Cascade Writers emerged from the Ironsprings annual weekend retreats on the Washington coast, with the mission of helping writers achieve their creative potential through education and community.
The founder and a core of dedicated volunteers selected the initial board at the end of the July 2010 retreat at the Ocean Crest Resort, and Cascade Writers was formally incorporated a couple months later. Since then, Cascade Writers has held annual Milford style weekend workshops for writers at various venues ranging from Bremerton, WA to Portland, OR. Aside from the annual workshop, Cascade Writers has sponsored events throughout the years including author readings and signings, 1-day workshops on the craft of writing and critique sessions at regional conferences.
The annual 3-day workshops center around small critique groups led by industry-leading professional editors, agents, and authors. These sessions focus on developing and improving writing craft, whether participants are beginning novices or established authors. Balancing out the small group sessions are a variety of panels and classes on aspects and techniques of craft, the business of writing and how-to topics such as self-publishing, finding writing groups and keeping the creativity flowing. Attending editors and agents also provide one-on-one pitch sessions. In addition to the educational focus, the event is about networking and creating an ongoing community of writers that support each throughout their artistic journeys.
Over the years hundreds of writers have participated, and many have gone on to become published or established professionals within the writing community. The focus of Cascade Writers continues to be on providing educational experiences that help writers achieve their creative potential, and fostering an ongoing writing community that is inclusive and welcoming.
