Veterans Fellowship — 2026 Application
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Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Fellowship! Please read through the following guidelines before completing your application.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
About the Fellowship
The mission of the WGF Veterans Fellowship is to provide educational resources, professional guidance, and career-building opportunities for Veterans Writing Project Alumni who are on the threshold of breaking into the industry.
Over the course of 8 weeks, mentees will attend weekly classes in-person at the WGA building in Los Angeles. In addition to completing all assigned coursework, mentees will also meet with an assigned one-on-one mentor once per week for the duration of the program.
Interested applicants will receive updates about the next admissions cycle via the Veterans Writing Project Alumni Newsletter. If you are a graduate of the VWP and would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please email your name and graduation year to programs@wgfoundation.org.
Eligibility
WGF’s Veterans Fellowship is reserved exclusively for graduates of The Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project. To qualify, applicants must have previously completed both The Veterans Writing Project extended yearlong program AND the kickoff retreat weekend.
Applicants who have NOT previously participated in The Veterans Writing Project will be disqualified.
In addition to meeting the above criterion, applicants must:
- Reside in or near the Greater Los Angeles area and be able to attend all in-person meetings.*
- Provide examples of meaningful past and ongoing efforts to break into the industry.
- Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career in television and be able to provide samples of at least two completed scripts.
Applicants who have NOT previously participated in The Veterans Writing Project or those who only attended the Weekend Retreat or short-term summer program will be disqualified.
If you participated in The Veterans Writing Project prior to the addition of yearlong workshops, you will be eligible to re-apply for that program. Click here for details about the VWP.
* We will consider applications from non-local candidates if they 1) can commit to attending weekly meetings in-person and 2) plan to move to the Los Angeles area.
Application Requirements
The application window for 2026 Veterans Fellowship opens on Tuesday, March 31 at 12:00pm PT, and the deadline to complete your submission is Tuesday, April 28 at 11:59pm PT.
Applicants must be prepared to submit the following:
- Detailed summary of writing background and creative preferences
- Professional resume
- 2-3 essay question responses
- 400-word personal statement
- Minimum of two (2) completed scripts, including at least one television script that matches your preferred format and genre
- Names and contact information for up to three (3) industry references, including 1) a current or former Veterans Writing Project mentor, 2) an industry professional (e.g. showrunner, producer, development executive) who is not associated with the Veterans Writing Project, and 3) an optional additional industry professional
NOTE: Recommendation letters are not required at this stage in the admissions process. We will contact listed references for a written recommendation only if a candidate advances to the finalist stage. Additional requirements may be added as needed.
Selection Process
Selections will be made with the support of a small admissions committee made up of current and former Veterans Writing Project mentors or program supporters. WGF will solicit recommendations from mentors prior to the commencement of the review process.
One-on-one mentorship serves as a core component of the fellowship, so selection will be based largely on the pool of available showrunner-mentors.
Timeline
The timeline is as follows:
- March 31, 2026: Applications open
- April 28, 2026: Applications close
- July 1, 2026: Deadline to notify applicants of admission status
- August 10, 2026: 8-week course begins
- October 5, 2026: 8-week course ends
If you are selected, you must be available to submit requested prep materials and occasional interviews or meetings. Fellows will be expected to participate in events, mixers, and workshops throughout 2026 following completion of the 8-week course.
Questions?
Refer to the program page or contact Kira VandenBrande at programs@wgfoundation.org with questions about the application process or fellowship criteria.