I have recently returned from a two day writer's conference in Edmonds WA. Write On the Sound (WOTS). This was the 24th annual event. It turns out there is a very strong writers community in the NorthWest. Edmonds, itself, is a wonderful little art community, nestled on the Pugeot Sound. One of the persons on the conference steering committe is a local art commisoner. This was her 17th consecutive year of involvement with WOTS.

It was a wonderful event, there was something of interest for evey writer. I attended eight seperate workshops in the two days, and learned a great deal. Much of what I found, I was already doing intuitively. I now just have a better grip of how to understand and apply them. Some things I learned were completely new to me.

One of the best moments was the Keynote speech. Here I was extremely fortunate. The original speaker was unable to attend for health reasons. Brian McDonald stepped in and filled his shoes. He had information I desperately needed and will remember, always. Brian McDonald is a Film Maker, Screen Writer, and novelist. He is a story teller and that was the subject of his speech. "The Power of Story"

Stories have been with us from before we had the word. They will be with us forever. We crave them. He explained that stories, beyond their ability to entertain, contain survival information. This is the core reason we crave them.

Along with outlining the structure of the three act play, he broke down the basic elements necessary for a story. It's just this simple. "Once upon a time, and every day, until, then because of this, and because of this, until finally, and ever since."

I wish you all could have been there. it was an experience.