Willamette Writers Conference 2026 Online Track

The Willamette Writers Conference is where writers connect with their community, strengthen their craft, and take real steps toward a professional writing career.

Explore our online schedule below to see our robust lineup of hybrid, live-streamed, and fully online programming. From workshops and keynotes to critiques, pitch sessions, and evening events, we have a full weekend of activity waiting for you wherever you are. Log-in and join us online!

Schedule

• July 18th 10AM – 1PM & July 19th 3PM – 5PM Zoom: Master Class: Craft Your Query
  This five-hour master class will teach you how to craft a strong, effective query letter that captures attention and positions your book for success. Literary agent Sarah N. Fisk will guide you through… Read more: July 18th 10AM – 1PM & July 19th 3PM – 5PM Zoom: Master Class: Craft Your Query
• July 19th 1 – 3PM Zoom: Online Keynote Workshop: The Principles of Structure with Mary Robinette Kowal
  Log in for our online keynote workshop with award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal as she leads us through the Principles of Structure. Whether you’re outlining a new novel or revising a finished draft,… Read more: July 19th 1 – 3PM Zoom: Online Keynote Workshop: The Principles of Structure with Mary Robinette Kowal
• July 19th 7 – 9PM Zoom: Pitch for the Prize
  Come pitch your work to a panel of industry professionals. You can step up to the Zoom spotlight for three minutes to share your work and receive feedback from the panel, or you… Read more: July 19th 7 – 9PM Zoom: Pitch for the Prize
• July 29th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches
  Registered for a pitch? Join us online to meet with your industry professional. Login before your meeting starts and we will get you settled in to a private Zoom room for your conversation… Read more: July 29th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches
• July 30th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches and Critiques
  Registered for a pitch or critique? Join us online to meet with your industry professional. Login before your meeting starts and we will get you settled in to a private Zoom room for… Read more: July 30th 9AM – 5PM Zoom: Pitches and Critiques
• July 30th 7 – 9PM Zoom: Writer’s Block Party
  The night is young and yours to enjoy! Come join us at the Willamette Writers Mansion for an evening of connecting and networking with your fellow writers. Share a toast at the bar,… Read more: July 30th 7 – 9PM Zoom: Writer’s Block Party
• 9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and Welcome
  Let the 56th Annual Willamette Writers Conference begin! Opening poet Christopher Diaz will take the mic to draw us into a weekend of writing, creating, and learning together. Bring your notebook and find… Read more: 9 – 10AM Friday Belmont A/B: Opening Poem and Welcome
• 9 -10AM Friday Zoom: Quiet Writing
  Anytime you need to step back from the virtual conference and get some words written – we’ve got you covered! Our quiet writing zoom room is open for you during workshop hours.
• 10 – 10:30AM Friday All: Break
  There’s so much we’re excited for you to see and do this weekend, but don’t forget to pace yourself. Take a break with a few new friends before you dive deeper into the… Read more: 10 – 10:30AM Friday All: Break
• 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… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Friday Zoom: Traditional Publishing vs. Independent Publishing
• 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.
• 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… Read more: 12:30 – 2:30PM Friday Zoom: First Page Critique Sponsored by Scrivener
• 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.
• 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your First Conference
  Is this your first time joining us or your first online writing conference? We’re here to answer any questions you may have and help you make the most out of your first conference.… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your First Conference
• 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your Brand
  What does your author brand look like? Designer Maite Dalila will help you find out. In this interactive workshop, you’ll take a deep dive into branding and walk away with the exact colors,… Read more: 3 – 4:30PM Friday Zoom: Your Brand
• 4:30 – 5PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
  School taught us that the best time to make a new friend is in the hallway between classes. There’s no rush to get to the workshop, so why not start a conversation with… Read more: 4:30 – 5PM Friday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
• 6 – 7PM Friday Zoom: Writer’s Fair Roundtables
  It’s time for the 2026 Writer’s Fair! Our annual fair is free and open to the public, and this year, it is also online! Join us to learn about amazing programs and resources… Read more: 6 – 7PM Friday Zoom: Writer’s Fair Roundtables
• 7 – 9PM Friday Windsor C & Zoom: Timberline Review
  It’s time for the Launch of the 15th Annual Timberline Review Literary Journal. Join us online or in-person at the Conference to hear from poets, essayists, authors, memoirists, and that’s just scratching the… Read more: 7 – 9PM Friday Windsor C & Zoom: Timberline Review
• 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… Read more: 7 – 8AM Saturday Windsor A: Yoga
• 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
  Happy Saturday! Pack up your bag and get ready for a full day of workshops. On your way, grab a pen from registration or a journal from the book table. You have a… Read more: 8:45 – 9AM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break
• 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont B: Publishing Industry Q&A
  Have questions about publishing, querying, or building your writing career? Join literary agent T.S. Ferguson and editor Lara C. Jones for a Q&A focused on you and your goals as a writer. Bring… Read more: 9 – 10AM Saturday Belmont B: Publishing Industry Q&A
• 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… 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… 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 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… Read more: 10:30 – 11:30AM Saturday Belmont B: Mining Darkness for Light: The Art of Humorous Memoir
• 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… 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.… 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… 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… Read more: 12:30 – 1:45PM Saturday Belmont A/B & Zoom One: Saturday Keynote
• 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… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Belmont B: All Play, No Pressure: A Generative Poetry-Writing Workshop
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 1: The Pocket Guide to Pantsing: How to write a novel without an outline, with confidence
  Pantsers: want to ditch outlining forever but don’t know how? Writing a novel without one is like solving a puzzle blind—daunting, but not impossible, and mastering it means writing stories you never dreamed… Read more: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 1: The Pocket Guide to Pantsing: How to write a novel without an outline, with confidence
• 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 2: 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: 2 – 3:30PM Saturday Zoom 2: Dirtying Up Your Character: Finding their Flaws
• 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 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… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Belmont B: How to be a Happy and Successful Writer
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 1: How a Literary Agent Supports Your Writing Career
  Join a panel of literary agents as they discuss the many ways agents support authors throughout their publishing journey. From preparing a manuscript for submission and identifying market opportunities to negotiating contracts and… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 1: How a Literary Agent Supports Your Writing Career
• 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 2: Social Media(tion for those who just don’t know where to start with social media marketing)
  If you want to maximize your readership reach, social media is a necessary evil. In this workshop, we’ll explore each of today’s leading platforms, their respective audiences, as well as their technical strengths… Read more: 4 – 5PM Saturday Zoom 2: Social Media(tion for those who just don’t know where to start with social media marketing)
• 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… Read more: 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open Mic
• 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
• 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 and marketing pros share their firsthand experiences, revealing the strategies that actually got their work noticed. Bring your questions!… Read more: 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont B: Beyond the Book: Marketing that Moves Copies
• 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 1: 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 B: First Impressions
  Want to make readers eager to turn the page? Join literary agent T.S. Ferguson as he explores what makes a compelling first sentence, first paragraph, and first page. You will learn what captures… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont B: First Impressions
• 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 2: Genre Mash-ups: How to make them work for you
  Great fiction has a long history of blending elements from different genres — horror, science fiction, fantasy, historical, westerns, romance, poetry, and more — to create lasting, powerful work. This generative workshop will… Read more: 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 2: Genre Mash-ups: How to make them work for you
• 11:30AM – 1PM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Brunch Keynote and Goodbye
  Join us for a special brunch conversation with New York Times Bestselling Author, Rosanne Parry, and Top Literary Agent Fiona Kenshole. They’ll discuss Rosanne’s road to New York Times Bestseller, with over 40… Read more: 11:30AM – 1PM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Brunch Keynote and Goodbye