To Write or Not To Write?

To write or not to write, that is the question. 

My answer is write if it feeds your soul. We all choose how to spend our time between activities of daily living, jobs, and family demands. Some people love video games, music, art, crafts, boating, rafting, flying planes, reading books, or travel.

Writing is solitary and is more aligned with introversion but holds allure for some extroverts. Extroverts are often thrilled to do the networking and promotion once the book is finished.

I would not encourage anyone to quit their day job, at least not initially. There are success stories in writing just as there are superstars in film and sports. Alas, high income is not the lot of most writers, particularly in the current climate where readers want free entertainment. There are writers who know how to game the current system. For instance the erotica market is flooded with barely patched together novellas that sell like hotcakes. I'm not disparaging those authors. They figured out how to play the game and get rewarded financially for it. They earn their money. But for the most part, writing does not pay well. Even in the golden age of traditional publishing, most books never earned back their advances and I've read that most books rarely sold over 400 copies.

With so many self-publishing options, writers no longer have to wait for the golden ticket. They can, with a lot of hard work, build a following and make a little money along the way. They might even strike the mother lode and make a killing. Christopher Paolini and Amanda Hocking managed to do so.

As with any offering to the public you have to be prepared for trolls and critics. You need a thick skin. That is why I highly advise having a tribe. Having people who share your dream and support your goals is priceless.

My advice is to write to feed your soul, because you are driven by love of story, not because you are in a bind and need immediate cash. If success follows, that is a bonus.

For Love or Money?

Books Saved Me

Why Do I Write?

Should You Write A Book

The 3 C's of Successful Authors

Ten Ways Writing is Like Painting

Publishing's Dirty Little Secret

Trolls and the NYT Best Seller List

Offensive Books and the Bully Pulpit

Overcoming Writer's Block

Gifts For Writers

Writing Events with Dates and Status TBA

Whether a one day session, one week conference, or a month-long writing workshop, writing related events are a good way to commune with other writers. They are opportunities to network and get your name out there. In some instances, you can meet and mingle with editors and agents. Some offer critiques or pitching sessions. Nowhere will you find a higher concentration of introverts enjoying each other's company. Local conferences are a good place to meet potential critique groups or recruit members.

Some are free. Some require a fee. Some are more social than others. Many are for new writers, but a few dig deep into craft. You should choose an event that speaks to your needs and desires.

Unfortunately with the pandemic, many in person events have been cancelled. Some have been replaced with virtual events, podcasts, or online classes and lectures.

Virtual events allow for a wider audience and lower costs since attendance does not require travel and lodging. The following list is of conferences with their status to be determined.

The Agile Writer Conference, Richmond, Virginia. The 2020 event was virtual. Check site for updates regarding 2021. https://naiwe.com/

Alaska Writers Guild Conference. Check site for updated information on the 2021 event. https://www.alaskawritersguild.com/

Annual Digital Author and Indie Publishing Writers Conference in Van Nuys, CA check site for plans for 2021. http://wcwriters.com/da/

Bear River Writers' Conference, Boyne City, Michigan. Postponed the 2020 conference until 2021. Visit site for updates. https://lsa.umich.edu/bearriver

BookCon in Midtown Manhattan, check their site for updates regarding the 2021 events. http://www.thebookcon.com/

7th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference visit site for updates on future conferences. http://broadleafwriters.com/

Castle Rock Writers' Conference, Castle Rock, Colorado.  The 2020 event was a one day virtual conference. Visit site for updates about 2021. http://castlerockwriters.com/

Central Coast Writers Conference, San Luis Obispo, California check site for plans for a virtual 2021 conference. https://www.cuesta.edu/communityprograms/writers-conference/

Chicago North RWA Spring Fling Conference. Visit their website for dates and status for 2021. http://chicagospringfling.com/

Columbus State Community College Writers Conference in Columbus, Ohio was cancelled in 2020. Check site for updates regarding 2021. https://www.cscc.edu/academics/departments/english/writers-conference/index.html

