Written by SONIA SIMONE Reprinted with permission from Copyblogger. If you’re a writer, you might have heard this most of your life: People don’t make a living writing. You should find something practical to do with your life. Smart, capable writers grimly pass around war stories on Facebook. Penny-a-word assignments, clients who don’t pay, disdain for our…
The Willamette Writers Conference
Open Mic Night at the Willamette Writers Conference
Open Mic night started at the Willamette Writers Conference in 2013, when I mentioned to the conference chair that I attended a really fun Open Mic Night at another writing conference. This launched us into a talk about how we could make one for Willamette Writers and how we could make it even better than…
What’s New at the Willamette Writers Conference
Welcome to our 2018 Conference! This year, our theme for The Best Three Days in Writing is “Celebrating Diverse Voices in Writing.” The whole team is really looking forward to what we’ve got in store for you all this August 3rd -5th. As you know, the conference has grown and changed much over its 49-year…
Experiences at The Willamette Writers Conference
“A writers conference can be an empowering and uplifting experience,” according to Scott Myers, a producer, writer, and assistant director. Myers presented at the Willamette Writers Conference this year, and said it was a “special experience.” He explains on his website about his conference experience that he met so many writers and old friends, and his classes were packed. His…
Writing Through the Tough Times by Julie Fast
All writers come to a point where it feels impossible to write another word. This happened to me with one month left before I had to turn in the manuscript for my first book. I felt overwhelmed with the idea of making the book perfect. All of it had to flow. It had to be…
New Opportunity at Conference: Author Headshots
For the first time ever, the 2017 Willamette Writers Conference will have a professional photographer at the conference to take author headshots. A limited number of slots will be offered Friday and Saturday afternoon, so book your slot before they are all taken. Why Do Author’s Need Headshots? Last year’s conference keynote speaker Jane Friedman…
Hone Your Craft: The 2017 Conference Offers Opportunity for Advanced & Beginning Writers
As we’ve mentioned before, our schedule of educational programming includes 9 tracks of themed content from across the spectrum of what writers need to know and want to celebrate. Our Genre offerings for this year take up two of those tracks: one for beginners and novices, the other for intermediate and professional writers. And the…
New Opportunity at the 2017 Willamette Writers Conference: on the Spot Critiques
This year, in addition to the opportunity to pitch your writing project to industry professionals, we’re trying something new. Introducing: On The Spot Critiques at the Willamette Writers Conference For $25 (the same price as a pitch session), you can sign up for 10 minutes of undivided attention from one of our presenting faculty. They’ll see…
Film/TV Offerings for the 2017 Willamette Writers Conference Include Top Screenwriting Instructors & Pitch Reps
The Film/TV offerings at this year’s 48th Annual Willamette Writers Conference represent an exciting mix of new faces and courses with conference favorites and opportunities to pitch scripts and books to Hollywood dealmakers. Interested in screenwriting? Want to bring your book to the screen? Here’s why you should join us on August 4-6. Top Screenwriting…
Are You Ready? The Sheraton Portland Airport Is Getting Ready for the Willamette Writers Conference
The 2017 Willamette Writers Conference is five months away and our beloved Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel is doing quite a bit of sprucing up. They have big plans for a complete makeover for 2017 and we wanted to give you a heads-up on what to look forward to this August, as we as share the room…