The 2025 Write of Passage winner is Kelly Endersby from Los Altos, CA with help from Development Executive Claire Hutchinson. Kelly’s story, The Truth Project (click to read) is about a heartbroken woman, who is desperately seeking the truth. Her high-tech deception threatens her future happiness. Kelly is a 2-time, back-to-back winner!
Prizes include cash (to the writer, and to the DE) and writer introduction to Hollywood Pros, including Brian Bird ("The Case For Christ" and “When Calls The Heart”).
Any WP script may be produced for the 168 Film Festival's Write of Passage Spotlight. Writers and mentors (DE's) receive screen credit if their film is made.
Kelly Endersby Interview
John David Ware: Tell us about yourself. What do you do for work?
Kelly Endersby: I am a part-time tutor and enjoy teaching children to think creatively. I am also volunteering remotely with some young adults in the Dominican Republic to improve their English.
JDW: Tell us about your family and where you live. How has your environment and family shaped your writing? What obstacles have you had to overcome in life? How have they helped your writing?
KE: I am very blessed. I have a wonderful husband, four incredible children, and two adorable, young grandchildren. I live in the Silicon Valley. Living in an area that values worldly success to, what I believe to be, an unhealthy level and also feels that technology can solve every problem has definitely shaped my writing. Having recently been to an underdeveloped country to visit my daughter and seen children living in situations that no human being should have to withstand, I feel that any obstacles I have had to overcome pale in comparison. But any obstacle helps in writing. It provides empathy for others in similar situations and opens doors to issues that you can tackle with the written word.
JDW: What do you see as some differences between telling stories in your region vs. other places?
KE: According to an article I read recently, my area has the greatest number of atheists in the nation. I constantly encounter people who think believing in God is ‘quaint’ or ‘backwards’. Weirdly, I think this has been a blessing because it encourages me to try and reach people with my writing in a way that starts a positive discussion.
JDW: How did you learn about Write of Passage (WP) &168 Film Project?
KE: I initially heard about this contest because I was searching for screenwriting contests on the internet. When I found Write of Passage and learned the parameters (e.g. Bible passage and theme), I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to participate.
JDW: Is this your 1st time in WP? Have you won awards, been optioned, etc?
KE: No, this is not my first time. I was the KE of WP last year, an honor for which I am truly grateful. In addition, I have written three novels, wrote a screenplay that was made into a feature film and picked up by a distributor, and won a few other writing awards.
JDW: Besides the verse, what inspired you to write “The Truth Project?”
KE: I feel for young adults, especially in my area—the pressure to build a resume from the time they hit junior high school, the attachment to their smartphones, the bombardment of social media.
JDW: How did this year’s theme hit you? Describe your journey from theme and verse?
KE:
I loved the theme and thought it was very topical. I always do significant research into a verse before I start. And lots of prayer. I then brainstorm as many ideas as I can. For this project, I initially started writing another screenplay. Then, I woke up the next morning convicted to write another, which became the Truth Project.
JDW: Describe your faith journey?
KE: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in God. But when I was in my early twenties, someone gifted me a Bible and I felt compelled to read it cover to cover. I can’t really explain what happened other than I felt convinced this was Truth.
JDW: How are you planning to shape the story going forward? Any plans to make the film?
KE: When I initially shared my synopsis with my DE, she joked that this would make a great feature film, but now time to pare it down J I think it lends itself to being expanded into a feature length film and really explore what it means to seek truth.
JDW: Tell us about your pursuit of the arts?
KE: I get fed by being around creative people and search for ways to make that happen.
JDW: How did your Mentor/Development Executive, help shape your story?
KE: My DE was instrumental in helping me with ideas to pare the story down to 12 pages. She was incredibly responsive, which was so appreciated.
JDW: Tell us about your writing process.
KE: Once I have a brief outline, I let myself become immersed in each character and create their backstories so that everything they say or do feels authentic to me
JDW: How has WP helped you grow as a writer? Would you recommend it to others?
I would definitely recommend this to others. I love working within parameters. It’s a great exercise and helps you grow as a writer.
JDW: What are your plans for the future?
KE: My goal is to get one of my projects on the big screen hopefully in a way that will be pleasing to and honor God.
JDW: Anything else we should know about you?
KE: I’m sure by now, everyone’s heard enough! :-)
READ KELLY'S SCRIPT and other winners/finalists HERE!
Interview with Winning Development Executive: Claire Hutchinson
JDW: Where are you from and what do you do?
Claire Hutchison: I'm originally from Canada but married an American so live in the US. I'm a produced screenwriter, script analyst/coach, film festival judge, speaker/teacher, and have produced one film.
JDW: You are a frequent participant in WOP and 168. What have you learned? Do you still find it useful?
CH: Amazingly, I have been a DE since 2012! I love mentoring and interacting with writers and developing their craft. I enjoy helping them improve their scripts. I also enjoy seeing how they integrate the faith element in their scripts.
JDW: What do you see as some differences between telling stories in your region vs. other places?
DE: I mostly get stories from the US, but there is a language/idiom difference that I see in stories by non-US writers.
JDW: How has being a DE in Write of Passage helped you grow? What have you learned? What would you tell writers about the experience?
DE: Being a DE has helped hone my own screenwriting and script analysis skills and I've grown to be excited about and love what I do. I would tell writers that the experience is a blessing in your own development as a writer and a person of faith.
JDW: What are your plans for the future?
DE: Working on poetry books of all things right now. The latest is "True Love: Christian Poetry Vol. 2." I am continuing with my screenwriting and script consulting and hope to get more scripts produced.
JDW: Anything else we should know about you?
CH: I invite writers who need to improve their scripts to contract me for script consultation. I've been doing this for over 20 years.