The 51st Writers Guild of America Awards, given in 1999, honored the film and television best writers of 1998.
Film Best Adapted Screenplay Out of Sight – Scott Frank A Civil Action – Steven Zaillian Gods and Monsters – Bill Condon † Primary Colors – Elaine May A Simple Plan – Scott B. Smith
Best Original Screenplay Shakespeare in Love – Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard † Bulworth – Warren Beatty and Jeremy Pikser The Opposite of Sex – Don Roos Saving Private Ryan – Robert Rodat The Truman Show – Andrew Niccol
Television
Best Episodic Drama "Proofs for The Existence of God" – Nothing Sacred – Paul Leland "Exodus" – ER – Walon Green and Joe Sachs "Apollo One" – From the Earth to the Moon – Graham Yost "Finnegan's Wake" – Homicide: Life on the Street – David Mills, James Yoshimura and David Simon "Saigon Rose" – Homicide: Life on the Street – Eric Overmyer "The Subway" – Homicide: Life on the Street – James Yoshimura "Burned" – Law & Order – Siobhan Byrne "Betrayal" – The Practice – David E. Kelley "The Marie Taquet Story" – Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples – Cy Chermak, Francine Carroll and Malka Drucker
Best Episodic Comedy "Frasier's Imaginary Friend" – Frasier – Rob Greenberg "Pilot" – Dharma & Greg – Dottie Dartland and Chuck Lorre "Emma" – Ellen – Lawrence Broch "Never Can Say Goodbye" – Murphy Brown – Diane English
Best Long Form – Adapted The Love Letter – James S. Henerson Don King: Only in America – Kario Salem Thicker Than Blood – Bill Cain
References
† indicates the winners of the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay.