Writers from all over Vancouver Island will be descending on the Comox Valley in January for the annual North Island Writers Conference.

Now in its eighth year, the conference will include award-winning authors, workshops, and a three-hour youth fiction contest.

The event will kick off on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. with the hilarious, award-winning author, Ian Ferguson. Ferguson will be telling attendees 鈥淗ow to be a Humour Being.鈥� Everyone is welcome to this free event at the Stan Hagen Theatre, Komoux Hall at North Island College.

Saturday and Sunday, January 18 and 19, are filled with workshops led by celebrated Vancouver Island authors on mystery (Ian Ferguson), screenwriting (Larry Bambrick, TV scriptwriter for over 30 years), short stories (Robert Hilles), prose poetry (Cornelia Hoogland), point of view (Judy LeBlanc), dialogue (JP McLean) and publishing (Joy Gugeler, editor for several publishers and publications). There are also free lunch-hour sessions on both days 鈥� one with a travel writer and one with a storyteller.

"Bring a brown bag lunch to these as you do not want to miss a minute of fun," a release from the organizer says.

This year also features a new event, the three-hour youth fiction contest. It will be held on Saturday, January 18 from 3:30 鈥� 6:30 p.m. in Tyee Hall at North Island College. Open to writers aged 15 to 24. Great prizes will be awarded including cash, gift certificates, plus one lucky writer will work with an editor at CV Collective magazine to have a story published. Contestants must register beforehand.

Also returning this year is the Blue Pencil Caf茅 with Dave Flawse who will provide valuable feedback on your submission, no matter the genre.

Full details of our exciting program and the presenters are on the CV Writers Society website at: cvwriterssociety.ca/conference. Registration is now open. Any questions, contact info@cvwriterssociety.ca.