Most travel contests that involve dream destinations will almost always feature Hawaii, especially the picture-perfect island of Maui, as the grand prize. Yet, most writer’s conferences, you will find, are set in the confines of a metropolis. Now all screenwriters can have their dream vacation without winning a contest. The Maui Writer’s Conference, which takes place every Labor Day weekend right in Maui is both a very prestigious, professional conference, as well as the ultimate in a paradise setting.

Terry Brooks of THE PHANTOM MENACE and Boston based writer, Laura Osborne, at the 1999 Maui Writers Conference

When David Baldacci, author of best-selling novel-turned-Clint Eastwood movie, ABSOLUTE POWER, received a phone call from his agent the very next day after he first discovered the website for the Maui Writer’s Conference (she informed him that he had been asked to be a speaker), his immediate reaction was to go out and buy a lottery ticket. The irony for him, he told us, was chilling, as was the Maui Writer’s Conference opening religious chant in Hawaiian to all the new ‘ohana’ (family). The beauty and scent of fresh, tropical flowers, the accompanying playing of a yukelele, and the hum and exciting expectation of people meeting people to create success, all blend to make this as euphoric as the magic of an enchanting, breezy Hawaiian evening.

John and Shannon Tullius, the directors, strive for the most inspirational, entertaining, best organized and most efficiently run event, and have succeeded more and more each year. They began in 1991 at the Ritz Carlton with only one hundred people and watched their empire grow to the grand scale of eight hundred plus, now taking place at the Grand Wailea Resort. They bring in the best selling authors, award-winning journalists, top editors, agents, and publishers. An impressive, prepared packet includes a glossy, forty page brochure, sign-up selection sheets, instruction sheets, booksigning schedule, consultation information for agents and publishers, genre list, hotel map and restaurant information, so one feels instantly welcome. The awesome array of topics covered from researching a book to writing a memoir to marketing a script to self-publishing and even exercising for inspiration are all there for the taking. The location is especially attractive to Hollywood for its proximity, and the top names in the industry make themselves readily available to screenwriters from all over the world. An annual screenwriting competition for which the deadline is around July 1 makes it possible for aspiring writers to submit their scripts for judgement by these movie moguls. Actually meeting them is possible through fifteen minute consultations which are set up by appointment for a minimal cost.

(L to R): Andy Cohen, Maui Writers Conference Screenwriting Coordinator with competition winners: Jon O'Neal; D. Clayton Holt; Chris Voglu of Fox 2000, and Jeff Arch of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE fame.

Some of the celebrated speakers/presenters from ‘99 were Jeff Arch, writer of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, producer Gray Foster of same, and Terry Brooks of THE PHANTOM MENACE. Lou Anne Johnson, writer of DANGEROUS MINDS which starred Michelle Pfeiffer, couldn’t say enough about the benefits of the conference. Other presenters have been Dave Barry, Garry Marshall, Terry McMillan, Jackie Collins and Carrie Fisher.

The Screenwriter’s Retreat is essential, taking place the week before (this year’s is 8/26-8/31) at what is now termed the Screenwriter’s Breakout at the Outrigger Wailea, conveniently located next door. The Outrigger facilities, while not as majestic as the Grand Wailea, offer the same spectacular waterfront views, amenities and necessary, peaceful working conditions, as the seminar addresses all levels of scriptwriters with the most in-depth, bit-by-bit breakdown of script construction, format and individual feedback. In ‘98, Ron Howard was invited to instruct. There are so many friends to make and things to know about writing, writing, and more writing.

And since Bryce Courtenay, (author of THE POWER OF ONE) feels that the key to good writing is having a lot of "bum glue" for sitting in a chair for hours at a time and creating, I’m going to defy his suggestion just for this once and tell all of you screenwriters to "unglue your bum" and get up and go to the Maui Writer’s Conference in 2000! You’ll probably write a script they won’t be able to put down. More information is available on the MWC website at http://www.mauiwriters.com. Please check the Imagine Calendar for dates, address and phone number. It’s a once in a lifetime dream trip!

Laura Osborne has been a writer for seven years following a corporate career with a national company as a travelling executive. She attended the 1999 Maui Writer’s Conference and thanks Imagine for making it possible for her to it.