About the Southwest Washington Writers Conference
The Southwest Washington Writers Conference began as the brainchild of a local writers’ group based in the Centralia/Chehalis area of Washington State.
What started in March of 2012 as a small workshop, which attracted a number of like-minded individuals, grew during the first few years. The group invited speakers who presented topics ranging from e-book publishing to mystery writing to poetry. During this time the idea of hosting a regional conference for and about writers was born.
2014: The first Southwest Washington Writers Conference
Organized by a tiny staff led by Julie McDonald Zander, the first annual Southwest Washington Writers Conference convened at Centralia College on September 13, 2014. The keynote speaker for the first conference was New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. The event attracted like-minded individuals and grew as organizers invited speakers on topics such as e-book publishing, marketing, crafting compelling characters, mystery writing, poetry, and publishing. Proceeds benefited the Lewis County Historical Museum, the Veterans Memorial Museum, and historic Centralia Fox Theatre.
2018: Lewis County Writers Guild Sponsors Conference
Fast-forward to the fall of 2017, and organizers approached the Lewis County Writers Guild about the possibility of taking over management of the annual conference. After four years of dedication and hard work, the team was ready to move on to other projects.
The Guild, fully aware that the Southwest Washington Writers Conference was the only conference between Portland and Tacoma, was unwilling to let such a valuable and meaningful resource vanish. The board enthusiastically voted to take over the presenting duties but with the understanding that the profits from the conference needed to have a more profound community effect.
In February 2018, the Lewis County Writers Guild formed a not-for-profit section of the guild in an effort to raise money to support the conference as well as to establish scholarships at Centralia College. Working with the Centralia College Foundation, the guild created annual scholarships for students interested in writing and the fine arts at the college and established an endowed scholarship.
2021: Back to the Original Organizers
After canceling the conference in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Lewis County Writers Guild bowed out of organizing the event and handed it back to the original team, which organized the 2021 conference.
All proceeds continue to provide scholarships through the Centralia College Foundation.
THANK YOU for your interest in the only regional writers’ conference in Southwest Washington! If you are interested in volunteering to help with the conference, please send us an email.
