When he was a student at Conestoga Valley Middle School (CVMS), Peter Fenton played a prominent role in a school play. Fenton thought he could write a better script than the one being used for the play, so he wrote the comedy adventure "Good Knight and Goodbye."

A number of years later, while attending Wheaton College, Fenton was contacted by his former CVMS English teacher and play director Sue Fisher, asking him to write a play script commemorating her upcoming retirement. In response, Fenton wrote the comedy adventure "The Thousand Year Rose."

It was a series of events that continues to shape Fenton's life as a playwright, a screenwriter, a producer and a director. Now 29 and living in New Hope, Fenton is trying to "make it" - whatever that looks like - in a demanding industry.

"I've been going into the professional (scriptwriting) world," said Fenton. "Over the last eight years, it feels like the Earth has shaken, but in small, incremental steps. I'm following the momentum and trying to figure out what's next. But I know there's nothing else I'd want to do with my life."

To this point of his career, Fenton has penned six stage plays and three movie scripts. The 2013 graduate of Conestoga Valley High School is currently working on his seventh stage script and his fourth film.

A production of Fenton's dark comedy and drama "Abandon All Hope" made its off-Broadway debut in New York City in June. He has also gained acclaim for his psychological thriller "Night Voices" and his family drama "Inherently Special."

"I bounce around with a lot of different genres," said Fenton. "I write to make people laugh and think. When you can make people laugh, you can make them think. I like to write things I would enjoy watching. I want to leave the world a little better than I found it."

Fenton noted that there are differences between stagewriting and screenwriting. "The most important thing in movies is what you see; in stage plays, the most important thing is what you hear," he said. But both types of scriptwriting demand great attention to detail in every aspect of the story, from the plot to the dialogue, from the action to the message.

"You're telling a story. You're figuring out how to tell a story from start to finish," said Fenton. "You are telling a story that's driven by dialogue and driven by action. But it takes a village to bring it to life. I have my words. I have my ideas. I have actions. But it's up to the director and actors to bring it to life. With some productions, I'm very involved with bringing them to life. With some, I'm not."

At this point of his career, about 30% of Fenton's income originates from his writing. He has and has had a number of day jobs and side gigs, including teaching, marketing and waiting tables.

"My career works for me, but it's not anything I'd wish on anyone," said Fenton. "I'm not making a living at it yet, but each year I'm getting closer."

"The most important thing is engaging with people," Fenton continued. "I don't want anyone to ever forget that I'm a person too. It's just about me being myself."

For additional information about Peter Fenton, search for "Peter Fenton" on Facebook.