The Scriptwriters Network 40th Anniversary Writer Development Series

A year-long initiative designed to support, challenge, and elevate writers through monthly creative and craft-focused opportunities.

As part of Scriptwriters Network’s 40th Anniversary – 12 Months, 12 Ways We Give Back, we are proud to highlight writers from our community whose work stood out in our monthly creative challenges.

Each month, we recognize writers for their creativity, originality, and storytelling strength. These Featured Writers represent the heart of our mission — supporting and empowering storytellers at every stage of their journey.

We are pleased to present our Winners.

January 2026 – Membership Winner

January Membership Drive Winner:  Stephanie Bourbon

Winner of the Scriptwriters Network January Membership Drive – Personal Masterclass Prize.

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February 2026 – SWN 40th Anniversary Writers Lab (Members Only)

This month’s Writers Lab is part of Scriptwriters Network’s ongoing 40th Anniversary development series. As a members-only session, February is focused on craft building, feedback, and structured writing exercises rather than a competitive submission process.

No winner was selected for this month, as the Writers Lab is designed as a developmental workshop experience for participating members.

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March 2026 – Logline Challenge Winners

🏆 Grand Prize Winner

Kevin Martin

Project Title: Untitled

Logline:
A CPS agent and a paranormal investigator are tasked to confront a vlogging family troubled by paranormal entity claims. The family is accused of abusing their two children, one of whom they claim is possessed by their dead grandfather.

Bio:
Kevin Martin is a screenwriter from Diamond Bar, California originally raised in North Carolina. His primary influences come from his childhood love of horror films, the Coen Bros. films, and Japanese cinema. He’s been writing creatively and working for R&R Films and Media since 2023.

🌟 Honorable Mention

Phil Yuhas

Project Title: Rocky Road

Logline:
After his struggling single mom gives away his beloved pit bull, a timid 13-year-old defies his mother and embarks on a desperate 130-mile bicycle journey to reclaim his dog.

Bio:
Originally from Pittsburgh and now residing in Orange County, California, Phil Yuhas is an award-winning screenwriter and devoted animal welfare advocate. His credits include the short films Calogero’s Day Off and Praying on the Rain. His feature screenplays have been recognized by the Nicholl (semifinalist) and PAGE Awards (finalist). His short script True Blue, a story about loyalty told through the eyes of an aging shelter dog, won first place in contests held by the Nashville, Vail and New York City Independent film festivals.

🌟 Honorable Mention

Bill Lundy and P.K. Silverson

Project Title: Ring

Logline:
Hurled into an alternate time line by the loss of his enchanted wedding ring, a desperate man must prevent the wife who doesn’t remember him from marrying a rival suitor.

Bios:
Bill Lundy co-wrote two highly-rated original films for SyFy, Silent Warnings and Alien Siege, sold two stories to Star Trek: Voyager, and has optioned over a dozen scripts. Bill has also been a screenwriting teacher and consultant, and contributed to several popular books, including “Now Write: Screenwriting” and “Q&A: The Working Screenwriter.”  He currently has two projects in development with independent producers.

Paul Silverson sold one horror/thriller script as a ghostwriter. He’s had four screenplays optioned, including a prior Nicholl Semi-Finalist. Paul’s earned Official Screenplay Selections in the Marina del Rey Film Festival for six consecutive years. including winning Best Dramedy and Best Action Comedy Screenplays. He’s the author of six award-winning fantasy novels including a Gold Medal for contemporary fantasy in the Global EBook Awards and has also published a short story collection.

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April 2026 – Creative Writing Challenge Winner

🏆 Grand Prize Winner

Catherine Chandler

Project Title: The Fortune Teller

Bio:
Catherine Chandler is a former attorney and web designer, originally from the East Coast. She has been writing and taking classes on and off for many years and is now determined to focus on writing full-time. She enjoys writing comedy features and sitcoms. In her free time, she loves music, travel, and cooking international cuisine.

View Submission → The Fortune Teller

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May 2026 – Scene Writing & Structure Challenge

🏆 Grand Prize Winners

Frank McEnaney & Gillian (Gil Lian)

Project Title: Missus Shakespeare

Bio:
Frank McEnaney & Gillian (Gil Lian), are a couple of Canadians who were also a couple. Frank began as a playwright and had Equity-produced plays on the main stages of the Vancouver Playhouse, Theater Aquarius, Factory Theater Lab, and Theater Passe Muraille. Gillian began as a young adult author and has had six novels published (under the pseudonym Mitzi Dale) by Groundwood Books and Nimbus in Canada, Kinderjury in the Netherlands, Puffin in the UK and Delacorte in the US.

They collaborated at close range on Luminosity (Random House, Canada, Vintage), Sea-Change (Mosaic Press, Ontario) and Xtro & Julie (New Ideas Festival, Toronto). In 2008 they turned their hands to writing filmscripts and honed their skills by entering the PAGE Awards contest. They have four comedy scripts on InkTip: the contained rom-com, MISSUS SHAKESPEARE (or alt title); the para-normal rom-com, DREAM ON; the ensemble rom-com, STRANGE THINGS DONE; and the family comedy, ALL HAPPY FAMILIES. All four scripts were Selections of the UK Film Festival Scriptwriting Competition 2024/25.

View Submission → Missus Shakespeare

🌟 Honorable Mention

Diana Stout 

Project Title: Introduction of Vince

Bio:
Diana Stout is a multifaceted award-winner, screenwriter, author, blogger, writing coach, former English professor of writing classes, and an intuitive who travels with a crowd—characters clamoring their story be next and those who have crossed to the other side. Her ability to move seamlessly between creative and professional writing reflects both her versatility and deep understanding of the written word.

Among her proudest accomplishments is her novel Grendel’s Mother, an ambitious project that re-imagines a classic tale through a compelling new lens. The book showcases her skill at blending literary craft with emotional depth—a hallmark of her writing across all genres.

View Submission → Introduction of Vince

🌟 Honorable Mention

Annette Marie Barsellotti

Project Title: Paulina

Bio:
Annette Marie Barsellotti writes:

“I started writing (not so great) scripts when I was 12. I can’t tell you why; I just had to type the dialogue on the page and see where it would take me. I am amazed by today’s screenwriters and just how compelling they can make a story.

As an actress and a writer, it is always my goal to make the reader or audience feel something. The truth of a scene is found in that compelling moment, and without it, all is lost. I have miles to go, but hopefully I can create many more characters in search of their truth.”

View Submission → Paulina

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Celebrating 40 Years of Writers Supporting Writers

Scriptwriters Network will continue celebrating 40 years throughout 2026 with monthly opportunities designed to inspire creativity, strengthen craft, and connect writers from around the world.

We invite you to participate in our upcoming challenges, events, and educational programs as we continue to support storytellers at every stage of their journey.

👉 Be part of the next Featured Writer Spotlight.

Support Scriptwriters Network

Scriptwriters Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, mentorship, and opportunities for writers.

Your support helps us continue to create meaningful programs like our 40th Anniversary initiatives and ensures that writers everywhere have access to the tools and community they need to succeed.

👉 Donate Here to support our mission or explore partnership opportunities on our Sponsor Page.

Interested in Connecting with One of These Writers?

Scriptwriters Network is pleased to facilitate professional introductions while protecting the privacy of our writers and community members.

If you are interested in discussing writing opportunities, collaboration, media inquiries, speaking engagements, or other professional matters with one or more of the individuals featured on this page, please contact:

Melessa Y. Sargent at msargent@scriptwritersnetwork.org.

Requests will be reviewed and, when appropriate, forwarded to the writer(s).