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 us to learn more about your community and get connected with your colleagues and new friends.
Category: WilWrite26 Schedule
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3 – 4:30PM Friday Windsor A: Ekphrastic Poetry
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. In this class, you’ll explore your relationship with art, and be introduced to artists and art from across the globe as we dive into ekphrastic writing. Ekphrasis is an aesthetic pursuit, and when you stimulate your eyes, that sight can lead to insight. Come write with us.
Faculty
- Janée J. Baugher
Janée J. Baugher, MFA is the author of the only craft book of its kind, The Ekphrastic Writer: Creating Art-Influenced Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction (McFarland, 2020), and she’s been a featured reader at the Library of Congress and on Seattle Channel TV. She’s a longtime assistant editor at Boulevard magazine (St. Louis) and lives in… Read more: Janée J. Baugher
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3 – 4PM Friday Belmont A/B: Genre Connections
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 the work, practice, and joy of writing in genre — from poetry to screenwriting to sceience fiction and more!
Faculty
- Brian W. ParkerBrian grew up in Alaska, then Mississippi, and has always been in love with storytelling in every medium. He earned a BFA in graphic design & illustration and an MA in writing & publishing. He’s an adjunct professor of children’s publishing at Portland State University. He is the co-owner and creative director of Believe In… Read more: Brian W. Parker
- Christopher DiazChristopher Diaz (he/him) is an indigenous CHamoru from the Pacific Island of Guåhan. As a writer, performer, and photographer, he’s been featured by NBC News, Poets & Writers.org, and more. Recently he was awarded a fellowship with Indigenous Nations Poets and an artist grant from the Washington State Arts Commission. In 2025, he was the… Read more: Christopher Diaz
- Dana HaynesDana Haynes is the author of 14 mystery and thriller novels from such publishers as Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Publishing, Blackstone Publishing and Bantam Publishing. Under the pen name James Byrne, he has written four thrillers featuring Dez Limerick for Minotaur Books, including 2026’s STORM WARNING and CHAIN REACTION, nominated for best series… Read more: Dana Haynes
- Glen Erik HamiltonGlen Erik Hamilton writes crime thrillers. A native of Seattle, Glen’s novels have won the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics awards, and been nominated for the Edgar, Barry, and Nero awards. His series featuring reformed thief Van Shaw has been called “outstanding” (Publishers Weekly), “perfect mix of serious crime and caper movie” (Criminal Element),… Read more: Glen Erik Hamilton
- Melissa HartMelissa Hart is the author of several nonfiction books and novels; her latest is Find Your Nature: 40 Ways to Deepen the Connection to Your Flora, Fauna & Community. Her short-form writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, CNN, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Nat Geo Kids, Orion, and numerous… Read more: Melissa Hart
- Patrick SwensonPatrick Swenson is the author of The Ultra Long Goodbye, the 3rd book in the Union of Worlds trilogy. He’s the author of the dark fantasy Rain Music, the editor and publisher of Fairwood Press (www.fairwoodpress.com), and a graduate of Clarion West. He’s sold short fiction to Unavowed, Grimoire, Unfettered III, Unbound II, Gunfight on… Read more: Patrick Swenson
- T.S. FergusonBefore joining Azantian Literary Agency, T.S. Ferguson worked for 16 years as an editor for some of the top children’s and teen book publishers in the business, including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Harlequin Teen/Inkyard Press, and JIMMY Patterson Books. He has worked with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors such as Sherman… Read more: T.S. Ferguson
- Brian W. Parker
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2:30 – 3PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
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.
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12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Zoom: First Page Critique Sponsored by Scrivener
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 a first page shine.
Faculty
- C. Lill Ahrens
C. Lill Ahrens is an award-winning author, popular writing teacher and retired editorial consultant with many published and award-winning students and clients. Since 2008, she’s given numerous presentations and workshops for writing events and organizations, including Willamette Writers, Oregon Writers Colony and Oregon State University. Lill is also a published cartoonist, and her current project… Read more: C. Lill Ahrens
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12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor C: Beta Reader Connections
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 writers interested in sharing their work with each other.
