Since 2009, the Writers Guild of America has held the Writer Access Project (WAP) — a competition that discovers and awards mid-level players from one of five diversity categories: minority writers; writers with disabilities; women writers; writers age 55 and over; and gay and lesbian writers.
This year, women comprise the majority of the WAP honorees: four of the five comedy writers and four of the ten drama writers are female.
Kimberly Myers, the Director of Diversity at WGA-West, noted, “The Writer Access Project was conceived from the beginning with a dual function — to benefit both mid-career diverse television writers by improving their access to those making hiring decisions during staffing season and to serve as a resource for showrunners who are looking for diverse writers for their staffs. Five years in, the program is working. Many honorees have gone on to staff and many have moved up the ranks from staff writer into Story Editor or Producer level writing jobs. Showrunners are beginning to see the Writer Access Project as a trusted source — recommended by their peers — of quality, experienced TV writers from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. In the crush of staffing season this program offers a valuable resource for both sides of the hiring equation.”
Scroll down for the list of female winners:
2014 WAP COMEDY HONOREES
Gloria Calderon Kellett — Accidental Sluts
Geetika Lizardi — Sofa King
Cynthia Riddle & Peter Hunziker — Invisible
Sara Saedi — The Most F**ked Up Book Club Ever
2014 WAP DRAMA HONOREES
Beth Armogida — Charlotte Tanner
Lana Cho — Damaged
Susan Gauthier — The Bitches of St. Brigid’s Hall
Deborah Swisher — Smart Girl
[h/t Shadow and Act]
