- Must have earned less than $25k as a screenwriter.
- Must not have already completed any step of the Career Writer Program.
- Must have fewer than 3 produced feature film or TV credits that aired or had distribution.
- Must not currently have a literary manager or agent. Writers who have been previously repped are still eligible.
- Must be able to actively participate in CWP Steps 1-4 back to back throughout the 4 months. Special permission would need to be requested for a one-time, one-month delay between two steps in order to retain the Diversity Fellowship prize without reapplying. If a prize winner does not attend or come prepared to participate in the supermajority of sessions for any given CWP Step, their prize will be canceled. The writer would then have to resubmit as part of a future applicant pool in order to be considered to complete the Career Writer Program.
Roadmap Writers reserves the right not to pick a winner and/or a runner-up from a given applicant pool if we don't find a candidate whose writing and interview skills are ready for the Career Writer Program. Deadlines and announcement dates are subject to change.
Signing & Staffing Success
Past winners of our previous diversity initiative have been signed by Anonymous Content, Rosa Entertainment, APA, First Story Entertainment, Untitled Entertainment, Fictional Entity, The Buchwald Agency, and more! Our December 2020 winner Lillian Wang recently staffed on a Netflix show!
"As I complete the final weeks of my Diversity Initiative Fellowship, I wanted to express my appreciation for the experience here that each of you made possible. Roadmap is indeed THE place to cultivate community, craft, and opportunity. As someone who struggles with low self-esteem, anxiety, and everything that comes with trauma, every step from Pitch Prep to Manager Track has helped build confidence in myself as an artist and a business. Thank you for your time, talent, hard work, and support during the last four months."
– Bernadett Belinda York, 2023 Diversity Fellowship Winner
