With the economy continuing in tatters, the Whidbey Island Writers Conference needs to place itself on a secure financial footing. With this in mind, we seek to raise the Conference’s entire $90,000 budget in advance, so that revenue from the 2011 Conference and each future Conference may be placed in reserve to fund the following year’s Whidbey Island Writers Conference. We have applied for grants and are eagerly awaiting the results of those as we enter the new year, we’re contacting previous donors, and we’ll be undertaking other fund-raising efforts as well. Check this space for further information about fund-raising.

The popular Whidbey Island Writers Conference, usually held in March, has taken on a new look for 2010: a monthly series of intensive full-day workshops. The workshops offer a panoply of subjects to help writers advance toward their goals. The fee for each workshop is $90/WIWA members and $110/nonmembers, however a $20 discount per workshop is offered to those who register and prepay for three or more workshops. To register, call 360-331-6714 or e-mail wiwa@whidbey.com

January 16: “Writing Your Way: Your Path to Publication” Published author and poet, Lori May helps writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry get past the blank page, set goals, find an audience and promote their work. 10 am – 4 pm, at the Coupeville Methodist Church. Click here for full details.

January 30: “Crafting Fiction that Sells in Today’s Marketplace” Literary agents, Andrea Hurst and Gordon Warnock teach, from a publishing professional’s point of view, how to polish and present a fiction manuscript that will stand out from the competition. 10 am-4pm. Windermere Realty in Freeland. Click here for full details.

March 6: “Putting the Heart Back in the Heart of Your Writing” Helen Sears, writer and teacher, uses the successful Amhurst Writers and Artists hands-on approach (developed by Pat Schneider) to finding deep truth in experience and writing about it. 10 am-4pm Location TBA

March 20 and 27, 1-4 pm: “Word for Writers” Computer guru Bobbi Sandberg will teach management skills and Word features that make the writers’ lives easier and their submissions and communications with professionals more polished. The class will take place over two Saturday afternoons to give students time to absorb material between classes. Specific site information given upon registration.

April 17: “Intergenerational Writing for Teens and Adults” co-sponsored by WIWA, the Coupeville Library and The Commons. Under the hands-on mentorship of Deb Lund, teacher and published author of children’s literature, the generations will find common ground and opportunities for meaningful communication through their writing experience. Time and Place: Island Coffeehouse, Langley, 10 am - 4 pm.

May 1: “Building the Blog” Blogging expert and author, Tom Masters, takes the potential blogger through all the steps necessary to design and launch a blog; useful for writers with publishing goals and non-writers as well. 10am-5pm Location TBA

June 5: “Chat House Saturday” Patterned after the popular Chat House feature of the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, participants will choose from a variety of day-long sessions on poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, children and young adult literature, and publishing. Held in private homes, the Chat House experience gives participants an opportunity to meet writing and publishing professionals “close up” and learn from them. 10am-4pm, private homes to be announced.