The Orcas Island Writers Festival enriches and connects writers and readers through classes, lectures, workshops, and the natural beauty of Orcas Island. Our three-day festival is craft-focused, designed to bring writers of all levels to more effective and fulfilling expression. We offer three-day workshops in fiction and nonfiction; the popular Jumpstart! writing class, which teaches how to focus and enliven both prose and poetry; and classes, lectures, and readings by our critically acclaimed faculty. 

Our 2010 festival will be held September 17-19. We are pleased to welcome David Jauss (www.davidjauss.com), Sue Silverman (www.suewilliamsilverman.com), and Nance Van Winckel (www.nancevanwinckel.com) as instructors. For more information on our faculty and the 2010 festival, please visit www.orcasislandwritersfestival.com.

TICKET FAQs

Do I have to purchase tickets online?  No. You can download a mail-in registration form on our website.

When are ticket sales over?  You may purchase tickets for the Jumpstart! classes online or through our mail-in registration form until September 10th;  after September 10th, tickets may only be purchased in-person on the day of the event. On the day of the event, Jumpstart! tickets cost $85/ticket.  Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop tickets are available either online or through our mail-in registration form until August 17th. Workshops are not available after August 17th.  Lecture & panel tickets are available only at the door for $15/ticket.

Can we buy tickets at the door?  Yes, except for workshops.*  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Jumpstart! tickets may be purchased in person on the day of the event for $85/ticket, cash or check only. Tickets for individual lectures and panels are available only at the door for $15/ticket, cash or check only. For the Saturday evening faculty reading a $7 donation at the door is suggested.  *Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop tickets must be purchased prior to August 17th, either online or by check with our mail-in registration form.

What does each ticket include?  Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop tickets include one three-day critique workshop (three hours/day), three lectures, two panels, and the Faculty Reading.  Single-day Jumpstart! tickets include that day’s two-hour Jumpstart! class and all additional lectures, panels, and readings on the day of the ticket.  If not attending a workshop, purchasing three Jumpstart! tickets will give you admission to all the events except the workshops. The Sunday Send-off Buffet is complimentary for all workshop and Jumpstart! participants.  Lecture/panel tickets include a 1 ½ – 2 hour lecture or panel.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?  Cancellations are subject to cancellation fees depending on ticket type and date of cancellation. Please see the question below for more information.  Please note that Eventbrite service fees are not refundable.  To cancel, you must contact OIWF by email.  You cannot process your cancellation through the Eventbrite registration page.

What are your cancellation fees?  To cancel a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday ticket, the cancellation fee is $15/ticket.  To cancel a Fiction or Nonfiction Workshop ticket, the cancellation fee is $50 if you cancel on or before August 17th;  after August 17th, the cancellation fee is $110.

For more information about the festival, or to view a full itinerary, please visit www.orcasislandwritersfestival.com. Feel free to contact us with any questions!