Meet your 2021 Conference Keynotes & Faculty!
Celebrated authors Heidi W. Durrow and Daniel José Older join us for this year's conference. They're eager to share their stories with you, so plan on connecting with your community, developing your craft, and expanding your writing career with us this summer. Get excited and be sure to mark your calendars for May 1st, when registration for the online conference opens up.
At Willamette Writers, we're all about our members:
A community of writers supporting and learning from each other. We strive to provide members with everything they need to thrive—community support, networking opportunities, continuing education, inspiration, publicity, and much more.
Here’s all you get for just $57 a year:
Willamette Writers Membership benefits:
Weekly Chapter Meetings: with talks and inspirational, educational presentations on the craft and business of writing from leaders in the writing world
Online Coffee Hours: socialize with other writers twice a week
The Write Place: weekly productivity meeting, an opportunity for mutual support and accountability towards achieving your writing goals
The Timberline Review literary journal: free submissions and discounted subscriptions or copies
WilWrite Conference: early registration and discount on our acclaimed yearly writers conference
Kay Snow Writing Awards: Discounted submissions to our writing contest
FilmLab Contest: discounted submissions to our filmmaking contest
Critique groups: We help connect members to critique groups for various genres.
Post your writing news free: on our website, in our weekly Dispatch email, in our quarterly Newsletter, and on our social media. We want to celebrate YOU!
Join today!
We’d love for you to be part of the community.
Your writing community:
Congrats, Willamette Writers!
#WilWriteWins
2020 Conference Feedback
Wow! What an amazing online conference!
We had the best time at the 51st annual Willamette writers conference. From our keynotes, to our workshops, to our networking and community events, it was a weekend we will never forget. And it was all online! Thank you to all of our volunteers, faculty, and industry professionals who made the weekend possible.
Catch up with us on Twitter: @Wilwrite
One of the best conferences in the world…
“This is truly one of the best conferences in the world. The fact that Willamette Writers pulled this off during Covid is remarkable.” —April Eberhardt, agent
Awesome, fun, inspiring…
…it was awesome, fun, inspiring and looking forward to seeing each and every one of you again. You are a wonderful group and this was a fantastic intro to the Willamette Writers. See you next time! —Cheers, Rosemary (writing as RD Fiori)
Resonant with the warmth of community…
Thank you! The conference was a great experience, resonant with the warmth of community. Terrific speakers, master classes, and workshops! WW did a fantastic job of creating safe, inviting virtual spaces. Looking forward to upcoming offerings and future volunteering. —Cheers, Greta
Classy, well run conference…
As always, thank you all for putting on a classy, well run conference with excellent speakers!! It has definitely been worth my time!! —Karen, Ashland, Oregon
Another knockout conference…
I just wanted to thank everybody at Willamette Writers for another knockout conference. I’ve been going for 20+ years, and it’s always interesting, entertaining, and enlightening. Thanks especially to the folks who had to deal with Zoom’s… everything. I caught a bit of behind-the-scenes Zoom wrangling Sunday morning, and I’m very glad it was you…
Beyond grateful…
Amidst the pandemic, bright spots can be few and far between. When we find those moments of connection and grace, we hold them close. I am beyond grateful to attend the 51st Willamette Writers Conference this weekend from my home in Austin. Three days with fellow writers, all of us sharing our stories and struggling…
Excellent job all around
Thank you for everything! I couldn’t believe it was the first time you’ve done it all virtually because everything was so smooth. Excellent job all around. Couldn’t have been better! Scott
Great, great conference…
Excellent conference! You guys are the best! …Thanks again for a wonderful job and a great, great conference. —Paul
member news
Member News: New Release — Fester, by Crawford Smith
Welcome to Fester, Pennsylvania. Population: weird. Chief Constable Billy Snyder keeps the town in line, enforcing the law with an iron fist while he runs his own lucrative scams on the side. He serves as guard dog for the elite Top Hats, descendants of Fester’s original settlers, who for centuries have been keeping a dark…
Member News: Author Talk with Nancy Lane
Nancy Lane, author of Pretty Chrysanthemum and Other Stories, will present her story collection via Zoom at the Jackson County Library. Join Nancy on Sunday, June 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Pacific Time, to learn how these stories, which remind readers how family is at the core of human experience, connect to the…
