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PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAVEL WRITERS CONFERENCE 

TRAVEL & WORDS SPRING ’13

VISIT US ON TWITTER @NorthwestWriter, @WildAboutTheNW, and @Carrie_Writes

MARCH 17-18, 2013
Seaside Conference Center                                                                                                                                                    989 Broadway
Seaside, OR

VISIT SEASIDE ON TWITTER @VisitSeasideOR

Conference Theme: Research at Home & Away. Pitch. Write. Publish!

REGIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM EXHIBITORS CONFIRMED:

ASTORIA – WARRENTON VISITORS BUREAUS  (OldOregon.com)

BELLINGHAM – WHATCOM COUNTY TOURISM, Bellingham, WA   (Bellingham.org)

COOS BAY – NORTH BEND VISITOR & CONVENTION BUREAU, south Oregon Coast area  (OregonsAdventureCoast.com)

LONG BEACH PENINSULA VISITORS BUREAU, Long Beach WA   (FunBeach.com)

MOUNT VERNON – SKAGIT VALLEY VISITORS CENTER, Mount Vernon, WA   (mountvernonchamber.com/visitors)

OLYMPIC PENINSULA TOURISM (OlympicPeninsula.org)

SEASIDE VISITORS BUREAU (SeasideOR.com)

TRAVEL PORTLAND,  including Multnomah County (TravelPortland.com), Washington County (WCVA.com) and Clackamas County (MtHoodTerritory.com)

TRAVEL SALEM (TravelSalem.com)

VISIT TRI – CITIES (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland Washington) (VisitTri-Cities.com)

WASHINGTON’S SCENIC CASCADE LOOP ASSOCIATION, North Cascades Highway 20 from Sedro Woolley  to Highways153 & 97 and Highway 2 across Stevens Pass to Snohomish and Everett   (CascadeLoop.com)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

DAVE PETERSON, PUBLISHER, NORTHWEST TRAVEL MAGAZINE

MARALYN HILL, PAST PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL FOOD, WINE AND TRAVEL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (IFWTWA)

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, SEASIDE CONFERENCE CENTER

1:00 p.m. Necanicum Room: Check in, Meet & Greet, Visit Exhibitor Tables and meet travel & tourism staff

1:30 p.m. Welcome & Introductions

1:45  p.m.  INTRODUCE REGIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM EXHIBITORS; Washington Tourism Alliance Update, Christina Pivarnik

2:40  p.m. “BEST WAYS TO CONNECT & WORK WITH REGIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM STAFF”   UNA BOYLE, former Executive Director, Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau

3:00 p.m. “EXPAND YOUR FREELANCE WRITING: CAST A WIDER NET”  Presenter:  MARALYN HILL,  Board Member and Past President, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA)

3:45  p.m. ““SUCCEEDING AS A FREELANCE WRITER: MARKETING YOUR NICHE”   Panelists: LEE DALEY, Sausalito CA (Luxury travel & Photography, member SATW);  CRAIG ROMANO,  Mount Vernon WA (Guidebook author with NW outdoors a major interest); MICHELLE WINNER, Sandy OR (luxury travel, culinary  travel, & regional travel including Canada; President, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association/IFWTWA);  BRIAN YAEGER, Portland (Beer guy, writes about everything beers/ales)

5:00 p.m. NETWORKING MIXER  No-host  Bar with selection of Oregon and Washington hand-crafted ales, wines, hard ciders (including non-alcohol choices).  Special Oregon Coast Appetizers by chef & staff from Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (Coos Bay Community College) and Seaside Conference Center chef.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, SEASIDE CONFERENCE CENTER

9:00 a.m. Necanicum Room, Welcome

9:15 a.m. “WRITING AND PUBLISHING ROUNDUP”  Presenter: DAVE PETERSON, Publisher, Northwest Travel Magazine

10:00 a.m. BREAK & VISIT REGIONAL EXHIBIT TABLES

10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP INTENSIVES

1. “TUNE UP YOUR WRITING FOR ARTICLES EDITORS LOVE“  ALLEN COX, Freelance Lifestyles writer and Editor-in-Chief, Northwest Travel Magazine; board member and Vice President, International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) shares tips for turning your freelance articles into winning gems that Editors love.

