The craft and preparation behind Island Women Speak
Debbie Weil discusses the process from idea to stage for the now-annual tradition of women’s stories at the Stonington Opera House
Jan. 28, 2026
By John Epstein
Debbie Weil, director of Island Women Speak, now in its eight year. Courtesy photo.
Speaking from her car while parked at Burnt Cove Market in Stonington, Debbie Weil, the director of '“Island Women Speak” discussed the storytelling process that has made the performance, now in its eight year, an annual tradition.
“First of all, it’s always challenging every year finding women who are willing to do it, but somehow we’ve always managed to,” said Weil, a writer and editor, who in 2013 came from Washington, DC to live on Deer Isle full time.
Her task is helping the women find their own stories through the writing and editing process.
“I love talking to them,” Weil said. “I need to establish a connection. I ask them if they are ready for an adventure, a voyage of self-discovery. They have great stories. They just need to open their mouths and tell them.”
The women each write a 900-word draft, which the director then helps shape. Then there are revisions to get to the deeper story. Weil admitted that some women take to the revision process more readily than others.
“It’s a delicate line to walk,” she said.
"It’s about finding the story, rewriting it, being willing to revise to get it across to the audience,” she said “But I have to make sure it’s their words, so they’re comfortable with it,” Weil added.
She stresses the importance of two basic storytelling principals to hold an audience’s attention: drop right into the story, then tie everything up at the end.
