Whidbey Writers Launch Screenwriting Workshops, Focus on Local Talent

The Whidbey Island Writers Association brought screenwriting instruction to Island County residents on December 9 as part of its Saturday Series, offering classes aimed at both adults and teens. The adult program included Screenwriting 101 taught by Wally Lane, an award winning filmmaker, published poet and Northwest Screenwriters Guild board member, who guided participants on how to begin a screenplay and write to industry standards. A hands on Screenwriting for Teens workshop for ages 13 to 18 ran alongside the adult course to help younger participants begin real screenplays.

Workshops in the series include preparatory sessions before primary instruction and follow up sessions afterward to support continued development. Organizers scheduled a First Act Evaluation session later in the spring to provide participants with targeted feedback on their opening acts. That staged feedback component is designed to help writers refine structure and pacing early in a script, a feature that separates these community classes from single session offerings.

For local residents the series expands access to professional level instruction without travel to larger Puget Sound centers. The involvement of a regional industry figure brings current standards and guild perspective into a community classroom setting, which can help emerging writers build work that meets professional expectations. For teenagers the hands on format offers a pathway into creative careers and extracurricular skill building during critical school years.

The association provided registration contact information, including email and phone, and pricing details in its announcement, and asked interested attendees to contact the organization to register and to obtain additional information. Beyond immediate classroom benefits, the workshops contribute to Island County cultural life by strengthening networks among writers, instructors and local arts organizations. As community arts programming continues to shape civic engagement and local economic activity, accessible educational offerings such as this one serve both individual development and the broader creative ecosystem.