The first Viroqua Writer’s Workshop one year ago was such a success, Patrick Strickler couldn’t help but commit to planning a second one.

About 35 writers from throughout the Midwest attended Viroqua’s inaugural writer’s workshop in September of last year. The workshop not only aided writers, but also led to stories on Viroqua, poems being written about the place, and a pending story in the Chicago Sun-Times that points to Viroqua as being the center of southwest Wisconsin’s trout-fishing resources, Strickler said.

“Another writer is looking at writing a piece in connection to the health care offered here,” Strickler, organizer of the workshop, said. “I can see having the workshop here as starting to pay as a long-term investment.”

Strickler said the second Viroqua Writer’s Workshop, being planned for Sept. 18-21, would be a much more intimate affair. He said the workshop will be limited to only 20 writers.

“The feedback we got after last year’s workshop is that the writers wanted to spend more time here,” Strickler said. “Two more things they were interested in focusing on were environmental and travel writing. We obviously have a strong area for travel writing and with what’s happening in our county, also have issues of the environment that a paramount.”

Strickler said he’s still working on the agenda for the event, but it will include fewer presentations and more interaction between the writers. The lineup of speakers has not been finalized, although it tentatively includes a prominent member of the University of Wisconsin’s Writer’s Institute, an ecologist from Trout Unlimited and a travel editor from a metropolitan newspaper.

Registrations for the event will cost $200, same as last year. Strickler also added that any business sponsors interested in participating can contact him again about their involvement. To register or for more information, contact Strickler at 608-634-4814 or e-mailing him at thebluewatersgroup@yahoo.com