Writers Converge for Successful 28th Write on the Sound Conference

Brilliant sun and picturesque views of Puget Sound greeted over 270 participants at the 28th annual Write on the Sound conference (WOTS) this past weekend.  This nationally known literary event is presented by the City of Edmonds Arts Commission. Its growing success is a product of collaboration which includes a dedicated group of volunteers, supportive community sponsors, Edmonds Community College, and City staff Sarah Cocker, Conference Organizer, and Arts & Culture Manager Frances Chapin. 

Congratulations go to the WOTS Steering Committee, chaired by Arts Commissioner Joanne Otness, including Erin Arguelles, Paula Ray Brody, Cindy Bruce, Florine Gingerich, Dave Gross, Mindy Halleck, Rubie Johnson, Scott Phillips, Elise Stephens, Sandra Walker, Judith Works, and Kim Votry.  The dedication of the Steering Committee is integral to the success of the conference, as is the support of community sponsors.  An onsite weekend bookstore was provided by the Edmonds Bookshop; the Edmonds Theater hosted the keynote address; Greg Hoff of Windermere Real Estate – Edmonds sponsored the public reception on Saturday; Patricia Thorpe and Heather Krauss of RBC Wealth Management sponsored the writing contest awards; Best Western Harbor Inn; and Walnut Street Café provided the much appreciated coffee service.  Other community sponsors who assisted with hospitality include IGA Grocery, PCC, and Top Foods.  Edmonds Community College hosted the pre-conference critique group workshops on Friday at the Edmonds Conference Center.

Presenters for the conference came from around the United States, Midwest to California. Keynote speaker and author of the thriller Red Moon, Benjamin Percy, is from Minnesota, and Edmonds’ own Rick Steves taught the popular session on travel writing.  Five in-depth pre-conference sessions, 31 unique workshops, manuscript critiques, lunch-time discussions and readings, and a writing contest were all part of the mix. 

Congratulations to all contest winners.  Fiction winners were Stephanie O’Loughlin, first, and Maureen Rogers, second.  Non-fiction winners were Jean McDonald Pinski, first, and Robert Toohey, second.  Robert Toohey placed first in Poetry, and Monda Van Hollebeke received the second place award. Read the winning entries at www.writeonthesound.com

Focused on the craft of writing, the retreat like setting for Write on the Sound attracted participants from 13 states outside Washington plus Canada and Australia.  Proceeds from the conference help support Edmonds Arts Commission programs in literary, performing and visual arts. The conference sells out early. To be on the email list for 2014 please contactsarah.cocker@edmondswa.gov