The Pacific NW Travel Writers Conference provides a forum for freelance writers, staff writers, and journalists who want to explore and expand their markets in new ways in a changing world.
About the Conference and the Organizers
We are a group of freelance writers, journalists, editors, and travel and tourism professionals who live and work in the greater Pacific Northwest: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia.
Goals for the Pacific NW Travel Writers Conference:
- To develop workshops and seminars on marketing articles and photography to print and online publications in the Northwest and beyond
- To explore changes and trends in the freelance writing world, particularly the use of social media in managing and marketing one’s brand and also to explore developing income-producing web sites related to travel writing
- To support travel and tourism industry professionals who highlight Pacific Northwest destinations, attractions, historical sites, and all season recreation
The inaugural conference in Fall 2009 was held at historic Pearson Air Museum on the Fort Vancouver National Reserve and in downtown Vancouver, WA. The conference featured more than twenty regional freelance writers, journalists, authors, editors, social media experts, and travel and tourism industry professionals on six panels.
Since then, two other Travel + Words conferences have been held in Tacoma and Portland, with a growing cast of attendees and participating panelists, editors, presenters and exhibitors.
Increasing interest in Travel + Words events among writers, editors and travel and tourism industry professionals promises to make the Spring '11 conference at the acclaimed Willows Lodge in Woodinville, Washington, an event not to miss.
The Spring '12 conference (April 29-30, 2012) is dedicated to major trends in travel and tourism.
Comments from attendees
“Awesome speakers!”
“I am inspired! Incredible, relevant material.”
“Q&A [from attendees to panel members] very important.”
“. . .a great diversity and depth of experience among the speakers. . .well organized, thoughtfully planned, and thought-provoking. . .it proves the value of small conferences.”
“Serious how-to plus take home advice.”
“I liked having the travel exhibitors in the same room as the conference. . .I made good contacts and got several assignments. . .”
Travel & Words 2012 Planning Team
MYRNA OAKLEY, Fairview, OR: Conference chair
Myrna has authored more than a dozen Northwest travel guides including Off the Beaten Path Oregon (nine editions); Off the Beaten Path Washington (four editions); Visiting Northwest Public & Private Gardens; Recommended Bed & Breakfasts Pacific Northwest, and Bed & Breakfast Northwest (two editions). She teaches Travel Writing and Novel Writing at area colleges and conferences. “In more than 25 years of researching and writing the greater Pacific Northwest, I still love this vast scenic region and I especially enjoy living in Portland’s east county and close to our glorious snow-capped peak, Mount Hood.”
ALLEN COX, Tacoma, WA: Conference Vice Chair
Freelance writer Allen was born in Tacoma and has returned to live and write in the city of his origin. With a bias toward sustainable travel and lifestyles, he writes about travel, food, wine, the outdoors, the arts, architecture and profiles of people who make a difference.
Allen has contributed to several regional and national magazines as well as custom publications. He is the author of Best Easy Day Hikes – Seattle (released in 2009) and the just-released Best Easy Day Hikes – Tacoma. He also freelances as a commercial copywriter and editor. Allen's advice for travel writers is: “Travel with heart, write with soul and make a friend wherever you go.” His website is www.allencox.org.
TRUDY BRENNAN, Hillsboro, OR
Trudy is a freelance writer, professional grant writer, and consultant to nonprofit organizations in the Northwest. While currently working to achieve her goal of traveling to all fifty states (she has eight to go!), Trudy still finds the lush natural resources of the Pacific Northwest to be the most inspiring of any she has experienced. “Whether I am hiking in a rainforest, strolling on a beach or kayaking one of our abundant waterways, I am constantly moved to capture in words and photography the natural beauty of all that surrounds me.” Most recently, Trudy has been enjoying an exploration of the region’s growing wine industry.
LAURENCE COTTON, Portland, OR
Laurence Cotton is a free-lance writer, independent film producer, and historical consultant. A former Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Oregon, Laurence has also had a career in public broadcasting, as executive producer and host of a nationally syndicated show, Cambridge Forum, and as contributor to programs for public radio and television.
Most recently, Laurence co-produced the film C.E.S. Wood for the OPB series The Oregon Experience. He also consults in the fields of cultural, heritage and eco-tourism. As Laurence explains, “I am all about engendering a sense of place, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. As I tell tales from the “Oregon Country” I also strive to provide some gentle education about the cultural history and natural history of this unique part of the world, and to encourage residents and visitors alike to treasure and protect our natural and cultural heritage.”
