Invite-Only: Our Timberline Authors are invited to join us for a worksop to prep their pieces for tonight’s reading. This performance workshop will be facilitated by author and poet Emmett Wheatfall.
Month: February 2026
-
10:30AM – 4:30PM Friday Windsor B: Master Class: Fluency in Multi-Layered Story Analysis for Revision
Award-winning writer Eric Witchey leads this 5-hour Master Class on analysis and revision. Writing a saleable story is predominantly a revision process. The most important skills are all related to deciding what to revise and, often more importantly, what not to revise. This Master Class explores specific, immediately executable techniques for deconstructing a manuscript, isolating undefined issues, defining them, and selecting a course of action to resolve them. The patterns and skills presented are useful to all levels of writers and are applicable across genres for flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, novellas, and novels.
-
Emmett Wheatfall
Emmett Wheatfall is an American poet, Oregon Poet Laureate nominee, and recipient of the prestigious Oregon Poetry Association Patricia Ruth Banta Award. His poetry has been published in several books, collections, anthologies, and one of them, As Clean as a Bone, was a 2019 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist and a da Vinci Eye award finalist. Emmett has keynoted two Oregon Poetry Association’s Conferences. In 2020, Corban University produced a 9-part series documentary that highlights Emmett’s early life and poetry. Emmett Wheatfall is one of Oregon’s premier poets.
Find out more at https://emmettwheatfall-poet.blogspot.com/ -
Dana Haynes
Novelist Dana Haynes has spent more than 20 years in Oregon newspaper newsrooms, split between weeklies and dailies. He has won awards as a reporter, columnist and editor. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he also served as spokesman for the mayor of Portland, Oregon.
Haynes’ first thriller, CRASHERS was released in 2010 by Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press. It won the Spotted Owl Award from Friends of Mystery as 2010’s best mystery or thriller written by a Northwest writer.
His first screenplay, an adaptation of CRASHERS made it to the semifinals of the Nichols Fellowship in 2005.
BREAKING POINT, the sequel to CRASHERS, made its debut in 2011, followed by ICE COLD KILL, the breakout thriller for Daria Gibron, in 2012; and GUN METAL HEART in 2014.
His new novel, ST. NICHOLAS SALVAGE & WRECKING, marks Haynes’s debut with Blackstone Publishing in March 2019.
-
10:30 – 11AM Friday Belmont A/B: Writing and Publishing Life
Sit down with published authors as we share honest insights about building a sustainable, fulfilling writing life. We’ll talk about career paths, publishing realities, and ways to protect your creativity and joy. Whether you seek publication or a richer personal practice, you’ll leave with practical ideas and encouragement for the next steps in your writing or publishing life.
-
10 – 10:30AM Friday All: Break
There’s so much we’re excited for you to see and do this weekend, but don’t forget to pace yourself. Take a break with a few new friends before you dive deeper into the publishing and writing life.
-
9 -10AM Friday Zoom: Quiet Writing
Anytime you need to step back from the virtual conference and get some words written – we’ve got you covered! Our quiet writing zoom room is open for you during workshop hours.
-
Test Schedule Block Post
- 8 – 9AM Friday Belmont Foyer: Badge PickupYou’ve arrived, and we’re so excited to see you! Pick up your badge and folder and let’s get the fun rolling. Don’t miss out on a cup of coffee and a light breakfast! This will… Read more: 8 – 9AM Friday Belmont Foyer: Badge Pickup
- 9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and WelcomeLet the 56th Annual Willamette Writers Conference begin! Opening poet Christopher Diaz will take the mic to draw us into a weekend of writing, creating, and learning together. Bring your notebook and find your seat.… Read more: 9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and Welcome
- 9 – 10AM Friday Windsor A: Quiet WritingNeed a moment to yourself? Sit down before the conference carries you away with an hour of quiet writing.
- 9 -10AM Friday Zoom: Quiet WritingAnytime you need to step back from the virtual conference and get some words written – we’ve got you covered! Our quiet writing zoom room is open for you during workshop hours.
- 10 – 10:30AM Friday All: BreakThere’s so much we’re excited for you to see and do this weekend, but don’t forget to pace yourself. Take a break with a few new friends before you dive deeper into the publishing and… Read more: 10 – 10:30AM Friday All: Break
- 10:30 – 11AM Friday Belmont A/B: Writing and Publishing LifeSit down with published authors as we share honest insights about building a sustainable, fulfilling writing life. We’ll talk about career paths, publishing realities, and ways to protect your creativity and joy. Whether you seek… Read more: 10:30 – 11AM Friday Belmont A/B: Writing and Publishing Life
- 10:30AM – 4:30PM Friday Windsor B: Master Class: Fluency in Multi-Layered Story Analysis for RevisionAward-winning writer Eric Witchey leads this 5-hour Master Class on analysis and revision. Writing a saleable story is predominantly a revision process. The most important skills are all related to deciding what to revise and,… Read more: 10:30AM – 4:30PM Friday Windsor B: Master Class: Fluency in Multi-Layered Story Analysis for Revision
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Windsor C: Invite-Only: Timberline Review Writers WorkshopInvite-Only: Our Timberline Authors are invited to join us for a worksop to prep their pieces for tonight’s reading. This performance workshop will be facilitated by author and poet Emmett Wheatfall.