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12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Windsor A: Generative Writing with Write Around Portland
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, Word Play is a fun and fast-paced way to get some writing done!
Faculty
- Write Around Portland
Write Around Portland’s mission is to change lives through the power of writing. Write Around Portland holds free creative writing workshops in hospitals, prisons, schools, treatment centers, low income residences, homeless shelters and social service agencies. Write Around Portland workshops are based on respect, writing and community. Three times a year, Write Around Portland publish… Read more: Write Around Portland
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12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Belmont A/B: First Page Critique Sponsored by Scrivener
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 learn what makes a first page shine.
Faculty
- Alle C. HallSeattle author Alle C. Hall (pronounced AL-lee) is a veteran essayist and short-story writer (Dale Peck’s Evergreen Review, Tupelo Quarterly, The Seattle Times). Alle’s debut novel—As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back— earned 16 honors, including two #1 Kindle rankings and a nomination for The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Book Award.… Read more: Alle C. Hall
- Brian U. GarrisonBrian U. Garrison, he/him, is President of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA). Check out his Etsy shop to see wall art that combines his words with visuals from collaborators. His chapbook Micropoetry for Microplanets (Space Cowboy Books) earned 3rd Place in the 2025 Elgin Awards. He lives under a tall, leafy tree… Read more: Brian U. Garrison
- Christopher DiazChristopher Diaz (he/him) is an indigenous CHamoru from the Pacific Island of Guåhan. As a writer, performer, and photographer, he’s been featured by NBC News, Poets & Writers.org, and more. Recently he was awarded a fellowship with Indigenous Nations Poets and an artist grant from the Washington State Arts Commission. In 2025, he was the… Read more: Christopher Diaz
- Dana HaynesDana Haynes is the author of 14 mystery and thriller novels from such publishers as Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Publishing, Blackstone Publishing and Bantam Publishing. Under the pen name James Byrne, he has written four thrillers featuring Dez Limerick for Minotaur Books, including 2026’s STORM WARNING and CHAIN REACTION, nominated for best series… Read more: Dana Haynes
- Emmett WheatfallEmmett 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.… Read more: Emmett Wheatfall
- Lara C. JonesLara joined Emily Bestler Books in 2015. Prior to joining the imprint, she held an editorial position at Europa Editions, working on a wide range of critically acclaimed and bestselling novels in translation. Raised in Portland, Oregon, Lara is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course and Seattle University, where she studied English and Italian.… Read more: Lara C. Jones
- Melissa HartMelissa Hart is the author of several nonfiction books and novels; her latest is Find Your Nature: 40 Ways to Deepen the Connection to Your Flora, Fauna & Community. Her short-form writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, CNN, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Nat Geo Kids, Orion, and numerous… Read more: Melissa Hart
- Suzy VitelloSuzy Vitello’s award-winning short pieces have appeared in The Rumpus, The Southampton Review, Mississippi Review and other journals. Her next novel, Griftopia, releases May 05, 2026. Her recent release, The Bequest, has been called “a riveting, fast-paced crime caper.” Other novels include Bitterroot, Faultland, The Moment Before, The Empress Chronicles, and The Keepsake. She works… Read more: Suzy Vitello
- Alle C. Hall
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11:30AM – 12:30PM Friday Belmont Foyer: Lunch
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.
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10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Zoom: Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing
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 stumped about which road to publication they would like to travel on. Filled with real-life stories, humor, and practical advice Leticia’s workshop will give aspiring and seasoned authors alike the good, bad, and ugly of these two methods of publication. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have gained the clarity needed to decide whether they have the stomach to take the traditional publishing route with the help of a literary agent or strike out on their own to publish their literary masterpiece.
Faculty
- Leticia Gomez
Leticia Gomez is an Editor-at-Large for Dafina Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., which focuses on high-quality fiction and non-fiction that centers on race, identity, and its impact on our experiences. She is also the founder and principal agent of Savvy Literary Services, a Texas-based literary agency that specializes in bringing culturally diverse voices… Read more: Leticia Gomez