We’re excited to share some huge progress at WBI — including your special sneak peek at 3 WBI stories and a section from the Wheel of Possibilities!
We’re so grateful for the WBI community as we work to speed the enactment of environmental and social justice solutions — one sitcom, bodice-ripper, town-builder, and rom-com at a time! Who says change can’t be fun?!
Full Drafts Are On The Way!
WBI’s Beta Cohort of brilliant, compassionate, hilarious, and heartfelt writers are on track to have full drafts of their solutions-focused projects (2 TV shows, 2 books, 1 movie, 1 play, and 1 musical) by February 18!
Over the last 8 months, WBI has supported the writers with reams of solutions information on their chosen issues (climate change, immigration, patriarchy, mental health stigma, mis/disinformation, and financial oppression) and meetings that alternate monthly between one-on-ones with WBI, and gatherings with the full cohort, WBI, and guest dramaturgs.
A giant shout-out of thanks to the incredible dramaturgs who have helped us with their expertise during these first months! THANK YOU to the BRILLIANT: Ann-Marie Dittmann, Scott Horstein, J Jha, and Rebecca Novick, Lisa Marie Rollins.
Pitch Presentations Coming Up!
The Beta Cohort writers will present their completed projects to producers and publishers at an online pitch presentation in May 2025 — because we can only speed the pace of progress if WBI’s entertainment is seen by millions!
If you or someone you know might be interested in attending the pitch presentation as a potential producer/publisher, please contact us at founders@wbistories.org.
July Sneak Peek!
In July 2024, we held our first reading! WBI received grant funding to hire the Actors Reading Collective (ARC) to perform an invite-only reading of Susan Mccully’s WBI play focused on building solidarity for climate action. Hearing the words read by actors is crucial to the development of plays and McCully’s timely script and additional WBI readings are planned for February and the May pitch presentation.
Filled with the intrigues of ancient spirits and hope-filled communities you’ll want to live in forever, this captivating young-adult fantasy novel uplifts frontline-community solutions for climate change. The story follows teenage Lilly as she grapples with cruelties that permeate her drought-stricken city.
When she’s forced to flee by the oppressive government, Lilly discovers a world outside that’s filled with wonder and possibilities — the kind that could make her city a lush haven for all… if only she can find a way to return.
As the first in a series of three novels, The Road From Dust gives us the chance to experience achievable solutions for climate change. The second book will revolve around solutions for peacefully shifting cultures and governments toward the collective good, and the third will highlight the path to implementing sweeping social and environmental solutions in divided societies.
We invite you to enjoy this excerpt from the prologue to The Road From Dust
This genre-bending memoir is both heart-wrenching and hilarious! Our hero arrives in San Francisco in the ‘90s as an HIV-positive man with a mountain of “I’m going to die anyway” debt, and an iron-clad guarantee that his end is imminent — only to discover he’s going to live!
In the face of oppressive forces, we witness the origin story of a unique hero — Captain of the Financial Avengers! This is an uplifting romp and solutions-filled rallying cry of “Financial Freedom!” for anyone under the bootheel of the American Dream.
We invite you to enjoy this excerpt from The Rules of the Financial Avengers
Jump into HEAVYHEAD: a musical re-envisioning of the Medusa myth! Diva Pop collides with Feminist Indie Rock as Medusa navigates the cutthroat LA music industry of the 90s — and becomes the hero we’ve always needed!
In the ancient Greek myths, Poseidon raped Medusa in Athena’s temple. For over 2700 years, patriarchy has told us that this act of violence made Medusa (not Poseidon) a terrifying monster, and Perseus was the brave hero who saved us all by killing her.
With masterful storytelling and soaring, heart-opening music, HEAVYHEAD shows us how our world could be transformed if patriarchy’s outcasts refused to be cast out!
We invite you to enjoy this excerpt from HEAVYHEAD: Medusa’s song, “Rosie”
We’re excited to share a first look at a demonstration page for the Wheel of Possibilities!
Major Progress!
To facilitate the creation of our Beta Cohort projects, WBI made the decision to shift the timeline for completion of the Wheel — but that doesn’t mean we stopped! In fact, the Beta process has reinforced how vitally needed the Wheel of Possibilities is for the creation of WBI’s entertainment! So we’ve been doing BOTH.
Since the start of this year, WBI has:
The solutions links and content for the demonstration pages were vetted by a team of incredible volunteers, then edited by WBI to ensure the language is approachable. The final step will be to share the pages with expert Thought Leaders for additions, revisions, and approval.
The monumental task of creating the demo pages would not have been possible without the generous, razor-sharp research of Jodi Cobalt, Stacey Cobalt, and Michael Feldman. This incredible team vetted over 50 solutions resources, which involved reading hundreds of pages of solutions research. THANK YOU all so very much!!!
Please enjoy a peek at the in-process demonstration page for the issue of Mis/Disinformation!
Taking action toward positive possibilities is a powerful antidote to feeling overwhelmed or helpless! Especially when that action involves immersing yourself in solutions. We invite you to take action with us anytime. Here are some ways YOU can jump in!
We’ve accomplished a lot with very little, and now — with your help — we can:
Donations of all sizes are very welcome and will go a long way!
Your feedback is always welcome and extremely helpful! Email founders@wbistories.org and let us know what you think.
Each time WBI speaks at a conference or event, we meet folks who love what we’re doing. Some of these new friends have offered their expertise as Thought Leaders, some have donated, and some are making connections to top stars — thank you! Every kind of connection is helpful.
Please help us keep this momentum going by:
Help spread the word by following and sharing WBI with your networks on social media!
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