Mark Your Calendars for the Next Conference!

Photos courtesy Doris McCraw

 Editor's Note: This is the first of a series of posts about the upcoming conference in Redmond, OR. We will feature an article the first week of the month until the October 8-11 event.

by Shanna Hatfield

What is a conference?

The dictionary defines a conference as:

 • a meeting for consultation or discussion

• the act of conferring or consulting together

• an assembly to discuss a particular topic

A conference is so much more than that, though.

It’s an opportunity to meet new friends and connect with those already dear to our hearts.

It’s the privilege of listening to those with vast and varied experience share their thoughts and ideas.

It’s the unique moment when the combined excitement and energy of the attendees comes together to create a wonderful synergistic atmosphere that you’ll wish you could bottle up and bring home.

Once a year, Women Writing the West offers you the opportunity to be a part of this amazing exchange of ideas, information, networking, and friendship.

Plan now to immerse yourself in Distinctions of the West: Writers Explore the Northwest during the 21st annual conference of Women Writing the West Oct. 8-11, 2015, in the beautiful high desert country of Redmond, Oregon, at the Eagle Crest Resort.  

Attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops for fiction, nonfiction, celebrating poetry, research and story as well as meet with agents and editors, network, and be inspired to write. (Details coming soon.)

Experience the history, culture and spectacular landscapes of the area with a Friday morning tour to the High Desert Museum, A6 Print Shop and Gallery, and the Old Mill District, as well as an exciting excursion Sunday to one of the oldest working ranches in Oregon. 

Winners and finalists in the LAURA Short Story contest and the WILLA Literary awards will receive recognition.

 

Molly Gloss

Keynote speakers are Molly Gloss and Anna Keesey, both internationally known and awarded distinctive writers from Oregon, who write about women in the West.

A special screening of Heathens and Thieves will be shown Friday evening with co-director Megan Peterson present to provide historical background and take questions. The film earned six Best Feature awards at various independent film festivals across the country, and a Special Jury Award at its international premiere at Houston WorldFest. It has also garnered two Best Actress awards for lead actress, Gwendoline Yeo. Join us in seeing how an award-winning film makes a distinctive story statement.                      

One lucky winner will go home with a beautiful “Female Storm” blanket donated by the Pendleton Woolen Mills. The silent auction will have many distinctive items to help the WILLA fund and make this conference memorable.

If you haven’t yet, like the Women Writing the West 2015 Conference page on Facebook to get the latest conference news.

Registration forms will be available soon!

For questions about the conference, contact Jane Kirkpatrick or Shanna Hatfield.