Welcome to WIWA

The Whidbey Island Writers Association supports writers and promotes the literary arts. Our annual conference and year-round networking and educational opportunities -- including the country's first master of fine arts program offered by an association of writers -- bring world-class programs and hundreds of visiting writers to this northwest island community.

We invite you to join with us as we create a cultural environment for writers that provides the best possible combination of literary resources and inspiring surroundings. As with any trip to Whidbey itself, there's lots to see on our site. Browse around and discover what WIWA has in store for members and friends.

WIWA Hires Conference Director -- Administrative Program Director Pam Owen announced that Sandy Webb was named Conference Director for 2009. Sandy has a background in film, both in front of the camera, as a stunt woman, and behind the scenes writing and editing scripts. Her enthusiasm and understanding of team building were well received at the Conference Team meeting in June. Pam served as Conference Director for 2008 while overseeing the WIWA organization. WIWA is indebted to Pam for the incredible job she did for the Conference, the master of fine arts program, and Programs and Resources while also providing support and guidance to WIWA's board of directors. Pam is leaving WIWA for other challenges but first plans to train Sandy. The two make a dynamic team and have some wonderful presenters and programs lined up for the 2009 conference.

Impressive Conference Line-Up -- The Conference Team is developing a top-notch slate of presenters for the 2009 WritersConference scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 1. Here's a preview of what is shaping up for an impressive line-up: Floyd Skloot -- author of 15 books of nonfiction, poetry and fiction, including In the Shadow of Memory, a memoir of his life made whole through love and courage following a viral attack of his brain. Dana Stabenow -- prolific crime/thriller author of the Kate Shugak series (16 and two more on the way), the Liam Campbell series and the sci-fi, Star Svensdotter series. Eric Maisel -- creativity coach and author of more than 30 books including Coaching the Artist Within, The Van Gogh Blues, The Creativity Book and Ten Zen Seconds. Visit the list of confirmed presenters and watch for frequent updates. The overall program for classes and chat houses is still developing, but you can sign up for the conference now.

Writers Association Hosts Booth at Bayview Farmers' Market -- Every Saturday during July, the Whidbey Island Writers Association will host a booth from 10 to 2 p.m. at the Bayview Farmers' Market. Members interested in selling their books can show up at the market with their books or sign up in advance by contacting Donna Hood. Authors unable to sell their books in person may arrange to sell up to five copies by delivering them to Donna Hood. All book sales are subject to a ten percent charge by Bayview Farmers' Market. Volunteers are needed to promote membership in the Writers' Association and to help with sales. Whether you're an author or just want to help, contact Donna Hood to get started.

Conference Team Seeks a Few Good Members -- Now in its second decade, the Whidbey Island Writers Association is looking for a few new members to join the Writers Conference Team.This fun group of talented folks needs your help to plan and carry out the 11th annual writers' conference. If you have skills in public relations, marketing, graphics, InDesign, events planning, organizational planning or scheduling, and you enjoy writers or getting involved with your community, contact Micky Coleman about your interest in joining the Conference Team. Monthly team meetings are usually  held the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland with additional small group meetings as needed.  Photo by Candace Allen

Attention All WIWA Members or Fans of WIWA --  If you or someone you  know wants to serve and play an active role in the growth of the Whidbey Island Writers Association, we want  to hear from you! This is a call for WIWA Board members.  You don't have  to be a writer, just have a desire to support writers and the Association.  We're looking for a wide variety of talents and backgrounds.  Let us know how you feel you could serve.  If you wish to be considered as a WIWA  Board member please contact Susan Wilmoth.

Wanted: Part-time Student Services Coordinator/Office Manager -- The Northwest Institute of Literary Arts (NILA), a program of WIWA, seeks a self-motivated administrative manager who enjoys being involved with a unique graduate degree program leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree.  The position also requires a variety of clerical and bookkeeping tasks as assigned.  This contract position calls for 10 hours per week and pays $15 per hour. To review the job description, click here.

