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Finding the Right Writers' Conference -- Summer Events

In our January 25th post, I listed a sampling of upcoming conferences through April 2010. This month I’m taking a look at conferences scheduled for May through August. The list is representative of events across the country available to help you improve your writing skills and get feedback from editors and agents.

You can find more information at Shaw Guides. For a series of informative articles about conferences from Writer's Digest editor Chuck Sambuchino, check out the Writers Conference category of his blog archives.

The focus of these conferences is writing. The cost is minimal for some of the one-day programs. Pitch sessions are available at several. All of the information for each conference or workshop can be found at its official website. Click on the conference name and follow the link.


May


Florida Center for the Literary Arts
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida
May 5-8, 2010

Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Denver, Colorado
Ongoing workshops, retreats

Maryland Writers' Association
Baltimore, Maryland
May 2010 (details to be announced)


June


Wesleyan Writers Conference
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut
June 17-21, 2010

Philadelphia Writers' Conference
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
June 11-13, 2010

Wyoming Writers, Inc. Annual Conference
Cody, Wyoming
June 4-6, 2010

Iowa Summer Writing Festival
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Workshops throughout June and July

Jackson Hole Writers Conference
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
June 24-27, 2010


July


Midwest Writers’ Workshop
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
July 29-31, 2010

Romance Writers of America
Nashville, Tennessee
July 28 - 31, 2010


August

Sun Valley Writers’ Conference
Sun Valley, Idaho
August 20-23, 2010


I attended the Midwest Writers’ Workshop in Indiana many, many years ago and considered it a valuable learning experience. If anyone has additional feedback on these conferences, please let us know. Do you have a favorite writers' conference to add? If so, please give us a link with your comment.

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Patricia Stoltey is a mystery author, blogger, and critique group facilitator. Active in promoting Colorado authors, she also helps local unpublished writers learn the critical skills of manuscript revision and self-editing. For information about Patricia’s Sylvia and Willie mystery series, visit her website and her blog. You can also find her on Facebook (Patricia Stoltey) and Twitter (@PStoltey).


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Comments

  1. April 30-May 2
    Arlington, VA
    http://www.malicedomestic.org/

    June 12:
    American Independent Writers
    Washingon, DC http://www.amerindywriters.org/home/2010/02/04/registration-now-open-for-aiws-31st-annual-washington-writers-conference/

    July 7-10:
    Thrillerfest ($$$$)
    New York City
    http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/index.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. May 14-15
    New Bern Literary Symposium
    http://www.cravenarts.org/literary_symposium.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would add Write! Canada, June 17-19 in Guelph, Ontario. It is Canada's largest Christian Writer's Conference. Sponsored by The Word Guild, the conference this year, features Dr. Joel Freeman, author of the book "If Nobody Loves You, Create the Demand," as keynote speaker, plus there are in-depth continuing classes, wide-ranging workshops, and a host of other learning and promotional opportunities. To learn more visit http://www.writecanada.org

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster, PA from May 13-16. It will be my first conference, I can't wait :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's little and I haven't attended, so I can't attest to its utility, but the Ann Arbor Book Festival (May 14 and 15) had an annual Writer's Conference on the second day: http://www.aabookfestival.org/

    Hoping to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for posting the list. There is a good conference in East Texas April 23 & 24. Info can be found at this site http://netwo.org/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Public Safety Writers Association's conference June 17 - 20 in Las Vegas. Lots of workshops on craft plus panels, but you must register before March 31 to be on a panel, http://www.publicsafetywriter.com
    Small, helpful and fun conference.

    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  8. 2010 Northwest Christian Writers Renewal, May 7-8, 2010

    http://nwchristianwriters.org/events.html

    This year featuring Brandilyn Collins who write Seatbelt Suspense...going to be amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the list, Patricia. And the links!

    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for all the great additions to our conference list. I didn't comment sooner because, odd as it may seem, I was attending a conference yesterday and today.

    The Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins was excellent. It just keeps getting better every year, thanks to NCW director Kerrie Flanagan.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.

    ReplyDelete

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