Come pitch your work to a panel of industry professionals. You can step up to the Zoom spotlight for three minutes to share your work and receive feedback from the panel, or you… Read more: July 19th 7 – 9PM Zoom: Pitch for the Prize

Registered for a pitch? Join us online to meet with your industry professional. Login before your meeting starts and we will get you settled in to a private Zoom room for your conversation… Read more: July 29th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches

Registered for a pitch or critique? Join us online to meet with your industry professional. Login before your meeting starts and we will get you settled in to a private Zoom room for… Read more: July 30th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches and Critiques

You’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!… Read more: 8 – 9AM Friday Belmont Foyer: Badge Pickup

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… Read more: 9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and Welcome

Need a moment to yourself? Sit down before the conference carries you away with an hour of 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.

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… Read more: 10 – 10:30AM Friday All: Break

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… Read more: 10:30 – 11AM Friday Belmont A/B: Writing and Publishing Life

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… Read more: 10:30AM – 4:30PM Friday Windsor B: Master Class: Fluency in Multi-Layered Story Analysis for Revision

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.

The 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… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Zoom: Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing

It’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.

Does 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… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: First Page Critique

Join 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,… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor A: Generative Writing with Write Around Portland

Struggling 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… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor C: Beta Reader Connections

Does 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… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Zoom: First Page Critique

Break 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.

If 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… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: Genre Connections

The 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.… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor A: Ekphrastic Poetry

Is 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… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor C: Your First Conference

Is 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.… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your First Conference

What 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,… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your Brand

School 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… Read more: 4:30 – 5PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break

Invite-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… Read more: 4:30 – 5:30PM Friday Windsor C: Invite-Only: FilmLab Writers Meet & Greet

It’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… Read more: 5 – 7PM Friday Belmont Ballroom: Writer’s Fair

It’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… Read more: 6 – 7PM Friday Zoom: Writer’s Fair Roundtables

It’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… Read more: 7 – 9PM Friday Windsor C & Zoom: Timberline Review

How 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… Read more: 8 – 10PM Friday Windsor A: Exquisite Corpse

The 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.

Greet the sun like a (writing) warrior with our morning Yoga class. Designed for experienced and new folks alike, this beautifully relaxing session will help you stretch your muscles and wake up all… Read more: 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga

The big day’s here, and we can’t wait to see you! Pick up your badge to get this exciting day rolling. You won’t want to miss a single moment!

Time for a writer’s best friend: coffee! Fill your cup, pile that plate high, and catch up with other writers before the morning workshops begin.

Take a break and take a look at this year’s auction in the Belmont Foyer! Proceeds support our year round activities for writers just like you, so take a peek, then zip over… Read more: 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break

Writing doesn’t have to be a mystery. Join Glen Erik Hamilton for an introduction to genre conventions and key differences in mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels.  We’ll discuss effective use of characters, story… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont A: The Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Writing Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense

On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.

Building a legacy takes time and devotion, but more than that, it takes a system. Join LeFoster Willams for a practical, no-nonsense workshop that gives writers a proven system to stay disciplined, finish… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont C: Build Your Legacy: Systems, Discipline, and Creative Structure for Writers Who Want Results

Join us for a fresh cuppa in this LGBTQIA+ friendly space. Bring along your writing wins, losses, and all the stories making up your journey. We’re here for you. Note: This is a… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor B: LGBTQIA++ Social

Are you a screenwriter? Here’s a wonderful chance to sit down with an experienced group of producers, directors, and industry professional. You’ll find the support, conversations, and connections you need to take the… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film Roundtables

In this practical workshop, Laurie Scheer will show you how to thoughtfully transform real-life experiences into compelling fiction. You’ll learn how to identify which moments from your personal story are best suited for… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as Fiction

In a time of political suppression, censorship, and rising hostility toward the arts, your writing can become a vital act of resistance. In this workshop, you’ll learn practical craft strategies for embedding resistance… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be Silenced

Writing at a writer conference? You bet! Bring that brilliant idea and get it on the page in a quiet space. The quiet room is open all day.