Member News: New Release — The Point of Vanishing
Maryka Biaggio’s third novel, The Point of Vanishing, was published by Milford House Press May 2021. When historical novelist Maryka Biaggio stumbled across the story of child prodigy writer Barbara Follett in 2011, she decided she had to write a novel about her — an account that would make sense of her enigmatic life. But…
Member News: Believe wins 2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award
Corvallis author Julie Mathison has won the 2021 Eric Hoffer Award for Best Middle Reader and First Horizon Award with Believe, published under her author imprint, Starr Creek Press. The Hoffer Award is one of the largest international awards recognizing salient writing and the spirit of small, independent and academic presses. Set in 1980, Believe…
Member News: New Release – The Choice of Men
The Choice of Men, a novel by WW member Samantha Waltz that explores the struggles of a gay Mormon man, is now available. Heber Averil has his first sexual experience on his mission to pre-World War II France —with a man! His demanding conscience compels him to follow the mandates of the church and deny…
Member News: New Release — Bad Mommy, Bad Writer
On June 8, Kim Cooper Findling releases her memoir about raising a writing career alongside the kids. Bend, Oregon – The pandemic made working from home while caring for small children all too real for many parents. Growing a career alongside the kids is at once impossibly difficult, positively hilarious, and just rewarding enough to…
Member News: Audiobook Release — Save Your Life with the Phenomenal Lemon
Save Your Life with the Phenomenal Lemon (& Lime!) is an information-packed book about the wonders of lemons and limes and how they can help balance your pH, by Blythe Ayne, Ph.D. Balanced pH is of critical importance in today’s health environment. Learn about the amazing attributes of these modest little fruits. Our lives are…
Member News: Author Event – Lucy’s Blooms
Dawn Prochovnic just completed her first virtual book launch event for her latest picture book, Lucy’s Blooms, a multigenerational story about a young girl who learns from her grandmother about the enduring nature of love, the strength in rejecting labels, and the wisdom in standing with those who are different. The event is now available…
Member News: New Release – Don’t Be Sad When I’m Gone
Beatriz Dujovne’s new book, Don’t Be Sad When I’m Gone: A Memoir of Loss and Healing in Buenos Aires, was recently released. About the Author: Dr. Dujovne was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and has lived most of her adult life in the American Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. She received a license in…
Member News: New Release — The Ryzhkov Vendetta
The Ryzhkov Vendetta, an espionage suspense thriller by Barry L. Becker. Alexander Leonidovich Ryzhkov, a Russian oligarch and former general in the Russian Military Directorate (GRU), runs a covert operation in the Middle East, supplying a Saudi terrorist with four Russian nuclear suitcase bombs and a list of two American cities to target. A CIA…
Join a Meeting or a Workshop Near You
All Writers Welcome!
Members & Full-Time Students Attend for Free!
The Write Place: An Online Meeting for Productivity
Online: Coffee at your Kitchen Table
Summer Open Mic Night
Online: Coffee at your Kitchen Table
Willamette Writers Annual Meeting (Members Only)
Willamette Writers Conference!
Writing Resources from Willamette Writers
Ten Tips for Writing an Effective Pitch
By Alyssa Schaffer and Joanna Szabo Pitching your manuscript can be one of the more intimidating aspects of the writing process, so we’ve collected a few essential tips to help you prepare your next pitch. Start with a hook. This…
What Agents Want – Tips from Meeting with Literary Agent Laura Bradford
At the April 4 Willamette Writers meeting, attendees got to hear from Laura Bradford, founder of Bradford Literary Agency, about what agents look for in writers. Here are some key takeaways from the presentation. Are You Someone Agents Want to…
Turn Bad Writing Days into Good Ones
The November 7th meeting of Willamette Writers brought William Kenower, teacher of the Fearless Writing Series, to the Old Church to share his perspectives for building up a strong writing life while keeping the topics that interest and engage us…
C. Lill Ahrens’ Tighty Writey Game
by C. Lill Ahrens The old saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees” can be a metaphor for wordy writing. Too many extra words obscure the view of your story. In contrast to “cutting,” (the deletion of an entire…
Author Marketing – Notes from WW Portland Meeting with Tex Thompson
The June 6th Willamette Writers meeting was a wonderful time to be in community with one of my very favorite presenters from last year’s conference, Tex Thompson. The presentation focused on how writers can promote and market themselves, a topic…
Why Characters Do What They Do – Notes from WW Portland Meeting with Jessica Morrell
