2022 Willamette Writers Conference

The largest writers organization in the Pacific Northwest hosts its annual conference… and this year, the site shifts to downtown Portland!

The Willamette Writers Conference is one of my favorite events. I was invited as a presenter the first time in 2017 and have participated annually ever since, either in-person or — due to COVID — online. This year, I am back in Portland and I couldn’t be more excited. Here is Kate Ristau, the WWC executive director, with a nifty video to guide folks through the online interface.

My schedule:

Friday, August 5, 2022 — The Protagonist’s Journey Master Class (9:00AM–3:00PM)

The best writing is character-driven writing. In this daylong intensive master class with Scott Meyers, you will go deep into the Protagonist’s Journey, exploring character-driven screenwriting and storytelling. With interactive presentations, in-depth discussions and writing exercises, you will discover that the Protagonist’s Journey is not only a narrative imperative, it’s also a commercial necessity.

Space in this Master Class is limited to 15 writers. Registration required.

Saturday, August 6, 2022 — How to Write a Marketable Screenplay
5:00PM-6:00PM

Concept. Character. Voice. Three keys to writing a screenplay which will get Hollywood’s attention. Learn a professional approach to writing a marketable screenplay from Scott Myers, screenwriter (K-9, Alaska, Trojan War), professor (DePaul University), and author (The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling).

The Conference features nearly fifty professional writers speaking on a wide variety of topics. Plus, it’s an opportunity to bond with other writers and have a chance to enjoy the social delights of downtown Portland, Oregon.

For more information about this year’s Willamette Writers Conference, go here. I hope to see you there!