Time for some quick self-care! Grab a snack, stretch your legs, check in with friends, then get ready for your next amazing workshop!

In this workshop with Alle C. Hall, you’ll learn effective strategies for submitting journalism, essays and creative nonfiction, poetry, KidLit, short stories, and flash. You’ll gain practical tools to strengthen your submissions and… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategically

What makes humor strange and magical is that it is often rooted in sadness, anger, or shame. The writers we find funniest reveal deeply vulnerable truths while mining the absurd even from their… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir

Join us for a break down of publishing distribution. You’ll learn how books make it to bookstore shelves, get listed on Amazon, and find their way onto library shelves. You’ll uncover practical strategies… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont C: Distribution Demystified

Ever wonder how to squeeze 300 pages of a novel into a 100-page script? In this workshop with Randall Jahnson, you’ll learn how to turn books into compelling movies or series. You’ll explore… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor B: Adaptability: Bringing Books to the Screen

Picture books are a critical part of children’s reading development and social and emotional learning. In this workshop, literary agent CoCo Freeman will show you how to create an engaging and memorable read… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor C: The Power of Picture Books

Are you planning to apply for a literary grant, fellowship, scholarship, or artists’ residency in 2026 or 2027? This strategy-packed workshop will show you how to position yourself as a competitive candidate, demonstrate… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 1: Fund Your Muse: Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies

World-building can turn a story from “just OK” into something readers can’t put down. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create immersive, believable worlds that draw readers in and support your story.… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 2: Bring Your Story World to Life

It’s lunchtime! If you’ve registered for a boxed lunch, then come to the Belmont Foyer and pick up your meal. If not, check your folder for our list of neighborhood options, prepared for… Read more: 11:30AM – 12:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Lunch

It’s time! The ballroom doors are open. Join us in person or on Zoom for Saturday’s Keynote with publishing expert and celebrated author Jane Friedman. Then, meet the next generation of young writers… Read more: 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday Keynote

Struggling to make your drafts shine? Join veteran authors and skilled editors to learn practical, results-driven techniques to tackle every stage of the editing process. This panel covers strategies for refining structure, polishing… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont A: Editing Toolbox: Strategies that Actually Work

Writer’s block often comes from putting too much pressure on ourselves and our writing. In this 90-minute generative poetry workshop with keynote Christopher Diaz, you’ll explore playful approaches that shift your mindset from… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing Workshop

Submission time! Join the Timberline Review team and explore practical tips and tricks for submitting your writing, including how to choose the right journals and polish your submissions. You’ll leave with strategies to… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Windsor B: Submitting Your Work

Does one of your (many!) hats say “parent”? Here’s a chance to connect with others to celebrate, commiserate, and strategize for sharing your writing life with kids. Note: This is a time for… Read more: 2 – 3PM Saturday Windsor C: Parent Social

Screenwriters! Come practice your pitch! We’ll help you refine and shine your film or TV pitch and talk you through your next steps to the screen.

On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.

Refill your coffee and head to the courtyard. It’s the perfect time to meet with friends or make new ones before our last round of workshops for the day.

On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.

How do you stay happy, healthy, and feeling successful as a writer or artist while dealing with rejection, imposter syndrome, envy, and other fun challenges of the creative life? Randy Henderson will share… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful Writer

Ever wonder what you’re really signing when you agree to a contract? Join lawyer Valerie Saski as she breaks down common worries in legal contracts, including different contract types and what you’re actually… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor A: Legal Contracts for Writers

How do you keep readers hooked across a trilogy or a full series of books? In this workshop with Jared Agard, you’ll explore exercises, strategies, and examples to craft story arcs that span… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor B: Crafting a Series

Can a paragraph become poetry? Join poet Brian Garrison in a conversation on ways to use line breaks as we tinker with words. You’ll experiment with transforming ordinary sentences into lyrical, expressive lines… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor C: Break This Line

On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.

Kick off the evening with drinks, appetizers, and popcorn at our pre-show social hour. Mingle with fellow attendees and get excited for tonight’s Writer’s Room dramatic premiere. You’ll hear the work of our… Read more: 5 – 5:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Drinks and Appetizers Before the Show

FilmLab proudly premieres a LIVE reading featuring the 2026 Writer’s Room participants and professional SAG-AFTRA performers. You won’t want to miss this exciting debut!

