• 7 – 8AM Sunday Windsor A: Yoga
  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
• 7:30 – 10:30AM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Badge Pickup
  It’s the last day! Grab your badge and folder and join us for a wonderful Sunday.
• 8 – 8:30AM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Breakfast on the Go
  Grab a bagel and a cup of coffee then head for your final workshops of the weekend.
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont A: Small Press, Big Opportunities
  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
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont B: Beyond the Book: Marketing that Moves Copies
  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
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Windsor B: You’re here! Volunteer!
  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.
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 1: Dirtying Up Your Character: Finding their Flaws
  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
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 2: Voice, Wonder, and Whimsy: The Craft of KIDLIT
  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
• 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 3: Quiet Writing
  We’re quietly writing on Zoom this morning. Come join us to get your words on the page.
• 9:30 – 10AM Sunday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
  Coffee break! Fill up your cup and make plans fo that final session!
• 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont A: Ask the Experts
  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
• 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont C: Put them on the Couch: Therapy for your Characters
  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
• 10 -11AM Sunday Windsor B: BIPOC Social
  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
• 10 – 11AM Sunday Windsor C: Write the Movie, Not the Script
  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
• 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 1: Poetically, short.
  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.
• 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 3: Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?
  Is it really worth it to enter a writing contests? Literary agent Anjanette Barr will discuss how to evaluate which contests are truly worth your time and money, along with practical tips for… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 3: Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?
• 11 – 11:30AM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Brunch
  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!
• 11:30AM – 1PM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Keynote and Goodbye
  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
• 1 – 1:30PM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Book Pick-Up
  Pack your bags, grab your books, and head out the door. Time for last-minute shopping and settling of consigment sales. The conference is over, but we will see you online and in-person this… Read more: 1 – 1:30PM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Book Pick-Up

• 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga
  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 your sleepy… Read more: 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga
• 7:30AM – 4PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Badge Pickup
  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!
• 8 – 8:45AM Saturday Belmont A/B/C: Breakfast
  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.
• 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
  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 to your… Read more: 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont A: The Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Writing Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense
  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 structure, writing… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont A: The Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Writing Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont B: Literary Agent Panel
  On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont C: Build Your Legacy: Systems, Discipline, and Creative Structure for Writers Who Want Results
  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 their projects,… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont C: Build Your Legacy: Systems, Discipline, and Creative Structure for Writers Who Want Results
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor B: LGBTQIA++ Social
  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 time for… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor B: LGBTQIA++ Social
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film Roundtables
  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 next steps… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Windsor C: Film Roundtables
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as Fiction
  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 adaptation and… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 1: Memoir as Fiction
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be Silenced
  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 into form,… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Zoom 2: Writing as Resistance: Crafting Work That Refuses to Be Silenced
• 9AM – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Quiet Writing
  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.
• 10 – 10:30AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Break
  Time for some quick self-care! Grab a snack, stretch your legs, check in with friends, then get ready for your next amazing workshop!
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategically
  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 target the… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont A: Build to a Book Deal: Submit strategically
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir
  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 darkest moments.… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont C: Distribution Demystified
  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 for navigating… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont C: Distribution Demystified
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor B: Adaptability: Bringing Books to the Screen
  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 how to… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor B: Adaptability: Bringing Books to the Screen
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor C: The Power of Picture Books
  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 aloud experience… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Windsor C: The Power of Picture Books
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 1: Fund Your Muse: Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies
  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 a rising… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 1: Fund Your Muse: Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies
• 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 2: Bring Your Story World to Life
  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. Julie Artz… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Zoom 2: Bring Your Story World to Life
• 11:30AM – 12:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Lunch
  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 you by… Read more: 11:30AM – 12:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Lunch
• 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday Keynote
  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 as they… Read more: 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday Keynote
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont A: Editing Toolbox: Strategies that Actually Work
  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 language, and… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont A: Editing Toolbox: Strategies that Actually Work
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing Workshop
  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 critical to… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing Workshop
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont C: Q&A with New York Times Bestselling Author Rosanne Parry
  Join New York Times Bestselling Author Rosanne Parry for a focused Q&A about her work, publishing life, and how she made it to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list…multiple times!
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Windsor B: Submitting Your Work
  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 increase your… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Windsor B: Submitting Your Work
• 2 – 3PM Saturday Windsor C: Parent Social
  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 community members… Read more: 2 – 3PM Saturday Windsor C: Parent Social
• 3 – 4PM Saturday Windsor C: Pitch for Film and TV
  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.
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 1: Workshop with a Literary Agent
  On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.
• 3:30 – 4PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Break
  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.
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont A: Panel: Agents in Conversation
  On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting panel.
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful Writer
  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 research-based tips… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful Writer
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont C: Writing for the Screen
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor A: Legal Contracts for Writers
  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 signing away… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor A: Legal Contracts for Writers
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor B: Crafting a Series
  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 multiple books.… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor B: Crafting a Series
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor C: Break This Line
  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 that capture… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Windsor C: Break This Line
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 1: Workshop with a Literary Agent
  On April 15th, we’ll announce our industry professionals. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting workshop.
• 5 – 5:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Drinks and Appetizers Before the Show
  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 talented FilmLab… Read more: 5 – 5:30PM Saturday Belmont Foyer: Drinks and Appetizers Before the Show
• 5:30 – 7PM Saturday Belmont A/B: SAG-AFTRA FilmLab Live Reading!
  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!
• 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 dash on over to Belmont… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Belmont A/B: Open Mic
• 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online 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 Zoom link… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open Mic
• 9PM – 12AM Saturday Windsor C: Karaoke
  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 tune, your… Read more: 9PM – 12AM Saturday Windsor C: Karaoke

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Program Assistant Position

Willamette Writers is hiring for a Program Assistant. Join our team and support a community of writers across the Pacific Northwest.

This person will:

• Provide administrative and logistical support for Willamette Writers programming;
• Assist with scheduling, communication, data management, and financial administration tasks;
• Manage calendar events and program materials;
• and contribute to program planning and evaluation.

This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in arts and culture and non-profit organizations. The individual should be interested in supporting our organization’s main goal of helping writers.

Compensation: Hourly, 10 hours/week at $18/hour.

Location: Virtual plus Monday 11-3 in Portland. Some night or weekend event attendance.

Benefits: Paid time off and vacation.

Requirements

• 3+ years experience supporting staff or volunteers.
• 3+ years professional background in communications, programming, events, marketing, social media, and/or public relations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including relationship-building and collaboration.
• Excellent grammar, spelling, and attention to detail in digital and print formats.

Deadline for applications: Open until filled.

_____________________

How to Apply

Email a cover letter and resume (Word or PDF) to wilwrite <at> willamettewriters <dot> org. Please include ‘Program Assistant’ in the subject line. No phone calls please.

Please consider the above job description, as well as our our vision, mission, and values as you apply for this position. More information at: https://willamettewriters.org/about/

About Willamette Writers

Willamette Writers is the largest writers’ organization in the Pacific Northwest. Writers of all genres and at all stages of their careers come to our meetings, annual conference, and workshops to connect with their community, develop their craft, and advance their career. You will find a tightly knit community of writers who love working together to tell our stories and build our scenes: on paper, on screen, and in front of the microphone.

Willamette Writers is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, educational background or income.

Thank you for your interest in working for Willamette Writers!