This contributed piece brings notes from Willamette Writers Portland’s April 4th, 2017 Meeting with author and editor Jessica Morrell by member Amy Foster Myer. Enjoy! Having seen Jessica Morell present at the 2016 Willamette Writers Conference, I can tell you she…
WW News
Writing Advice from Zoraida Córdova
by Mari Hotchkiss An unusual career path. As a young child in Ecuador, Zoraida Córdova grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories that were filled with magic and wonder. At six years old, she immigrated to the United States with her mom and grandma, causing her to abandon her love of stories. “I stopped reading.…
Literary Agents at the 2020 Willamette Writers Conference Register now for our 2020 Conference, and meet these agents, along with other top notch industry professionals. You can register for a pitch or critique, and share your work with these pros. They are excited to hear from you. At the conference, you can join them in…
C.C. Humphreys, Best-Selling Author of Historical Fiction, Joins the Willamette Writers Conference
TV Development and Production with Grant Rosenberg
Willamette Writers Authors at the Portland Book Festival
We are proud to be supporting these Willamette Writers member authors at this year’s Portland Book Festival on November 9th! 9AM-9:30AM Dede Montgomery Sue Fagalde Lick Sharleen Nelson Tasche Laine 9:30AM-10AM Kerry Blaisdell Kay Jennings Phillip Kenney Deni Starr 10AM-11AM Paula Butterfield Charley Descoteaux Marilyn McDonald Holly Manno 11AM-12PM Mazarine Treyz Marilynne Eichinger Rick George Jo Sparkes 12PM-1PM Ruby Lee Cornelius Holly Manno Bob Ferguson Kim Hester 1PM-2PM Anne Hendren Jeff Stookey R. Gregory Noakes Heather Ames 2PM-3PM Dawn Prochovnic Julie Dawn…
FiLMLaBtv 2019 Writer’s Room The 2019 winning script is “Stripes,” written by Alexandra Keister. Keister, an executive assistant and screenwriter, has written two feature-length screenplays, both romantic comedies, and a handful of short screenplays that range from dark sci-fi to the classically uplifting my-dog-is-dead story. She graduated from Oregon State University in 2012 with a BA…
Willamette Writers Authors Sign Books at The Portland Book Festival
by Ari Mathae Willamette Writers, the Portland literary community, and book lovers near and far will meet again Saturday 10, 2018, for the largest celebration of books in the Pacific Northwest: The Portland Book Festival. The event starts at 9 A.M. at the Portland Art Museum and continues there and at other neighboring venues in the…
Member News: Mary Andonian & David Poulshock launch ISA Third Thursdays
Mary Andonian & David Poulshock launch ISA Third Thursdays Members Mary and David are launching the local chapter of the International Screenwriters Association(ISA). It’s a monthly mixer for screenwriters on Third Thursdays, where you can mingle with fellow screenwriters, meet film and television industry professionals, and win door prizes — including a free Willamette Writer’s…
Wilwrite20 — The Willamette Writers Conference
Writing Advice from Zoraida Córdova
by Mari Hotchkiss An unusual career path. As a young child in Ecuador, Zoraida Córdova grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories that were filled with magic and wonder. At six years old, she immigrated to the United States with her mom and grandma, causing her to abandon her love of stories. “I stopped reading.…
Literary Agents at the 2020 Willamette Writers Conference Register now for our 2020 Conference, and meet these agents, along with other top notch industry professionals. You can register for a pitch or critique, and share your work with these pros. They are excited to hear from you. At the conference, you can join them in…
2019 Willamette Writers Conference Pitch Professionals We are proud to announce the industry professionals accepting pitches this year at our 50th annual Willamette Writers Conference. You will find a list of all our current industry professionals here. We are welcoming a fantastic group of agents, editors, manager, and producers, and the list will continue to…
Julie Whipple Book Signing at Powells
Julie Whipple will be reading and signing copies of her new book, Crash Course Join Julie Whipple at Powell’s downtown flagship store on West Burnside on Monday, August 20 at 7:30 (http://www.powells.com/book/-9780692070406#product_details) and award-winning audiobook narrator Heather Henderson for a special performance of excerpts from the book. Long-time Portland residents vividly recall the crash of…
HOW TO WIN THE SUBMISSION WAITING GAME
We’re excited that Erick Mertz is a member of the faculty at the upcoming Willamette Writers Conference. Erick is a Portland-based ghostwriter and fiction/memoir manuscript consultant. Over the last five years as a full-time freelancer he has written manuscripts for a variety of clients. In a blog he posted this past December, he shares advice…
The 7 Things Writers Need to Make a Living by Sonia Simone
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…
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…