Soundings Review Call for Submissions -- The inaugural issue of the Whidbey Island Writers Association literary magazine, Soundings Review, welcomes submissions of fiction, poetry and prose (including essays and interviews). Accessible, strong narratives are of special interest. For consideration, manuscripts must be received in the WIWA office no later than July 1. Complete details are available by visiting the Writers Guidelines. Soundings Review also sponsors three contests: the Founders Circle, open to all genres; the First Publication Contest, open to writers never published in a nationally advertised or distributed publication; and the Readers Choice Award, selected from the regular submissions. The deadline for contest entries is June 15. For details, visit Contest Guidelines. Photo by Candace Allen

Whidbey Island Writers Association Announces Winners of the Students Celebrate Writing Contest -- Awards were made in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for the annual 2008 WIWA-sponsored Students Celebrate Writing Contest. For a complete list of winners in the the high school and sixth through eighth-grade categories, click here. Winning submissions are on display in a binder at each Sno-Isle Library. WIWA wishes to thank all the students who participated, their parents, their teachers, and the Sno-Isle librarians. If you would like to volunteer to help with next year’s contest, please contact the WIWA office at 331-6714. 

Photo by Candace Allen

Members Welcome at WIWA Board Meetings -- WIWA Board meetings are usually held the second Wednesday of every month. The address and directions are available by phoning the office at 360-331-6714 or by e-mailing wiwa@whidbey.com.

Writers Café Open House Features Hedgebrook in July -- The Whidbey Island Writers Association invites members and potential members to  a monthly open house the first Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rockhopper in Clinton. Take this opportunity to meet with other writers and to make new friends.The professional development program begins at 6 p.m. On July 1, come hear Gitana Garofalo, Director of Alumnae Relations & Communications for Hedgebrook.Now in its twentieth year, Hedgebrook hosts women writers from all over the world for residencies of two weeks to two months, at no cost to the writer. The women who come to Hedgebrook are writing in all genres, and are of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and levels of writing experience. Garofalo, an alumna herself, will share the history of Hedgebrook as she discusses the impact of a Hedgebrook residency on the more than 1,000 women who have attended Hedgebrook since its opening in 1988. If you missed the June meeting, check out Reverend Maria Dancing Heart Hoaglund's presentation on the live cam at the Rockhopper. If you're interested in making a presentation of general interest to writers or want to sell your books at the Open House, contact Donna Hood about Tell and Sell, a mini book fair that is a standard part of the monthly meeting. Writers are encouraged to drop in every Tuesday evening to participate in  an open mic or to share or critique their writings. The RockHopper also has a private conference room where writers' critique groups can meet on other nights. Plan to eat at the Rockhopper: great soups, sandwiches and really stuffed baked potatoes.   Photo: Reverend Maria Dancing Heart Hoaglund at Writers Café Open House

Join a Writers' Group -- If you're interested in joining a writers' group, check out some of the groups available through WIWA,. If you can't find one in your genre or a group that meets at a convenient time, consider creating your own writers' group, online or in person, with a little assistance from WIWA. Click here to learn more.

See Photos from the Writers Conference and Revisit the Magic -- Now that the tenth annual Whidbey Island Writers Conference is over, it's time to take all you learned and apply it to your writing life. For inspiration, visit the Conference Photo Gallery and re-experience the event. Five albums are available for your enjoyment. Page through them for a reminder of the friends and contacts you made, and as a prompt to practice what you learned. You can even leave your comments by sliding down to the comments section at the bottom of any page. Share your thoughts about the pictures, the conference and your writing life. Express yourself; keep on writing.

Photo by Candace Allen

Toad Hops from Journal to T-Shirt for MFA Scholarship Fund --The first graduating class of the Whidbey Writers Workshop, recently produced its third t-shirt to help raise funds for the student scholarship fund. This year's commemorative t-shirt features an elaborate illustration of a toad from the journal of writer and artist Susan Zwinger. Shirts are available in long or short-sleeve styles and include sizes medium (limited supply, long sleeve only), large, XL and 2XL. The cost is $12 for short sleeves and $20 for long sleeves. If you are unable to pick up your order, include an additional $3.50 per shirt to cover mailing expenses. Students paid the production costs of the shirts. All proceeds from sales go to the scholarship endowment fund. For more information, contact WIWA at 360- 331-6714 or e-mail wiwa@whidbey.com.

Header Photo by Bob Richardson