Jeff Waddleton is a creative professional with a vast background in writing, editing, and instruction. He holds a BA in English/Creative Writing from San Diego State University and spent several years in broadcast radio as a comedy writer and on-air personality, while also working as a commercial scriptwriter developing advertising campaigns for a range of clients. From 2011-2019, he contributed comedy writing to two nationally recognized podcasts, The Suburban Avengers Podcast and Supreme Half-Court.
Jeff is the author of the published collection of short stories and poems The Cold Steel Box and has worked as a story consultant, developmental editor, and copyright editor on numerous short stories, novels, and screenplays. His work also includes adapting classic fiction into both radio drama and stage formats. Most recently, his magical realism story "Birth of a Blue Heron" appeared in the 2024 anthology Stay Awhile Longer: More Scenes from the Temecula Valley.
He serves as President of Temecula Valley Writers & Illustrators, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping foster creative talent, where he sits on the Board of Directors, contributes to the Special Projects/Anthology committee, and hosts the Spoken Nuggets open mic storyteller series.
Since 2018, Jeff has developed and taught creative writing programs for the City of Temecula Community Services Department, including Creative Writing for Adults, Teen Screenwriting, the Writers Critique Group, and the Memoir Writers Workshop, mentoring numerous aspiring young screenwriters and developing adult novelists in their pursuit of creative genius. Recently expanded, his programming now features a comprehensive, in-person two-year drop-in curriculum spanning 14 major topics.
When he is not teaching, Jeff can be found hard at work completing his new thriller, Temporary, scheduled for release in mid 2027.
Jeff lives and works in Temecula, California, where he remains actively engaged in the robust local creative community.
