About WCCW

West Coast Christian Writers (WCCW) is a nonprofit writing community that offers fellowship, workshops, and an annual conference for writers at all levels. Known for expert speakers and teachers, with a flair for innovation and forward thinking, WCCW is committed to serving the community of Christian writers in all of its richness and diversity. We help our writers thrive by supporting their next faith-filled step in the writing journey.

History

Jon Drury founded the Christian Writers Seminar (now West Coast Christian Writers) in 1994 at Redwood Chapel in Castro Valley, California—where he served on the pastoral staff. Born out of his own journey to publication, Jon had a heart for beginning writers and aimed to keep the conference approachable and affordable, with a focus on craft and making connections. The first seminar was held in the choir room with keynote speaker Ethel Herr. Spurred by the positive feedback he received from attendees, Jon grew the seminar, but his mission never changed: rolling out the red carpet to serve writers for the glory of God.

In 2015, Jon passed the torch to Susy Flory and a new team of writers. Operating under the nonprofit umbrella of sister organization Inspire Christian Writers, the team renamed the conference West Coast Christian Writers and relocated to a church in Fremont. Author and speaker Kathi Lipp keynoted at the relaunch, sharing a message about "writing brave.”

In 2017, the conference moved to Crosswinds Church in nearby Livermore, California, and in 2018, the innovation began with the launch of an additional smaller, intermediate-level event called LIT.

At the end of 2019, WCCW formally separated from Inspire and incorporated as its own 501(c)3 nonprofit, developing a board of directors and receiving tax-exempt status. In February 2020, WCCW hosted LIT just two weeks before the world shut down for Covid-19. Following this “plot twist,” WCCW pivoted to an online conference for 2021 and 2022 and began drawing Christian writers from across the country and world.

Due to a growing attendance, WCCW relocated to Bridgeway Christian Church in Roseville, CA, returning for an in-person conference in fall 2023 and launching a much-requested membership program. In January 2024, WCCW hired its first part-time employees to support the growth of the organization.

Despite all the changes through the years, one tradition that Jon established has remained: singing the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” at the close of every conference.