JANET GOETZE, Portland, OR
Janet has worked for Associated Press, the Eugene Register-Guard and The Oregonian, where she was a copy editor, section editor and staff writer for more than 35 years covering arts, local governments, historic preservation and environmental issues.
Her travels have included Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt and Scotland, which she says, “I especially enjoyed because I could read the street signs.” Janet also enjoys hiking with friends and exploring coastal communities. "I love seeing Oregon's beaches, woods and cities on foot."
MARGARET HERRINGTON, Portland, OR
A freelance writer and editor, Margaret’s writing has appeared in The Oregonian, The Daily Columbian, Open Spaces Quarterly, the Oregon Coast Magazine and the program notes of Literary Arts, Inc. She is a regular contributor to online health newsletters, former director of Portland State University’s Haystack Writing Program at Cannon Beach, and a traveler dedicated to the principle that travel helps us understand and appreciate the world’s plant, animal, and human diversity. It may be true, as Vita Sackville-West observed, that “Travel is the most private of pleasures,” but well-written travel writing is a pleasure shared.
DIAN HILLIARD, Portland, OR
Dian has been a conference and event planner for over 30 years in the Northwest. She currently works as a conference planner, manager, and coach to a variety of non-profit organizations. She has been involved in the tourism industry since 1984 when she was hired to help plan the second Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism. After 25 years of planning this conference, and many others related to tourism, she has seen the many economic benefits that tourism brings to communities.
MARLENE HOWARD, Portland, OR
Co-founder Oregon Writers Colony and Chair, OWC’s Capital Campaign Fund Program, www.oregonwriterscolony.org
JAN JACKSON, Salem, OR
Travel writer-photographer & tour development specialist
MARILYN McFARLANE, Portland, OR
Marilyn is a long-time freelance writer, editor and author. Her travel guidebooks include Best Places to Stay in the Pacific Northwest, Best Places to Stay in California, Quick Escapes in the Pacific Northwest; and Northwest Discoveries. She has written for print and online media and currently is the staff writer for www.europeupclose.com. Her website is www.marilynmcfarlane.com; her blog is www.lightheartedtravel.wordpress.com. "I travel afar at every opportunity, and I'm always happy to return to one of the world's great destinations, the Pacific Northwest."
ROY STEVENSON, Bothell, WA
Roy is a freelance travel writer based in Seattle, Washington. He’s had 380 articles published in over 120 regional, national, and international magazines, newspapers, in-flights and e-zines in the U.S.A., Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. He writes on travel, culture, running, triathlon training, health, fitness, military history, communications, and film festival reviews.
His travel articles have appeared in publications such as Northwest Travel, Sunday Oregonian, Columbia Gorge, Gorge Guide, Ultimate Northwest, South Sound, Mid-Columbian and Kitsap Sun as well as 48 Degrees North, Colors Northwest, Northwest Runner, Go World Travel, Tourist Travel, Travellady, Travel Post Monthly, and Scotland Magazine. To view some of Roy articles please go to www.Roy-Stevenson.com.
COLLEEN WRIGHT, Tigard, OR
Social media and Internet Marketing consultant, Response Interactive LLC, Search Engine Marketing Training
Colleen has been a marketing professional since 1989. She designed her first website in 1997 and has been optimizing websites since 2001. Colleen holds the Advanced Search Engine Marketing Strategies Certification from The Search Engine Academy. She is a member of Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO), a member of SEMpdx and attends SEO conferences such as SMX Advanced and PubCon on a regular basis to maintain her cutting edge knowledge of Internet marketing techniques. Colleen has been interviewed by the Oregonian, Portland Monthly and Oregon Business Magazine regarding search engine optimization. She has been a speaker at events such as Searchfest, Business Leader NW and the Pacific NW Travel Writers Conference.
Travel and Tourism Planning Team Members
UNA BOYLE, Long Beach, WA
Una, currently Executive Director of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, has over 35 years of experience as a writer, editor and manager of nonprofit organizations. For several years, she was co-editor and publisher of a Northwest literary quarterly, From the Lost Corner, and is a contributing writer to CoastFood Magazine and Chinook Observer. Her eclectic background includes stints with municipal government (City of Seattle) as well as a decade as a restaurateur. In her present position, she writes advertorial pieces for various publications, ranging from brochures to magazines. She created a website and wrote & produced a short documentary on relevant history for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. “I take great pleasure in working with our staff and volunteers to welcome visitors to the Long Beach Peninsula and show them just how special this place is,” says Una.Contact Us
Pacific NW Travel Writers Conference
Travel & Words 2012
PO Box 2007
Fairview, OR 97024
Message phone: (503) 661-6473
Email: myrnalo6@gmail.com
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