It’s time: we’re passing the mic over to YOU! You’ve got five minutes max to share your excerpt with a supportive crowd of writers. It’s first come, first served, so dash on over… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Belmont A/B: Open Mic

It’s time: we’re passing the mic over to YOU! You’ve got five minutes max to share your excerpt with a supportive crowd of writers. It’s first come, first served, so fire up that… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open Mic

The mic is hot and the song list even hotter! Join us in Windsor C for the writing community’s most electric annual karaoke event. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or can’t hold a… Read more: 9PM – 12AM Saturday Windsor C: Karaoke

Stretch your way into our final day! Comfortably designed for all levels (you can even practice in your chair!), Joy Lotus will help you stretch your muscles and spark your imagination, both in-person… Read more: 7 – 8AM Sunday Windsor A: Yoga

It’s the last day! Grab your badge and folder and join us for a wonderful Sunday.

Grab a bagel and a cup of coffee then head for your final workshops of the weekend.

Curious about publishing with a small press? In this conversation, you’ll learn what to expect from the submission process, contracts, and marketing, and how to identify the right press for your work. You’ll… Read more: 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont A: Small Press, Big Opportunities

What does it really take to sell a book? Listen in as published authors share their firsthand experiences, revealing the strategies that actually got their work noticed. Bring your questions! You’ll hear real-world… Read more: 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont B: Beyond the Book: Marketing that Moves Copies

Want to get involved with Willamette Writers? Join the conversation to learn how volunteers help shape programs, support events, and make our literary community thrive.

Why is “dirtying up” your character so important? It makes them more complex and memorable. Many writers focus too much on making their protagonist likable, but real people are flawed and your characters… Read more: 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 1: Dirtying Up Your Character: Finding their Flaws

Join published authors and industry professionals as they discuss how to craft engaging stories that spark imagination and delight young readers. Gain insights into creative techniques that you can use to make your… Read more: 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 2: Voice, Wonder, and Whimsy: The Craft of KIDLIT

We’re quietly writing on Zoom this morning. Come join us to get your words on the page.

Coffee break! Don’t forget to check out the auction! Bidding ends at 9:50. All proceeds support our free and open to the public writing programming.

Last chance! Bid on your basket and shout your support for Willamette Writers year round!

Neuroscience? Law? AI? Bring your questions and the experts will share their knowledge, expertise, and skills with you. Remember, this is a chance to learn from the experts — save your healthy debate… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont A: Ask the Experts

Complex and interesting characters are essential to any story, but how do you reach their true depths? In this fun, exploratory writing class, you’ll step into the role of therapist while your character… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont C: Put them on the Couch: Therapy for your Characters

Meet your fellow BIPOC writers in this warm and welcoming space. Come share experiences and make connections as you wrap up your 2026 Conference. Note: This is a time for community members to… Read more: 10 -11AM Sunday Windsor B: BIPOC Social

Take your scripts to the next level by learning how to “direct on the page,” one of the film industry’s longest-standing taboos. In this “dangerous” workshop, Randall Jahnson teaches screenwriters how to incorporate… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Windsor C: Write the Movie, Not the Script

What happens when a poem steps off the page and onto the screen? In this workshop, you’ll learn the techniques and mechanics of screenwriting by turning a favorite poem into a short script.… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 1: Poetically, short.

Your weekend of writing is almost over! Join us for Sunday brunch. Pour your coffee and take your seat for our final keynote presentation. Keynote announcement coming in April!

What an amazing weekend it has been. from critiques to conversations and workshop and keynotes, we wrote and laughed and shared so much together. It will be hard to say goodbye, but don’t… Read more: 11:30AM – 1PM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Keynote and Goodbye

Pack your bags, grab your baskets and books, and head out the door. Time for auction pick up and settling of consigment sales. The conference is over, but we will see you online… Read more: 1 – 1:30PM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Auction & Book Pick-Up