Clockwork Alchemy Steampunk Conference, Hyatt Regency SFO, Burlingame, CA Dates and status to be announced. http://www.clockworkalchemy.com/#/about

Deadly Ink in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey was cancelled for 2020. Visit the site for updates about 2021. https://deadly-ink.com

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio Recordings (and bonus Q&A sessions with keynoters) from the 2020 virtual workshop will be available through the end of 2021. http://humorwriters.org/

Fishtrap Summer Weekend, Wallowa Lake Lodge, Joseph, Oregon. The 2020 conference was virtual. Check site for plans for 2021. https://fishtrap.org/summer-fishtrap-2020-workshops-2/

February, March, and April 2021 Fishtrap Writing Workshops at the Center for Arts and Culture in Joseph, Oregon will be held online via Zoom. Recordings of workshops may be made available to registered students. https://fishtrap.org/writing-workshops/

Get Away to Write Retreat, New Smyrna Beach, FL Dates have not yet been released. https://murphywriting.com/workshops/get-away-to-write-florida-writing-retreat/

Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference, Los Angeles, California. The 2020 conference was virtual. Check site for plans for the 2021 conference. 
http://www.wcwriters.com/aglawc/index.html

Hampton Roads Writers holds events throughout the year. Check their site for schedule and details. http://hamptonroadswriters.org/tps2021.php

Highlights Foundation holds classes and virtual workshops. Visit their site for details. https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/upcoming-workshops/

History Writers of America Conference in Colonial Williamsburg, VA has not yet announced plans for the 2021 event. https://hwa.clubexpress.com/

INd'Scribe Con and Book Festival, Peoria, Illinois. The 2020 conference was virtual. Check the site for plans for 2021. https://www.indscribe.com/

Juniper Institute for Young Writers, Amherst, Massachusetts. Event is for high school students finishing grades 9, 10, or 11. 2020's virtual conference was held in December. Plans for 2021 are for a virtual conference with dates to be announced. https://www.umass.edu/juniperyoungwriters

Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio Visit the site for online reservations for events. https://www.kenyonreview.org/workshops/young-writers/

The National Black Writers Conference Biennial Symposium, New York. Check site for dates and status for 2021. https://centerforblackliterature.com/nbwc/

Midwest Writers Workshop, Muncie, Indiana. Check site for updates about the 2021 event. https://www.midwestwriters.org/

Mississippi Writers Conference was cancelled for 2020. Check site for updates for 2021. http://www.mississippiwritersguild.com/

New York State Summer Writers Institute, Skidmore College, New York Applications for New York State Summer Writers Institute will become available in early 2021. We expect to announce more details about the program at that time. Until then, we will continue to plan with the safety and health of our students, faculty and staff as our top priority. 
https://www.skidmore.edu/summerwriters/

North Carolina Writers Conference holds multiple events each year. Check site for dates and status for 2021. https://www.ncwriters.org/programs-and-services/conferences

North Coast Redwoods Writers' Conference in Crescent City, CA. Check site for dates and status for 2021. http://www.ncrwc.org/

Northern Woodlands Conference in Corinth, Vermont. Check the site for status and updates for 2021. https://northernwoodlands.org/conference

Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire. The 2020 workshop was online. No mention of plans for 2021 yet. Odyssey offers other online resources such as classes, webinars, critiques, podcasts, etc. 
http://www.odysseyworkshop.org/
 

33rd Annual Pennwriters Conference, Lancaster, PA dates and status to be announced. https://pennwriters.org/

PNWA Annual Writer's Conference was held virtually in 2020. Check the site for status and updates for 2021. https://www.pnwa.org/page/conference

Pittsburgh Writing Workshop, in Pittsburgh, PA. Check site for updates and status for 2021. https://pittsburghwritingworkshop.com/

Ridgefield Writers Conference was virtual in 2020. Check their site for updates and status for 2021. http://ridgefieldwritersconference.blogspot.com/

