BBC Radio Drama Readings Unit welcomes submissions from writers new to radio for their annual series, Opening Lines which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast on Radio 4, Opening Lines is an annual series that showcases the best in new talent. It provides a platform for emerging radio writers and is now open for submissions to those who have not previously had a story broadcast on network radio or have substantial writing credits in other areas of radio. The Opening Lines team have offered some guidance on what they are looking for.
“We are looking for original short stories which work being read out loud i.e. with a strong emphasis on narrative and avoiding too much dialogue, character description and digression. Pay particular attention to how the story opens and closes, the ending needs to link back to the beginning. We are interested in seeing stories which cover a broad range of subject-matter but material which explores particularly dark, harrowing themes is not suited to Opening Lines. Stories must not contain defamatory, obscene or any other unsuitable material which is likely to cause offence to a wide audience of all ages.”
The time alloted for each story is 14 minutes, so stories must be between 1900 and 2000 word long. Entries which fall outside these parameters will not be considered. Only one entry is accepted per person.
The three strongest stories will be recorded and broadcast, and transcripts of the best stories will also be published on the BBC website. The three successful writers will be invited to London for an afternoon in Broadcasting House. They will also have the chance to see their stories being recorded.
Submission Guidelines 2015
The BBC Radio Drama Readings Unit welcomes submissions from writers new to radio for their annual series, Opening Lines which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
The next window for sending in material is
5th January – 13th February 2015.
We are unable to respond to unsolicited stories submitted outside this time-frame.
The three successful writers will have their stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and be invited to the BBC in London to see their stories being recorded. As well as broadcasting the three strongest stories we publish transcripts of the best stories submitted within this period on the Opening Lines website.
KEY INFORMATION
To ensure your story is read and doesn't miss out on this opportunity, the following criteria must be met:
Submissions which fall outside of these parameters will not be considered.
We are looking for original short stories which work being read out loud i.e. with a strong emphasis on narrative and avoiding too much dialogue, character description and digression. Pay particular attention to how the story opens and closes, the ending needs to link back to the beginning.
We are interested in seeing stories which cover a broad range of subject-matter but material which explores particularly dark, harrowing themes is not suited to Opening Lines. Stories must not contain defamatory, obscene or any other unsuitable material which is likely to cause offence to a wide audience of all ages. Click hereto read stories which have featured in recent series.
We will read all eligible submissions and get in touch with those writers whose stories have been longlisted for the 2015 series by the 15th May 2015, which is when the longlist will be published on our website. We regret that we are unable to respond to those writers whose stories haven’t been selected, but you will of course, be able to check the website to see the longlist.
HOW TO ENTER
Please complete the Submission Form which can be downloaded here.
Then send us your story and the completed Submission Form either:
by email to OpeningLines@bbc.co.uk
or by post to
BBC Radio Drama Readings,
Room 8015,
Broadcasting House,
Portland Place,
London W1A 1AA.
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