The Port Townsend Writers' Conference

The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference
July 12–19, 2009
Fort Worden State Park
Port Townsend, Washington

The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference has been since 1973 at the center of the thriving Pacific Northwest literary scene. With a focus on community and rigorous attention to craft, the Conference offers morning workshops, afternoon workshops, residencies, guided freewrites, and a vibrant readings and lectures series presented by vital, contemporary writers.

Led by Artistic Director Cristina García, the Conference is excited to welcome Chris Abani, Kim Barnes, Adrian Castro, Denise Chávez, Tony Cohan, Mark Doty, Peter Orner, Liliana Valenzuela, and Robert Wrigley as core faculty.

Quick Links:

• Conference Homepage
• Artistic Director Cristina García
• Conference Faculty & Class Descriptions
• Conference Schedule
  
• Afternoon Workshops
• Readings and Lectures Schedule
• Scholarship Info
• Register for the Conference

Each Conference participant picks one primary faculty member to spend the week with. Some faculty focus on creating new work, others focus on making existing work new. Mornings are spent in workshop sessions with faculty and fellow students (limited to 15/session). Each participant receives a private critique session with their faculty member during the conference.

Mornings
For those who register for a core morning workshop, you’ll spend the morning in intimate workshops with your core faculty member. These workshops are limited to fourteen participants and include one-on-one time with your faculty member. Early risers will also find optional freewrites that happen before the core morning workshops begin.

Afternoons
The Conference features afternoon workshop offerings in special topics. These workshops are taught both by the core morning faculty members and visiting writers and editors. They are available on a drop-in basis for free to those participants who are registered for morning workshops at at a special price for those who only want to take workshops in the afternoon. Following these workshops, a vibrant lectures series presents the core morning faculty members discussing their passions, their politics, and their process from origin to completed product.

Evenings
Each evening at 7:30, two faculty writers will give a reading at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater. These readings are free for all participants. Following the readings, a number of gatherings are scheduled. Open-mike readings provide a forum to share work informally. Space is provided if you wish to organize other social events or discussion sessions; a central bulletin board serves as a communication center for notice of such activities

Tuition
Tuition for the Conference is $595. Room and board options range from $175 to $495. Admission to afternoon workshops only is $50 per workshop or $275 for unlimited access to all afternoon workshops. The master class with Mark Doty features an additional $200 tuition fee.