Rochester Writers Conference was virtual in 2020. Check their site for updates and status for 2021. https://rochesterwriters.com/

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Workshop, Denver, Colorado Plans for 2021 to be announced. http://rmfw.org/conference/

Romance Writers of America, San Francisco, California. Check site for plans for the summer 2021 event. https://www.rwa.org/Online/Events/Conferences.aspx

Sanibel Writers Conference was held virtually for 2020. Check site for plans for 2021. https://www.fgcu.edu/siwc/index.aspx

Santa Barbara Writers Conference, Santa Barbara, California was cancelled in 2020. Check site for updates for the status of 2021.http://www.sbwriters.com/

Sewanee Writers’ Conference, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. The 2020 conference was replaced with online opportunities. Check site for plans for 2021. http://www.sewaneewriters.org/

Sirenland Writer's Conference. Check site for updates and status. https://sirenland.net/application/

Slice Literary Writers Conference is a virtual event tentatively scheduled for September 2021. Check site for status and updates. https://slicelitcon.org/

Stonecrest Writers Conference at the University of Southern Maine has not announced plans for an event in 2021 yet. Check site for updates and status. https://usm.maine.edu/stonecoastmfa/stonecoast-summer-writers-conference-application

Summer Writing Program at The Capitalocene Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado has not finalized plans for 2021. Check their site for updates. http://www.naropa.edu/academics/swp/index.php

Tennessee Mountain Writers annual conference in Oakridge, Tennessee to be determined for 2021. https://tmwi.org/

The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, New York, NY. The 2020 conference was virtual in November 2020. Check site for plans for the 2021 conference. http://writersdigestconference.com/

Writers Police Academy, Murdercon, Raleigh, N.C. The 2020 conference went virtual. Check site for plans for 2021. https://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/

RETURNING IN 2022/2023

April 7 - 10, 2022 Left Coast Crime, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/

2022 San Francisco Writers Conference in San Francisco, California will return in 2022. Check their site for online classes and podcasts. https://sfwriters.org/

2022 Murder in the Magic City, Homewood Library, Birmingham, Alabama is cancelled for 2021 and hopes to resume in 2022. http://www.mmcmysteryconference.com/

May 6 - 7, 2022, Lakefly Writing Contests and Conference at he Oshkosh Convention Center in Wisconsin is tentatively scheduled for 2022. Check site for updates. https://lakeflywriters.org/

2022 Historical Romance Retreat, Riverside, California. Plans are to resume the conference in 2022. https://www.historicalromanceretreat.com/

2023 Highlights Writing Making Magic Writing and Refining Fantastical and Otherworldly Stories Milanville, PA Registration is full for 2022. Check with the site for 2023. https://highlightsfoundation.secure.retreat.guru/program/making-magic-writing-and-refining-fantastical-and-otherworld-stories-2020

  

2021 Writing Workshops & Conferences January through March

Whether a one day session, one week conference, or a month-long writing workshop, writing related events are a good way to commune with other writers. They are opportunities to network and get your name out there. In some instances, you can meet and mingle with editors and agents. Some offer critiques or pitching sessions. Nowhere will you find a higher concentration of introverts enjoying each other's company. Local conferences are a good place to meet potential critique groups or recruit members.

Some are free. Some require a fee. Some are more social than others. Many are for new writers, but a few dig deep into craft. You should choose an event that speaks to your needs and desires.

Unfortunately with the pandemic, many in person events have been cancelled. Some have been replaced with virtual events, podcasts, or online classes and lectures.

Virtual events allow for a wider audience and lower costs since attendance does not require travel and lodging.

