George Eliot wrote, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

Writers! Welcome to the future. We have come through some dark times. Some of us have been out of work, out of money, out of energy, out of hope even. But the tides will always turn and they are turning now. Publishers are buying books. First time Oregon authors are breaking in now. Screenwriters are winning contests and making deals. The hardest times are fast becoming history, and we writers know what to do with the bad times as soon as they’re over. They become fuel for our work. Everything that happens to us can be transformed into our art. Now that spring is here for us, it is time to do your spring cleaning. Dust off those old ideas. Clean up those rough drafts. Shake out your spirit. Warm up your words. You can even throw out those rose colored glasses, friends, because the sky has a rosy glow all its own. Come to our writing family reunion, our yearly Willamette Writers Conference. Get ready for greatness. Bring your best and brightest projects, your joy, your hopes and dreams and let us gather together to make them come true.


Cynthia Whitcomb
President, Willamette Writers











FROM YOUR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Had enough of all the gloom and doom? Images of natural and man-made disasters? Economic and political fear-mongering? Simon Cowell? Yeah. Us, too. So, we figure it’s about time to look on the bright side. And here at this year’s conference, things are looking up;

- We’re optimistic you’ll like the growing slate of agents, editors and producers we’re bringing in this year to meet with you and discuss your work. Industry professionals who are getting deals done. To keep up with your bullish demand, there’ll be even more of them here in 2010.

- We’re energized by the idea of expanding the availability of group meetings, or “consults,” with these agents/editors/producers, to provide more opportunities for face time and to encourage more of you to “get your feet wet” in terms of pitching your ideas to industry professionals.

- We’re confident you’ll be enlightened by the esteemed faculty and the classes they’re teaching, whether it be related to improving our craft, or in navigating the business side of what we do. And fans of young adult fiction, rejoice; this year we’re adding a Q&A panel class dedicated to this hot area.

       As jazzed as we are, though, we’re still always looking for ways to improve our Conference- and one of the primary sources for ideas is you! Please take some time to complete the evaluation forms we make available for each class, and for the conference in general--we read them, and value your feedback.

      On behalf of the folks working hard to put this year’s Conference together, welcome!

-Your 2010 Conference Committee; Bill Johnson (Registration Chair), Diana Jordan (Program Chair), Donna and Robert Kienbaum (Volunteer Coordinators), Elisa Klein (Agents and Editors Coordinator), Gibran Perrone (Film Coordinator), Jenny Schrader (Events Coordinator), Corey Stixrud (Consults Chair), and Stefan Feuerherdt (Chair).


SPECIAL THANKS:

Brian Batson (Software Design), Jackie Blain (Pitch Practice), Jerry Isom (Accounting), Mary Margaret Maitland (Silent Auction), Herbert Piekow (Consults), Gigi Rosenburg (Actors Lab), Lizzy Shannon (Awards Banquet), and Salli Slaughter (Public Relations and Graphic Design). Thanks also to our Sheraton Hosts: Carol Killiam, Bruce Janzen, Chef Barry, brothers Ozzie and Dwayne and all the wonderful staff.

In-Kind Donations for Conference: Google (check our Website--this list will grow!).

The WW Board of Directors: Marilyn Ebbs, Leona Grieve, Joni Heyman, Randal Houle, Jerry Isom, JoJo Jenson, Dorothy Mack, Mary Margaret Maitland, Valerie Foster, Ann Buenzli, Lizzy Shannon, Salli Slaughter, Cynthia Whitcomb, Sylvia Bischoff, and Office Manager Bill Johnson.

The 2010 conference is held at the Portland Airport Sheraton Hotel, August 6-8th.

A panoramic shot of our 2009 conference pitch practice area; photo Frank DiMarco.