Contestants scribbled on paper or tapped on their laptops with only 15 minutes to finish a grueling writing assignment. They’d come to Fess Parker’s Doubletree in the last week of June to attend the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and as a bonus got to compete in the reality TV style challenge called the Ultimate Write-Off. Viewers can share in the fun by tuning in to Part 1 of the Ultimate Write-Off TV special on cable channel 17.

The competition was the brainchild of Cheri Steinkellner, Montecito resident and former head writer for Cheers, and Marcia Meier, SBWC Executive Director, welcomed the addition to the many activities offered. On the first day the Reagan Room filled with anxious participants. Steinkellner invented unique writing tasks for each of the six days, which included writing poetry for a chosen prop, creating a musical number for a work never before put to music, and coming up with dialogue with a partner in the style of famous writers such as David Mamet and Tennessee Williams. One day the assignment centered around food in honor of celebrity guest judge Fannie Flagg.

Different judges tallied up scores at the end of every day’s event. At the awards banquet at the close of the Conference four winners were announced. Some who competed found the race for top honors nerve-racking. But no matter who won, all the contestants enjoyed themselves and got to pump their writing muscles.

The 36-year-old Santa Barbara Writers Conference is the nation’s preeminent conference for writers interested in improving their craft, primarily through workshops that focus on the reading and critiquing of each writer’s work.

The Ultimate Write-Off was videotaped and edited by Lisa Angle of Ninety Degrees Media, who is also on staff at The Santa Barbara Channels that runs cable channels 17 and 21. Second camera operator on the program was Victoria Minnich, whose short documentary World’s Easiest Catch premiered at last year’s Ocean Film Festival

Here’s s five-minute sneak preview of the two-part Ultimate Write-Off:

Find more videos like this on The Santa Barbara Writers Conference

For further air dates and times check the channel 17 schedule. Part 2 of the Ultimate Write-Off will premiere on channel 17 sometime in October.