October 26-28, 2012
Westin Hotel, Bellevue, WA
Sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America
Emerald City Lights the Way!
Come join us for 3 days of fun, learning, and networking! The Emerald City Writers’ Conference is a weekend for writers of Romance and other genre fiction that will educate, inspire, and connect you in ways that can propel your writing career to the next level.
Forty Two Percent
Why should that number matter to you? Because if you’re wondering if the time and expense of going to a writing conference is worth it, consider this: ECWC is sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chapter of the RWA. An astonishing forty two percent of last year’s GSRWA members were published authors.
That statistic is no accident, neither is the fact that ECWC is the largest regional romance writing conference in the West… and it has been for twenty three years.
Educate, Inspire, Connect
Through all of the many different opportunities ECWC provides, writers of all genres can improve their tool kit of knowledge, get re-energized and affirmed in their writing, and meet with industry professionals directly involved in acquisition and publishing.
So, if you’re serious about moving your writing ahead, this weekend is for you.
Keynote Speakers:
Friday: Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs has been published by Avon, Tor, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Warner and Mira Books. Her novel The Charm School was voted one of RWA's Favorite Books of the Year. She is the proud recipient of three RITA awards for Lakeside Cottage, Lord of the Night and The Mistress, and is often a finalist for the prestigious award.
Saturday: Michael Hauge
Michael Hauge is a story consultant, author and lecturer who works with screenwriters, novelists, filmmakers and executives. Michael is the best selling author of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, as well as the new 20th Anniversary Edition of his classic book Writing Screenplays That Sell.
Sunday: Victoria Alexander
New York Times bestselling Historical Romance author Victoria Alexander has written twenty-four full length novels and six novellas. She has nominated twice for the prestigious RITA award, was given a Career Achievement Award in 2009 from RT Bookclub, and was named Historical Storyteller of the year in 2003.
Click here for more information on our Keynote Speakers
Editors and Agents:
Editors
- Amanda Bergeron – Avon
- Carrie Jackson – Ellora’s Cave
- Kelli Martin – Montlake/Amazon
- Liz Pelletier -- Entangled
- Melissa Ann Singer -- TOR
Agents
- Alexandra Machinist - Janklow & Nesbit Associates
- Nicole Resciniti – The Seymour Agency
- Holly Root - Waxman Agency
Four Tracks of Conference Workshops:
Regardless of your level, the Emerald City Writers Conference has workshops that will enhance your skill and inspire your creativity! Workshop presenters include Jane Porter, Susan Andersen, Cherry Adair, Stella Cameron, Smashwords CEO Mark Coker, and more.
Workshops will be spaced throughout the weekend to allow you to attend as many as possible. Four separate tracks are offered, representing all aspects of the writer’s craft:
- Writer’s Life: A writer’s life challenges and business issues. Examples include wellness, time management, organization, career planning, marketing and submissions
- Writing Craft: All aspects of fiction writing craft. Examples include plot, structure, setting, character, them, voice, editing and critiques
- Industry: Information about the publishing industry. Examples include market news, the roles of publishing professionals, social media, and branding
- Genre: Topics of interest to writers in various or specific genres. Examples include world-building, historical research methods and resources, military and law enforcement practices and cultures, mythology, and genre norms as well as genre clichés
Friday Add-on: “Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist”
A Half-Day Master Class taught by Margie Lawson. ($50 for conference attendees)
Margie Lawson is an acclaimed teacher, writer, and psychologist dedicated to helping writers succeed. Through her online Writer’s Academy she offers classes in a wide variety of writing topics. In addition, she teaches personal wellness classes tailored especially for writers. Visit www.margielawson.com to learn more about Margie and her Writer’s Academy.
Other Benefits of attending ECWC:
- Networking Opportunities - chat with authors, agents and editors
- Pitchfest – to make your time with editors & agents “pitch perfect”
- Saturday afternoon Book Fair – meet your favorite authors! Nearly 100 authors will have books available for purchase and signing
- Have tea with Cherry Adair, noted author and mentor extraordinaire, and sign up for “Cherry’s Challenge” – also known as “Finish the Damn Book!”
- Goodie Bags, Raffle baskets, & Door Prizes. Plus, lots of fun games and contests will be going on all during the conference
- Dinner Divas networking opportunity, and a lounge where you can rest between workshops and chat with other writers
- Saturday night - Glow Ball and “Emerald City Light Show.” A fun, fabulous evening of “illuminating” events, including a dance and a Costume Contest and Costume Walk. Guests are welcome, so bring a friend or two. Watch our Facebook page and Twitter for more details!
- Awards ceremony for the winners of the Emerald City Opener contest and recognition of “Cherry’s Challenge” finalists
New this year: Introducing our “Gems” Mentoring Program
Is this your first time at the Emerald City Writers Conference? Above all we want you to feel welcome and we have volunteers ready and waiting to do just that!
At your request, you will be placed into our Gem program. On registration you will receive an email from ECWCGems@gmail.com.
As a Gem, your road to the Emerald City will be as smooth as your time at the conference. Once you arrive at the conference there will be a short Orientation tour of where everything will happen. Any last minute questions will be answered at the first conference dinner on Friday night where you will be invited to sit at a table reserved for you and the other first timers.
We want everyone to have the best conference experience possible and the Gems are here to help make that happen from the very first click!
Want more information? Just e-mail ECWCGems@gmail.com, follow along with on the Gem’s Loop or check the conference website.
Other Ways to enhance your conference:
- Want to be part of this year’s Bookfair? Contact Alicia Aho at ecwcbookfair@gmail.com to find out how.
- If you have books or other promotional materials you would like readers to see, consider donating to our wonderful raffle, door prizes, or goodie bags. Email ecwcrafflebaskets@gmail.com to arrange for donating and pick-up.
- Interested in helping out? Volunteering is a great way to get involved and meet other writers. Contact Ellen Vance at ecwcvolunteers@gmail.com for more information.
Registration:
Early Bird Registration: speed pitching assignments and the Query Clinic are scheduled based on your registration order, so sign up early!
$239—Early Bird GSRWA (June 1 – August 15)
$259—Early Bird NON GSRWA (June 1 – August 15)
$269—GSRWA
$289—NON GSRWA
Optional Master Class with Margie Lawson: $50 for conference attendees
Accommodations:
The Westin Hotel, Bellevue is a five star hotel located across the street from Bellevue Square Shopping Center at 600 Bellevue Place NE. Fifteen minutes from Seattle and half an hour from SeaTac airport, the Westin Bellevue is between city, sound and mountains and close enough to shopping, restaurants, or theatres to cater to all of your free time fancies.
ECWC’s room rate for this year’s conference is $119/night per person (double occupancy). Parking is $15 per day.
Call early to reserve your room and mention Emerald City Writers’ Conference to get the group rate! Call (425) 638-1000 or go to www.westin.com/Bellevue.
Registration opens June 1, 2012
Don’t delay – space is limited and last year sold out early!
