Arts & Entertainment Community Education

Authors gather for annual Write in the Harbor conference

Posted on November 6th, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

The annual Write in the Harbor conference takes place this weekend on Tacoma Community College’s Gig Harbor campus. This year’s theme – Craft, Creativity and Connection – aims to provide “Inspiring Words, Artistic Expression and Meaningful Connection.”

The conference begins Friday, Nov. 7 with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and welcoming address by keynote speaker Rebecca Brown.

Saturday, Nov. 9 is filled with workshops on topics like developing complex characters, crafting opening chapters, storytelling, how to get your work published and more.

Writers of all genres and levels are welcome. Indeed, any writer or aspiring writer who wants to gain fresh insights and perspectives, or just connect with other writers, is welcome.

“It’s all about sharing knowledge and connecting and engaging with each other and with the workshop presenters and the keynote speaker,” TCC-Gig Harbor Dean Olga Ingelbritson said.

A crowd packs Tacoma Community College’s Gig Harbor campus for a previous year’s Write in the Harbor conference. Photo courtesy TCC-Gig Harbor.

“It really is a great opportunity to learn about the craft of writing and it’s for anyone who want to write, whether they’re beginners or have published their own book or are people who just love to learn. Or maybe you have the greatest novel just sitting in your head and you want to know what to do with it. No one should feel intimidated, because the conference is very inclusive.”

About the presenters

Brown will speak about how writing has always connected people, the importance of “creative kinship” among writers, and how writers have always supported, challenged and inspired one another.

Brown writes novels, short stories, essays and prose poems. Her titles include “American Romances,” “The Haunted House,” “The Dogs: A Modern Bestiary,” “You Tell The Stories You Need to Believe” and others.

She has also written a play, the libretto for a dance opera, a one-woman show, and arts and book criticism for newspapers.

She co-founded the Jack Straw Writers Program and is a former artistic director of the Port Townsend Writers Conference.

Other presenters include:

Bob Balmer

Balmer’s whose work has appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine, Golf Illustrated and numerous newspapers and magazines, as well as Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Savvy Traveler. Balmer will talk about how place can drive plot, and attendees will have a chance to practice using some of the concepts and skills being discussed.

Rick Bleiweiss

Bleiweiss is an award-winning novelist and head of new business development at Blackstone Publishing. His books include “Pignon, Scorpion and The Barbershop Detectives” and “Murder in Haxord.” This year, he received the Career Changers Award and was a finalist for International Impact’s Author of the Year. Bleiweiss will lead a workshop on publishing audio books and eBooks.

Mary Boone

Boone has written more than 70 nonfiction books for young readers, among them “Flying Feminist,” Pedal Pusher,” “School of Fish” and “Bugs for Breakfast.” She’ll talk about storytelling techniques used in writing for children.

Tara Campbell

Campbell’s workshop is titled “The Power of Detail: Developing Characters from Art.” Campbell is an award-wining writer, teacher and Kimbrillo Fellow with an master’s degree in creative writing from American University. She’s the fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse and the author of six books in genres spanning science fiction, prose-poetry collections and short stories. She teaches creative writing at colleges and universities.

Denise Frisino

Frisino has written for stage, film, and radio and TV commercials. Her historical fiction “Storms From A Clear Sky” won first place in the Hemingway 20th Century Wartime Fiction awards competition. Her workshop, “Writing for the Big Screen,” will focus on screenwriting techniques and the importance of knowing how the film industry “works.”

Alle C. Hall

Hall has helped writers navigate the publishing world for more than 30 years. Her debut novel, “As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back,” received 16 honors including a nomination for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. Hall will talk about how to publish stories, essays, poetry and other work.

Leslie Hall

Hall is the author of the “Kaitlyn Willis Road Signs Mysteries,” a humorous, PG-rated amateur sleuth series. She also writes women’s fiction and teaches writing at community colleges. Her workshop, “Got Ideas?” will provide tips on generating ideas, managing writer’s block, organizing your work process and ”sustaining the muse.”

HR Hegnauer

Hegnauer is a designer, writer and creative professional specializing in book and website design for writers, artists and independent publishers. She’ll share information about building intuitive websites that help authors grow their digital presence.

Valerie Ozgenc

Ozgenc is a book coach for anyone who is ready to share their message through the written word. Her workshop will explore the elements of memoir writing.

Bronwyn Scott

Scott has been a writer for Harlequin and Mills & Boon for more than 16 years and has written 75 books. Her interactive workshop will focus on crafting effective first chapters.

Shama Shams

Shams is a Seattle-based writer, speaker and nonprofit advocate with an master of arts degree from Florida State University. Shams’ workshop is titled “Healing Through Story Telling.”

Star Wuerdemann

Wuerdemann is a writer and educator and longtime student of Natalie Goldberg. She leads writing groups at Browsers Bookshop in Olympia. Wuerdeann’s workshop focuses on writing practice.

Conference registration

Tuition for Write in the Harbor is $179. Registration is open through Nov. 7 here.