In the Writers’ Room

In the Writers’ Room Two-Day Masterclass with Terence McCarthy 

The Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) invites you to apply to take part in the forthcoming two-day in-person masterclass entitled In the Writers’ Room facilitated by Terence McCarthy on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026 in Perth. 

Supported by Screenwest and the Western Australian Government the masterclass will give 20 participants a thorough understanding of how a professional writers’ room operates. From the basics of what a writers’ room is and does through to the less obvious topic of etiquette in a room, it will give talented, aspiring screenwriters the opportunity to gain in-demand and practical skills, develop their understanding of the industry, and build industry connections. 

The workshops will see the sessions broken into theory and practical training including simulated writers’ rooms where each participant will have the chance to serve in all roles – showrunner, notetaker, story consultant and story editor. 

Topics which will be covered over the two days include:

• Governance
• Protocols 
• Etiquette overview 
• Historical context 
• Roles – Showrunner, Story Producer, Story Editor, Story Consultant, Writer, Note-taker. 
• Daily Structure 
• Series Ideation 
• Plotting 
• Audience 
• Style and Tone 
• Lateral Thinking 
• The Whiteboard 
• Character Arcs and Episodic Arcs 
• Research and The Invisible Work 

At the conclusion of the masterclass, writers will have: 

• The skills and confidence to take part effectively and successfully in a writers’ room. 
• The understanding of how a room works, who does and says what and when. 
• A personal connection to Terence and their fellow participants with the view to forming long lasting creative connections in Western Australia.  

In The Writers’ Room offers additional individual mentorships for each of the twenty cohort members. This will include a one-on-one online onboarding meeting with Terence, to form an individual connection, discuss any specific training needs and receive some preliminary advice about using their personal thematic to enhance their pitching skills. 

After the session, a sixty minute one-on-one online exit meeting will be available to all cohort members, where Terence will supply CV feedback, guide them into self-initiated pathway planning with insider industry advice, deliver top-line notes on a scripted project of theirs and offer to connect members into Script Squad, a free, online emerging screenwriters community with over 140 members, including several former AWG programme cohort graduates, working notetakers, script coordinators, screenplay competition winners and students of prestigious national screenwriting courses launching towards their first professional role. 

IMPORTANT DATES 

• Thursday 8 October 2026: applications open
• Thursday 22 October 2026 at 4pm: applications close
• Thursday 5 November 2026: successful applicants advised 
• Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026: Workshops take place between 10am and 4pm each day 

ELIGIBILITY 

In the Writers Room is open to all WA residents as defined in the Screenwest’s Terms of Trade.  This masterclass forms part of the AWG’s ongoing, overall professional development strategy to nurture talent and provide opportunities to talented writers by connecting them with industry. 

HOW CAN I APPLY? 

Applications for In the Writers Room are open to early career screenwriters. Twenty places are available and will be offered via a competitive process. 

Applicants are asked to submit a single PDF which includes: 

• Expression of Interest – 500 words maximum. (Explain why you want this opportunity and how you will make the most of it) 
• One Page Bio – 500 words maximum. (Any credits you might have, industry experience, training.)  
• Writing sample – 5 page maximum (send us your very best work). 

In preparing your application, we encourage you to think carefully about the opportunity and how you might exhibit the skills the selection panel are looking for. 

These skills include attention to detail (including proofreading and presentation), good computer skills and strong writing ability. 

About Terence McCarthy 

Terence McCarthy is a writer, development executive, script editor and script department training leader with 18 years’ experience in the Australian and US film and television industry spanning feature film, drama, comedy, serial and children’s television. 

He recently served as the Script Department Manager for NCIS: Sydney (Seasons 1-3) for CBS/Paramount+/EndemolShine Australia, where he also managed the Screen Australia Early Career Writers Programme. Terence has also worked in script departments for Academy Award winning director Ron Howard and screenwriter Bill Nicholson (13 Lives), Golden Globe nominated writers Harry & Jack Williams (The Tourist) and the International Emmy nominated Bevan Lee (A Place to Call Home, Back To The Rafters). 

In 2022, Terence worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a Drama and Comedy Executive on In Our Blood and Total Control Series 3 and managed the submissions programme. 

Terence has trained many emerging writers via the AWG, Screen Australia, ACE Parramatta, Screenworks and Screenwest that have gone on to rise through the Australian television drama ranks as writers, script editors, script coordinators and notetakers.