2. “EARN A LIVING AS A FREELANCE WRITER”  NAN DEVLIN, Freelance writer, tourism consultant, and lecturer at The George Washington University, shares how to expand your Freelance writing horizons farther afield, from writing articles to other writing avenues that also pay.

3. “DOUBLE YOUR ONLINE WRITING INCOME“  JASON BRICK, Freelance writer, house dad, and prolific online writer for markets that pay freelance writers, will share his strategies for increasing your online writing income.

4.  “EXPAND YOUR NICHE: RESEARCH & WRITE FOR THE LUXURY MARKETS”  MARALYN HILL, Board member and Past President, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA. From exclusive, trendy and affluent  to epicurean, red carpet and first cabin, Maralyn will share her strategies for researching and writing for luxury and high-end markets.

5. “SOCIAL MEDIA FOR WRITERS, 101″ – JESSICA SPIEGEL, Social media consultant and Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) community manager, shares tips on getting started & being confident with social media, staying engaged without spending all day on Twitter and using social media as a tool in your marketing arsenal.

6. “IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOS WITH LIGHTROOM’S  DIGITAL TECHNIQUES” JOHN SUNDSMO, Award winning photographer shares tips and tricks to make your ordinary photos popping spectacular.

11:30 a.m. Reconvene, Necanicum Room:  Q&A with WORKSHOP INTENSIVE PRESENTERS

NOON  LUNCH

1: 00 p.m. VISIT REGIONAL EXHIBIT TABLES

1:35  p.m.  WORKSHOP INTENSIVES, SESSION TWO

2:45 p.m. PANEL: Q & A WITH WORKSHOP INTENSIVE PRESENTERS

3:15 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m.  “TARGET YOUR PITCHES TO GET THE EDITOR’S NOD”   PAUL FRICHTL, Seattle, Editor, Alaska Airlines magazine; KEVIN MAX, Bend, Publisher, 1859 Magazine; ALLEN COX, Tacoma, Editor-in-Chief,Northwest Travel Magazine; MEG WEAVER, Astoria,  Editor/Publisher, Wooden Horse Pub Magazine Database

4:30 p.m. EVALUATIONS and CLOSING

“Travel deeply at home and away.  .  . Have real experiences in your region and abroad.  .  . Find your writer’s voice. . .Tell a story.  .  .Publish!”

 –Adapted from Travel writer & photographer, Judith Fein

Travel & Words Spring ’13 Planning Team:

Allen Cox, Tacoma WA, Editor-in-Chief, Northwest Travel Magazine

Trudy Brennan, Hillsboro OR, travel aficionado and former grant writer, SOLV

Jason Brick, Hillsboro, OR, www.jasoncommabrick.com

Terri Fogarty, Portland OR, EuropeUpClose.com  Twitter @europeupclose

Karen Gilb, Vancouver WA, WildAboutTheNW.com Twitter @WildAboutTheNW,

Janet Goetze, Portland OR, Freelance writer and former Staff writer, The Oregonian

Bobbie Hasselbring, Beavecreek OR, Freelance writer and publisher, Real FoodTraveler.comTwitter @realfoodtravel

Marilyn McFarlane, Portland OR, Guidebook author, FL writer  LightheartedTravel.com  Twitter @marilynmcf

Myrna Oakley, Portland OR, Guidebook author, FL writer  TravelAndWords.com  Twitter @northwestwriter

Carrie Uffindell, Portland OR, FL writer  Carrie_Writes.com  Twitter @carrie_writes

More About Us

We are a group of freelance writers, journalists, editors, and travel and tourism professionals who live and work in the Pacific Northwest:  Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia.

Our goals:

• To present workshops and seminars on marketing freelance articles and photography to both print and online publications in the Pacific 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 offer support to travel and tourism industry professionals who highlight Pacific NW destinations, attractions and activities, historical sights and sites, and all-season recreation.

Comments from attendees, previous Travel & Words conferences from 2009 – 2012

“Awesome speakers!”

“I am inspired.  .  .incredible, relevant material.”

“Serious how-to plus take home advice.”

“.  .  .a great diversity and depth of experience among the speakers.  .  .well organized, thoughtfully planned, and thought-provoking.  .  .it proves the value of small conferences.”

“I liked having the travel exhibitors in the same room as the conference.  .  .I made good contacts and got several assignments.  .  .”