WWW Conference 2014: 20th Anniversary

And a beautiful welcome it was, as more than 100 of us converged for our 20th Anniversary celebration conference. As always, for me, the highlight is seeing friends I've known since I joined in the early 2000s, and meeting new friends. WWW is such a supportive group.

One of the features of this year's conference was the beautiful quilt, put together by Sherry Johns, with squares made by members of WWW. It was featured at the Golden Quilt Museum and we all bought raffle tickets for a chance to win. The lucky lady was Vicki Rondeau, who immediately gifted it back to Sherry! Options are being explored as to what to do with the quilt in the future.

Another treat for us was the screening of the film "Cherokee Word for Water," based on the true story of Wilma Mankiller, who was instrumental in helping a Cherokee community call on traditional Native values of reciprocity and interdependence to rebuild their community. Set in the early 1980s, the screenplay was inspired by the Bell Waterline Project in Oklahoma, which was the subject of national media coverage.

And, of course, a big part of the WWW conference is recognizing the WILLA Literary Award Finalists at a special luncheon and the Winners at the final banquet. (We will have more about these fabulous authors in a later blog). Congratulations to all!

Now, mark your calendars for October 8-12, 2015 for our next conference in Bend, OR. Jane Kirkpatrick and Shanna Hatfield have already been hard at work planning! I'm looking forward to seeing you all again!

Eight Reasons to Come Home to Colorado

 by Carmen Peone

Why come home to Colorado? There are eight reasons why, but first let’s get acquainted with the what behind the why. Women Writing The West is a Non-profit organization for writers at all levels founded twenty years ago in Denver by two talented and driven writers who had a vision that included the Women’s West. West of the Mississippi that is. They gathered a flock of writers with dreams and inspiration who did not fear hard work and birthed this wondrous organization.

This year, the annual conference will be hosted forty-five miles from Denver in the town of Golden which is nestled against the majestic Rocky Mountains. The conference is October 16-19, 2014 with pre-conference sessions at The Table Mountain Inn and regular conference sessions held at The Golden Hotel.

So again, why come home to Colorado? Here are eight reasons to attend the 2014 WWW conference:

1.      This year there is a pre-conference on Thursday October 16^th with three sessions to choose from: So You Want to Write and publish; Submit-in-Advance Critique; and On-the-Spot Critique feedback. Editors, writers, and teachers will be available to teach and coach works in progress. 

2.    Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, will be filled with more than twenty breakout sessions to kindle and spark all things writing. Sessions touch on: place and character, fiction craft, collaboration through writing communities, social media, marketing swap and shop, women’s fiction, ePublishing, research, personal experience, and self-publishing.   

3.      Editors and Agents. Here is an opportunity to pitch a complete fiction manuscript or non-fiction proposal face to face with a warm body. You may be trembling at the thought of climbing in the wagon with a live human and sharing your work. But trust me, this is where most authors put flint to rock and spark a connection. 

4.      Founders luncheon honoring the original founding members of Women Writing the West.  This will be an opportunity to meet and thank those who breathed life into this remarkable organization. 

5.      Special Screening of the feature film Cherokee Word for Water based on a book written by the late Wilma Mankiller, the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation. 

6.      LAURA Awards Dinner and WILLA Awards Banquet to honor contest winners. Keynote speakers include Sandra Dallas, founding member, and Susan Witting Albert, author of A Wilder Rose. 

7.      Sunday will conclude the conference with High Tea at the Briarwood Inn in Golden where historical dress is encouraged.

8.      Book signing event featuring Women Writing the West published authors and the WILLA Award winners and finalists.

I have been in WWW for almost two years and have already gleaned mounds of inspiration, advice, and connections. I will be in Golden and hope to meet you there for the 20^th Anniversary Coming Home WWW conference—an event you won’t want to miss. See you there!

Sign up for the conference now!

Coming Home to Women Writing the West's 20th Anniversary Conference

Join Women Writing the West as we celebrate 20 Legendary Years in Golden, Colorado at The Table Mountain Inn and The Golden Hotel for four days of jam packed presentations from authors, editors, agents, publishers, and bookstore owners. Our theme? "Coming Home" to where it all began 20 years ago.

It all begins on Thursday, October 16, 2014 with three incredible pre-conference sessions and ends on Sunday, October 19^th with High Tea at The Briarwood Inn. There will be a choice of four break-out workshops per session, and the conference will also feature a WILLA Reception, the WWW Quilt, the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum tour, and the film Cherokee Word for Water at the Colorado Mountaineering Center.

Start making your plans and come join us! You can stay informed by checking in with Women Writingthe West Facebook and Women Writing the West 2014 Conference page for ongoing updates.