Willamette Writers Fall Programming Begins!

I hope you’ve been enjoying the end of August. We had such a great time at the Willamette Writers Conference (have you seen some of the pictures?) and are now getting ready for a new year of programming.

Keep checking in on that events calendar. Right now, you’ll see a workshop coming up with Eric Witchey, Coffee at Your Kitchen Table, Graphic Novels for our young writers, plus our Write Place Productivity Meeting.

And, of course, there is a brand new feature up in the menu bar – our HILLSBORO CHAPTER!

Continue reading... “Willamette Writers Fall Programming Begins!”

Launch Your Screenwriting Career At The 2021 Willamette Writers Online Conference

Willamette Writers 2021 Conference Logo

July 29-August 1, 2021. Now in its 52nd year, the Willamette Writers Annual Conference returns online this summer, helping writers connect with their community, develop their craft, and expand their careers!

Take workshops and Q&A sessions in the craft and business of writing for TV and film with established industry writers, Joel Anderson Thompson and Grant Rosenberg. Pitch your TV show ideas to literary managers, Brent Paxton from Kreativ Artists, and Angelina Chen from Energy Entertainment. We are also offering Advanced Manuscript Critiques, where Brent will review the first 15 pages of your script and provide extensive feedback to you at the conference. Continue reading... “Launch Your Screenwriting Career At The 2021 Willamette Writers Online Conference”

Oregon Production Careers Were Well Represented At The 17th NW Youth Careers Expo

The virtual Oregon Film booth at the NW Youth Careers Expo.

The 17th annual  NW Youth Careers Expo took place last week and was virtual for the first time ever. Over two days thousands of high school students, educators, and professionals came together in two virtual Exhibit Halls, to talk about future careers.  Attendee students logged more than 11,000 unique booth visits per day, many made their way to the Oregon Film booth where they found Koerner Camera, the Art of Make Up School, Willamette Writers, and Shadow Machine standing by to help answers students’ career questions.

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Some Creative Responses To #OregonParkBenchStory. Video Game Writing Presentation Now Expanded.

Late last year, the Oregon Made Creative Foundation, Willamette Writers, Soma Games, and Travel Oregon  came together and asked people to help unpack 2020 by imagining sitting on a favorite Oregon park bench, reflecting on 2020, and posting an image to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using one of the prompts below:

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself for 2020?

What genre would you name your year in 2020?

If 2020 were a video game, what 3 items would you have prepared yourself with? Continue reading... “Some Creative Responses To #OregonParkBenchStory. Video Game Writing Presentation Now Expanded.”

Video Game Writing Workshop Hosted Online By Soma Games & Willamette Writers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever wondered what it would be like to write for a video games company? Did you even know that you could turn your stories into video game worlds?

Willamette Writers has partnered with Newberg, OR-based Soma Games to host an online no-cost workshop diving into the technical, craft, and business elements of writing for video games…and we want you to be there! Whether you’re considering a writing career in the games industry, or if you’re just intrigued about how stories shape the development of games, this 90-minute workshop will bring you into the minds of Oregon’s leading industry professionals who want to share their stories with you. Continue reading... “Video Game Writing Workshop Hosted Online By Soma Games & Willamette Writers”

Goodbye 2020! Reflecting On This Past Year? We Want To Hear! #OregonParkBenchStory

Park bench overlooking at the Painted Hills. Photo: traveloregon.com

2020 is almost over – have you been reflecting on the ups and downs of this unusual year? We want to know.  The Oregon Made Creative Foundation, Soma Games, Willamette Writers, and Travel Oregon have come together to create the #OregonParkBenchStory – a storytelling generator to help us unpack  2020.

How to join #OregonParkBenchStory – December 28th onwards

1. Imagine yourself sitting on your favorite Oregon park bench – whether it’s near or far – and reflect on the past year. Continue reading... “Goodbye 2020! Reflecting On This Past Year? We Want To Hear! #OregonParkBenchStory”

“Tell Your Story” Grant Announces Winners!

The Oregon Made Creative Foundation (OMCF) is pleased to announce the winners of the “Tell Your Story” grant; Howard Mitchell, Emma Duvall, and Nic Popp.  This grant was funded through the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) and was part of the CARES Act and is being provided by the RACC, OMCF, and  Oregon Film. Supporting and contributing sponsors include Cast Iron Studios, Oregon Media Production Association (OMPA), Willamette Writers, and Gearhead Grip.
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Oregon Game Community Loses One Of Its Own Creators – John Bergquist

John Bergquist (photo credit J. Bergquist/Twitter)

We are deeply saddened by the passing of John Bergquist, one of the founders of Soma Games, (along with Chris Skaggs and Rande Bruhn).  John passed away recently as the tragic result of an auto accident. Soma Games is known for its Christian company culture and video game storytelling, and was the first video game studio to create a licensed game based on the well-known, and popular Redwall book series.

John was described by Soma Games as, “a true man of God, a mentor to many, a storyteller, and an amazing friend.

Continue reading... “Oregon Game Community Loses One Of Its Own Creators – John Bergquist”