The Northwest Institute of Literary Arts is hosting its annual Celebrate Writing Contest for all Whidbey Island students in grades 3-8. This year, Northwest Institute of Literary Arts is collaborating with the Whidbey Children’s Theater to present the contest, according to a recent press release.
With this collaboration, a new category has been established: playwriting.
“We want to expand our opportunities and reach out to writers,” said Cait Cassee, Whidbey Children’s Theater executive director, according to the release. “Original scriptwriting fits well with our mission.” 
The contest is open to all students who are residents of Whidbey Island, regardless of what school they attend. Entries are due May 1. Submission is free. Submission guidelines may be found at wiwa.nila.edu/contest. 
The award ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at Whidbey Children’s Theater. At the ceremony, contest winners in the prose and poetry categories will read their work aloud. Actors will present a live reading of the winning scripts in the playwriting category. Admission to the awards ceremony is by donation.
Two weeks prior to the culminating ceremony, contest winners will gather at the Whidbey Children’s Theater, where actors will mentor winners and assist them in preparing to present their work on stage.