Registration is open for the 2008 Centrum Writers’ Conference, July 13 through July 20, at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend. Tuition is $495 and includes admission to all conference events. Scholarships are available.

Room and board options range from $200 to $390, depending on meal plan. Special-topic workshops are $50 each or $195 for five. Register online, or call 360-385-3102, ext. 114. For more information, contact Jordan Hartt, program director, at jordan(at)centrum(dot)org or 360-385-3102, ext. 131.

Now in its 36th year, the Writers Conference was founded by novelist Bill Ransom in 1973, and is known for its intensive, week-long workshops by nationally known authors. New this year are individual workshops on special topics.

Fort Worden State Park has contracted with a new food service company, Bon Appetit, known for the quality of its cuisine and use of organic, locally-grown food.

Writers don’t have to sign up for workshops–one option is to pay for room and board during the conference and spend the majority of one’s time writing. Or, pay for room and board and choose individual workshops to attend. Writers who do sign up for the morning conference workshops can attend special topic workshops free.