By Robin Swain & Photos by Don Backman
The Rockaway Writers Rendezvous (RWR) is a scholarship fundraiser for Neah-Kah-Nie High School students, supporting a series of workshops and events the last weekend in April focused on the written word. Tillamook County Parks Foundation, the sponsoring non-profit along with a group of volunteer community organizers of the RWR, seriously stepped up their game in year #2. Poet and returning workshop presenter, David Pickering said, “The amount of work put into this event was obvious. I was very impressed. The Rockaway Community Church was a great venue. I look forward to coming back next year.” Mark your calendars for April 25-27, 2025.
All the workshops were interactive, pen to paper.
You didn’t make it to the event? Well let me tell you what you missed!
Author Kizzie Jones presented “Organizing and Maintaining a Helpful writing/Critique Group”. “So, You Want to Be a Writer and Writing for Young Adults” was presented by author Randall Platt. John Daily presented two workshops, “ Self Publishing Bootcamp and Ethical Use of A.I.” Award winning Poet, David Pickering’s workshop, “Poetry Poker with Ms.Clifton” had all the participants completing a poem by the end of the session. Sydney Elliot took us on a “Writing to Heal” journey while Holly Lorincz’s workshop “Write for Readers. Edit for Submission” shed light on the elusive balance Writers seek. Dawn Seller’s workshop ”Write for Film, Create Action Sequences” generated a lot of excitement. “Play Writing Basics” presented by Doug Sellers sparked a lot of ideas! Isa De Quesada presented “Writing as a Creative Practice”.
The one thing presenters and attendees absolutely agreed on, was the Keynote Address by Mark Yaconelli and the “Healing Power of Stories”. He enthralled everyone with his storytelling and how it heals. The range of emotions hit all of us, from laughter to tears, the session ended with everyone feeling empowered.
Friday and Saturday night, The Tiebreaker hosted open mic. Several Student and adult writing contest finalists stepped up and read their work.
The Raffle Baskets were once again a huge success thanks to businesses from Bay City to Manzanita.
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday at the Rockaway Beach Lions Club for breakfast and awards.
RWR would like to thank the following sponsors that make the Rockaway Writers Rendezvous possible.
RWR Founding Sponsors: Tillamook County Parks Foundation, City of Rockaway Beach Oregon, Eugene Schmuck Foundation, All Professionals Real Estate.
RWR Venue Sponsors: Rockaway Community Church, Tie Breaker and Rockaway Lions Club.
RWR Hospitality Sponsors: Grumpy’s Café, Oregon Writers Colony, Sasquatch Coffee, Beach Break Vacation Rentals, Seaquest Treasures.
RWR Promo Sponsors: Tillamook County Pioneer, Tall Tales, 1888 Press, Beach Beagle Print & Ship, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Don Backman Photography, Studio At The Beach, KTIL Radio, Bock’s Best. RB Volunteers for all your help.
Another first this year, the Rockaway Writers Rendezvous Anthology. The goal is to have student writers published to include in their college admission applications and encourage them to continue writing. The RWR dream is that someday these students, as award-winning writers, when asked what the inspiration was to begin their writing career, their story will start with, “Back when I was in high school, I entered the Rockaway Writers Rendezvous Writing Contest and became a publisher author!”
The Rockaway Writers Rendezvous Anthology and other RWR Merch is available at www.rbwriters.com
Use this link for all Anthology book sales and promotion:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2F98FH4
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