Category Archives: Guest Speakers

Carolyn Martin Workshop July 2021

Carolyn Martin’s Workshop: “It Happens This Way”:

Before diving into the actively creative part of the workshop, Carolyn reminded us that fallow time—a time to rest, reflect, read, collect—is also valuable for the poetic brain. Like seeds in fallow soil, more bountiful production will emerge. Resting prepares for creativity.

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Mystery Writing Workshop with Cindy Brown May 21st2021



Cindy Brown is the author of some wonderfully titles mysteries, MacdeathThe Sound of MurderOliver TwistedIvy Get Your GunThe Phantom of OzKillalot, … She’s been writing professionally for 20 years, starting with playwriting (hence her interest in the relationship between plot and dramatic structure), then screenwriting, and then… She fell in love with mysteries as a child – loved Nancy Drew, was introduced to John D MacDonald, and finally started reading Sue Grafton and decided she wanted to write like her, especially as her books are set on the West Coast! So… here’s how she led us in understanding more about genre, character and plot.

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The Story of a Bilingual Picture Book in a Time of Covid, from Jim Mockford’s talk, 02/21/21

Sheila met Jim Mockford at a Willamette Writers’ virtual coffee morning, and was fascinated by all the ways he was planning to advertise his book, so she and Jean invited him to speak to us and were delighted when he accepted. We were even more delighted when he joined our group as a new member a few months back!

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