- 10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Zoom: Traditional Publishing vs. Independent PublishingThe desire to be published is more prevalent than ever. A record-breaking number of CEOs, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and aspiring writers from all walks of life dream about becoming published authors but are stumped about… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Zoom: Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing
- 11:30AM – 12:30PM Friday Belmont Foyer: LunchIt’s time for lunch! Pre-purchased box lunches are availble in the foyer. Pick up your lunch and join a new colleague or old friend for lunch.
- 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: First Page CritiqueDoes your opening hook your readers? Bring 5 copies of your first page and find out. Published authors and industry professionals will sit down with you to critique your work and help you learn what… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: First Page Critique
- 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor A: Generative Writing with Write Around PortlandJoin Write Around Portland for Word Play — a creative writing frenzy rooted in respect and community. Through timed freewrites inspired by open-ended prompts and activities that will invigorate your creative writing practice, Word Play… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor A: Generative Writing with Write Around Portland
- 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor C: Beta Reader ConnectionsStruggling to find a beta reader for your work? You’re not alone! Come by Windsor C to connect with your fellow writers. We’ll discuss best practices and work on connecting you to other writers interested… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor C: Beta Reader Connections
- 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Zoom: First Page CritiqueDoes your opening hook your readers? Bring your first page and find out. Published authors and industry professionals will sit down with you to critique your work and help you learn what makes a first… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Zoom: First Page Critique
- 2:30 – 3PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: BreakBreak time! Get a good stretch and say hello to some fellow writers by the book table. So many new novels, poems, and stories to read and enjoy.
- 3 – 4:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: Genre ConnectionsIf you’ve been looking to connect with professionals and fellow colleagues in your writing and publishing life, join us for genre connections. You’ll sit down with writers, authors and poets to talk about the work,… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: Genre Connections
- 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor A: Ekphrastic PoetryThe cross-disciplinary mode of “ekphrastic writing” has historically been defined as descriptive writing influenced by the visual arts. Ekphrastic writing is writing in response to what you see — from portraits to pottery. In this… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor A: Ekphrastic Poetry
- 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor C: Your First ConferenceIs this your first time joining us or your first writing conference? We’re here to answer any questions you may have and help you make the most out of your first conference. Join us to… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor C: Your First Conference
- 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your First ConferenceIs this your first time joining us or your first online writing conference? We’re here to answer any questions you may have and help you make the most out of your first conference. Join us… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your First Conference
- 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your BrandWhat does your author brand look like? Designer Maite Dalila will help you find out. In this interactive workshop, you’ll take a deep dive into branding and walk away with the exact colors, fonts, and… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your Brand
- 4:30 – 5PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: BreakSchool taught us that the best time to make a new friend is in the hallway between classes. There’s no rush to get to the workshop, so why not start a conversation with someone you’ve… Read more: 4:30 – 5PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
- 4:30 – 5:30PM Friday Windsor C: Invite-Only: FilmLab Writers Meet & GreetInvite-Only: Our past and current FilmLab authors are invited to join us for a meet and greet before Saturday’s SAG-AFTRA reading. Connect with your fellow writers over coffee and conversation. This workshop will be facilitated… Read more: 4:30 – 5:30PM Friday Windsor C: Invite-Only: FilmLab Writers Meet & Greet
- 5 – 7PM Friday Belmont Ballroom: Writer’s FairIt’s time for the 2026 Writer’s Fair! Our annual fair is free and open to the public, so invite your friends to join you in the Belmont Ballroom. Snacks, drinks, and conversations await you. You… Read more: 5 – 7PM Friday Belmont Ballroom: Writer’s Fair
- 6 – 7PM Friday Zoom: Writer’s Fair RoundtablesIt’s time for the 2026 Writer’s Fair! Our annual fair is free and open to the public, and this year, it is also online! Join us to learn about amazing programs and resources available to… Read more: 6 – 7PM Friday Zoom: Writer’s Fair Roundtables
- 7 – 9PM Friday Windsor C & Zoom: Timberline ReviewIt’s time for the Launch of the 15th Annual Timberline Review Literary Journal. You’ll hear from poets, essayists, authors, memoirists, and that’s just scratching the surface! Come in-person and get your copy of the journal… Read more: 7 – 9PM Friday Windsor C & Zoom: Timberline Review
- 8 – 10PM Friday Windsor A: Exquisite CorpseHow would Frankenstein have gone if there were a dozen Dr. Frankensteins working on the monster at once? Want to find out??? Join us for a dastardly experiment where we’ll put our heads together to… Read more: 8 – 10PM Friday Windsor A: Exquisite Corpse
- 10PM – 12AM Friday Windsor A: Lo-FiThe vibes are just right to relax, enjoy quiet conversation, and write to Lo-Fi soundtrack. Wrap up your evening with smooth music and easy conversation.
- 8 – 9AM Friday Belmont Foyer: Badge Pickup
-
9 – 10AM Friday Windsor A: Quiet Writing
Need a moment to yourself? Sit down before the conference carries you away with an hour of quiet writing.
-
9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and Welcome
Let the 56th Annual Willamette Writers Conference begin! Opening poet Christopher Diaz will take the mic to draw us into a weekend of writing, creating, and learning together. Bring your notebook and find your seat. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.