Willamette Writers Coast Chapter

How to Move Through Writer’s Block and Finish that First Draft Dump!

with Sonja Thomas

Does the blank page terrify you? Does starting a writing project give you nightmares? Do you get lost from point A to point B in your manuscript? Writer’s Block—what is it really and what causes it? No matter if you’re at the beginning of your writing journey or a seasoned author, we’ve all had moments where we’ve avoided the blank page or just can’t move forward with what we’ve started. In this workshop, Thomas discusses the three main reasons why we get stuck and how to get writing again and finish that first draft dump!

Join Willamette Writers Coast Chapter (In-person only) as Sonja Thomas, a 2023 Oregon Book Awards Finalist, provides practical advice to move through writer’s block and finish that first draft on Saturday, February 18 from 2:00 pm–3:30 pm at the Newport Public Library.

This workshop includes interactive conversations, real-life examples, and time for Q&A. The presentation is for ALL genres and ages of reading.

About Sonja Thomas

Sonja Thomas (she/her) writes stories for readers of all ages. A 2023 Oregon Book Awards finalist, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is “a noteworthy debut” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Her next middle-grade novel is scheduled for publication in the spring/summer of 2024 with Simon & Schuster.

Ruled by coffee & cats, a few of her favorite things are: dancing to music blasting in the living room; traveling to new places and buying a magnet before leaving; and snuggling with her furry friend, Gabbie Lu.

She’s a contributing author for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic. She is also the author of several short stories appearing in the Beware the Bugs, Oregon Reads Aloud, 2015 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, and Dark Heart Volume 2 anthologies.

Raised in Central Florida and a Washington, DC transplant for eleven years, she’s now “keeping it weird” in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at www.bysonjathomas.com.

This presentation is co-hosted by the Newport Public Library. This WW Coast Chapter presentation is in-person only – no Zoom for this meeting.

About your chapter meetings

Willamette Writers meetings are open to all writers, 18 and up. Guests are welcome to make a donation to help support the cost of the meeting (we believe in paying our speakers for their time and skills). This meeting is run by volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Young writers are encouraged to join our Young Willamette Writers meetings. Sign Up! Any high school or middle-grade writers are welcome to join us. Sign up for our email list at: http://eepurl.com/hRubBf  A registration link will be sent to our email list before our next meeting.

MASKING: Willamette Writers continues to require mask-wearing at our in-person, indoor meetings. If you are unable to mask, we invite you to join us at one of our online Chapter Meetings. Here is a link to our policies.