The 4th annual line up of presentations for the Rockaway Writers Rendezvous is again filled with a wide variety of writing genres and well known local authors sharing their expertise. From poetry to storytelling, historical nonfiction, poetry to publishing, and timely topics such a using music for protest songs and the keynote – a national known expert on the impacts of our digital world. RWR 2026 promises to have something for everyone and you’ll definitely find multiple workshops that will help hone your writing skills or provide eye-opening information about navigating the world of publishing. There are open mic events on Friday and Saturday April 24 and 25 at the Tie Breaker in Rockaway Beach, workshops on Saturday April 25th at the Rockway Community Church, and breakfast and announcement of the writing contest winners on Sunday April 26th also at the Tie Breaker. See the complete schedule for times and more details at www.rbwriters.com Be sure to get your tickets now as space is limited.
Here’s a brief description of the workshops and keynote speaker – Saturday April 25th – 8:30 am to 5 pm
This year’s keynote speaker is: Dr. Julie Albright “The Human Story Behind the Screen: Writing Connection in Disconnected Times”
In an era when we’re more digitally connected than ever yet feel increasingly isolated, how do writers craft stories that truly bring people together?
Dr. Julie Albright will be speaking Saturday, April 25 at 1:30 pm at Rockaway Beach Community Church in the Main Hall.
Jon Albertson’s workshop “The Unrelated Poetic Relative.”
This session will focus on specific tools and practices poets–and all writers–can use to individualize their writing, and distinguish it from the AI blather that permeates so much 21st century writing.
Jon is a retired English teacher and professional Renaissance Man. In the early 2000s, after grad school and his early teaching career, Jon’s writing focus shifted to poetry, publishing in online publications such as Non-Euclidian Cafe, and traditional publications such as Renaissance Magazine.
Adam Sawyer – “The Power and Value of Vulnerability in Your Writing”
Adam Sawyer will discuss the power of vulnerability in our writing and some methods for developing and employing it. We’ll also touch on things to keep in mind or consider when telling stories and conveying emotions from such personal places.
Adam Sawyer is an outdoor and travel writer, photographer, published author, guide, and public speaker based in Tillamook. In addition to authoring numerous guidebooks, his work has appeared in several local and national outlets.
Michael Bergmann – IncubatorU 5-Step methodology
Join Michael Bergmann for a workshop that introduces writers to the IncubatorU 5-Step Methodology as a practical, repeatable framework for turning creative possibility into sustained momentum.
Bergmann is the author of Innovation from the Ground Up and the creator of the IncubatorU 5-Step Methodology, a practical framework for moving ideas into action without diminishing creative ambition.
Lori Tobias -“Wait! Before you hit Publish…”
Lori Tobias will share the most common and damning mistakes and missteps she sees; the simple issues that spoil an otherwise potentially promising read and the single most common problem she sees in 90 percent of the books she reviews.
Lori Tobias is the author of Storm Beat – A Journalist Reports from the Oregon Coast, a memoir published by Oregon State University Press in 2020 and Wander, a novel published by Red Hen Press in 2016 and winner of the Nancy Pearl Literary Award. She is a career journalist, previously on staff at The Oregonian and the Rocky Mountain News.
Sydney Elliott – Local favorite …
Writing about grief and trauma can present pitfalls for many writers. Sydney Elliott will help writers examine the concept of the fourth wall, come up with examples, and find ways to adopt this as a technique in our own writing.
Sydney Elliott is a full-time writing instructor at Oregon State University. She has an MFA in Creative Non-fiction from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s in English with an emphasis in poetry.
Duncan Birmingham returns for a workshop on “Brainstorming Your Horror Screenplay.”
Duncan Birmingham is a writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His feature film debut as a writer and director “Who Invited Them” was named one of the best horror films of the year by The Hollywood Reporter and his short films have played numerous festivals including Sundance and AFI.
Nik Zander Wolf – “Songs of the People: Writing Music as a Form of Protest”
Topics covered in this workshop include: History & Purpose of Protest Songs, Core Elements: Message, Voice & Form, Tone & Strategy: Urgency, Nuance & Audience, Melody, Rhythm & Accessibility, Lyrics Workshop: Drafting & Feedback, and much more.
Nik Xandir Wolf is a viral social media sensation with hundreds of millions of views on Instagram and YouTube. He is an award-winning writer, lyricist, filmmaker, and poet.
Cheryl Wanner – “HOW TO CRAFT CHARACTERS READERS WILL LOVE”
This workshop will explore the key elements of characterization with tips on how to craft them through deep development and the use of Show-Don’t-Tell. Also included will be how to use setting as a character.
Cheryl Wanner is a Young Adult author, amateur photographer, and long-time contributor to Oregon Coast Magazine.
Karen Thompson Walker – “The First Page: How to Begin Your Story.”
In this workshop, we will explore what makes a thrilling first page. Focusing on novels and short stories, we will look closely at a wide variety of first pages by published authors. We’ll explore what works and what doesn’t, as well as common strategies and pitfalls.
Karen Thompson Walker is a New York Times bestselling author of three novels, most recently, The Strange Case of Jane O., which is a current Oregon Book Award finalist, and was a Belletrist Book Club Pick, a Library Reads Pick, a People “Book of the Week,” and a Powell’s Pick of the Month.
Marc C. Johnson – “Writing Non-Fiction, History and Committing Journalism,”
In this workshop, Marc C. Johnson will discuss, among other things:
-Selecting a subject
-Conducting research, including utilizing primary and secondary sources
-Getting organized to write
-What to avoid and who to consult
Marc C. Johnson is a historian, writer, and author most recently of Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants in the Senate, published September 2023 by the University of Oklahoma Press.
Here’s the workshop schedule for Saturday April 25:
Buy your tickets for the whole weekend and don’t miss thes great workshops and presentation!
$25/person
https://www.rbwriters.com/store/p/rwr-2026-entry-fee