workshops

Website Building WordPress Workshop September 11 – October 2, 2017

Register Now

If you are a writer, poet, novelist, or have a small business, a website is required today. This course takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up your own site, helping you learn how to create content and share it through social media from your site for free. Courses like held in Portland normally cost over $400. This is a rare opportunity to learn how to blog and build your own website right here in Washington County, and know that the proceeds go to a good cause.

Register in person with check or credit card, or by phone with the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center at 503-357-2021.

Writers in the Grove, Forest Grove community creative writing group, presents a 4-week workshop, called “Website Building WordPress Workshop,” beginning September 11, 2017. It runs for four consecutive Mondays from 6:30 – 9:00 PM at the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center in Forest Grove, Oregon.

The course is taught by WordPress instructor, Lorelle VanFossen of Lorelle on WordPress. She has taught WordPress, blogging and social media from the beginning to college level since 2003, and is the long time senior editor of the WordPress Codex, the online manual for WordPress users.

The four-week workshop is only $125 per person, a savings of almost 75% off the normal course fee.

The workshop on WordPress covers the basics on WordPress features, content management, social media integration, blogging, and design and layout with veteran WordPress trainer and instructor. It is ideal for writers and authors, small business, genealogists, and those who wish to share their thoughts and skills with the world.

Prior web publishing experience not required. Familiarity with web browsers (Firefox and Chrome only) and email is highly recommended.

There is limited space for this special event so register now to guarantee a seat.

You do NOT need a WordPress site. You will set one up on the first day of the course. If you have one, you will learn how to fix it up and improve your web publishing and WordPress skills.

You will need to bring your laptop, power cord, mouse (with extra batteries), and something to write on and take notes. You will log into the free WIFI at the Center so ensure you know how to do this before you arrive, or arrive early to get help getting online. It is highly recommended that you bring a water bottle, too. There is plenty of free parking at the center.

More information, contact the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center.

Register in person or by check or phone with the Forest Grove Community Center: 503-357-2021.

Willamette Writers Conference Early Bird Prices End May 31

If you are a writer in the Portland area, or anywhere close to the Pacific Northwest, put the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland, Oregon, August 12-14, 2016, on your schedule and register now for the early bird ticket prices.

The Willamette Writers Association is a non-profit, educational organization actively involved in helping writers get published, turn scripts into movies and television shows, and improve their writing overall. They offer a wide range of educational programs, meetups, and programs for youth and adult all year long, but the annual conference is a must attend event.

Held at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel this year, the schedule is filled with fantastic writing techniques and learning opportunities. Register early and plan out which workshops you will attend, including the exceptional pre-conference workshops and classes.

If you are interested in a manuscript critique, they are offering those for a fee, and we recommend you take time to read through “On the Right Track with Advance Manuscript Critiques” to help you prepare for the critique.

Want to pitch your story? Your novel, memoir, script? Pitching events are held during the event as well as at special times, and cost $25 each. Register early for the opportunity to do multiple pitches with various publishers and editors. Read “Pitching with Confidence – Marvin Baker’s Story” for an example of how to pitch your story well, and what might happen. Many authors have sold their books and movie rights at the Willamette Writers Conference over the years.

Early bird registration tickets range from $229 for one day to $449 for the entire event, good until May 31. After that, the prices increase, so hurry.

If enough Writers in the Grove members are considering going, we’ll get a room to share for the weekend. Carpooling is also available. Let us know during our workshops or contact us if you are interested in going so we can make arrangements for transportation and possible lodging.

January 18 Writers in the Grove Meeting

The Forest Grove Senior and Community Center will be closed on January 18 for Martin Luther King Day. Paula and Parks Adams have again offered their home in downtown Forest Grove for the 9AM meeting.

While they traditionally serve snacks and have food for lunch afterwards, please bring a small potluck or snack to add to the mix.

We usually do something special on these workshop events, including multiple prompts, so expect to really sharpen up your creative writing skills in January!

If you require the address and directions, please use our contact form.

August 24, 2015 Monday Workshop: Literary Hooks

Writers in the Grove member Bunny Hansen will be presenting a writing workshop on Literary Prompts on Monday, August 24, 2015, at the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center at 9AM to 11AM.

Literary hooks are the opening sentence or sentences within novels, prose, and poetry that grab the attention of the reader and keep them reading, compell them to keep reading.

This is a repeat of her successful presentation presented at a recent Saturday Writing Workshop at the Forest Grove Library.

See you there.

Christina Abt Speaking at Writers in the Grove August 10

Christina Abt, author of Crown Hill and contributor to many anthologies and collections including Chicken Soup books, will be speaking at Writer’s in the Grove’s Monday workshop on August 10, 2015, from 9-11AM at the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center in Forest Grove, Oregon. She will be speaking about the changes in the publishing industry and how to get your book published. She will also be on a book tour with Barnes and Nobel throughout the Pacific Northwest and the country in general.