Published and unpublished writers alike flocked to Washington this weekend for the Pamlico Writers Conference at the Turnage Theatre.

Organized by the Pamlico Writers Group, the writers conference gives writers the opportunity to hear from published authors, learn more about their craft and how to get published and ask questions of those in the industry who know the answers.

“We had a lot of repeat attendees,” said Jim Keen, a longtime Pamlico Writers Group member. “Our conference has become sort of an event that’s looked forward to by lots of local folks.”

This year, the group has aimed its efforts on marketing the event and its companion literary competition to local writers.

“We tried to put focus in North Carolina this year,” Keen said, as last year’s literary competition winners came from as far away as south Florida.

While this year’s winners — all of which are from North Carolina — were announced at the conference’s opening reception, the event as a whole was equal parts performance, education and sharing, one writer to another. Friday night featured keynote speaker Zelda Lockhart, who read, and sang, from her novels.

“It was just her and a microphone on the Turnage stage,” Keen said. “We heard nothing but good comments afterward. She’s a great, great person.”

Saturday started with a panel discussion then break-out sessions led by the panel members. Following lunch was a slam poetry performance and competition by The Bull City Slam Team.

“You might call it rap poetry,” Keen said. “It was very much from the heart and was very good.”

Capping off the event was participation at a higher level.

“We closed it out with a chance for authors to stand up and have an open mic session and read from their works,” Keen said.

Keen said organizers continue to look for ways to improve the conference and pull in more participants. While they want to keep the event small and intimate — under 100 people — organizers are pleased with the conference format but may be reassessing the writing competition, Keen said.