January 7 - 17, 2021 The Pacific University Residency Writers Conference in Seaside, Oregon. will be a virtual residency.  

https://www.pacificu.edu/masters-fine-arts-writing/residency-writers-conference

January 10 - 14, 2022 Key West Literary Seminar and Writers' Workshop Program, Key West, Florida http://www.kwls.org/writers_workshops/

January 11 – March 18, 2021 ThrillerFest, Grand Hyatt New York City, N. Join them for winter virtual thrills. http://thrillerfest.com/

January 14 - 18, 2021 27th Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. Join us online for a supportive conference.  https://wintergetaway.com/

January 15 – 18, 2021 The Colrain Poetry Intensive will be via Zoom this year. Check site for details. http://www.colrainpoetry.com/wp/?page_id=2845

January 16 - 23, 2021 Annual Writers In Paradise Conference, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. We feel that the risk to the health of our faculty, participants, and guest speakers is simply too high.  Though we are disappointed, we look forward to hosting our 2-day virtual event for applicants, which will take place on Sunday and Monday, January 17 and 18. The 2021 program will be moved to 2022. If you applied, please keep your eye out for communications from us with more details. http://www.writersinparadise.com/

February 4, 11, & 18, 2021 Door County The Craft of Writing Young Adult Fiction online event. Check their site for other online classes and events throughout the year. https://writeondoorcounty.org/events/

February 5 - 6, 2021 Rhode Island Romance Writers Retreat, in Middletown-Newport, Rhode Island will take place via ZOOM from Friday evening to Saturday night. https://www.rirw.org/retreat/

February 9th -12th of 2022 Superstars Writing Seminars, Colorado Springs, Colorado http://superstarswriting.com/ 

February 11 - 13, 2021 Life, the Universe and Everything Conference Online, Provo, Utah http://ltue.net/

February 12 - 14, 2021 Southern California Writers Conference, San Diego, California will be held virtually. http://writersconference.com/sd/

February 18 - 21, 2021 Coastal Magic Convention, Urban Paranormal, Fantasy, & Romance in Daytona Beach, Florida will be virtual this year.

http://coastalmagicconvention.com/

February 18 - 20, 2021 Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference at Arizona State University will be a completely virtual event. Also, the Piper Center regularly offers creative writing classes and workshops through the Piper Writers Studio throughout the year. https://piper.asu.edu/conference

February 18 - 21, 2021 Wild Seeds Writers Retreat at Medgar Evers College, CUNY in Brooklyn, NY. https://centerforblackliterature.com/wild-seeds-full-description/

February 18 - 25, 2021 Writers Studio at UCLA Extension, UCLA, California will be a 4-Day intensive workshop series in a safe, fully online environment combining Zoom-based meetings, offline independent work time, small group activities, and other approaches to learning. The conference also features daily guest speakers and a keynote presentation by an industry professional of note. http://writers.uclaextension.edu/writers-studio/

February 27, 2021 Book-EM, Lumberton, North Carolina.  http://www.bookemnc.org/

February - March 2021 San Miguel Writers' Conference & Literary Festival, San Miguel, Mexico. We are going virtual and all our events and workshops will be held on Zoom. https://sanmiguelwritersconference.org/

March 3 - 7, 2021 Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference & Bookfair, San Antonio, Texas will be virtual this year.  https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/

March 6 - 7, 2021 Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson, Arizona will be virtual this year.

http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

March 9 - 12, 2021 Mid-South Christian Writers Conference https://www.midsouthchristianwriters.com/

March 11 - 13, 2021 Futurescapes Conference at Utah Valley University will be virtual this year.http://www.futurescapes.ink/

March 18 - 21, 2021 New York Pitch online event. https://newyorkpitchconference.com

March 19 - 21, 2021 SleuthFest will be held virtually this year. http://sleuthfest.com/

March 19 - 20, 2022 Chicago Writers Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois. Registration is open at 2020 pricing. https://www.chicagowrites.org/conference

March 20, 2021 Bay To Ocean Writers Conference in Wye Mills, Maryland tickets go on sale starting January 15, 2021. https://www.easternshorewriters.org/

March 24 - 26, 2021 52nd University of North Dakota Writers Conference will be held virtually. http://www1.und.edu/orgs/writers-conference 

Next week, I will publish the list of conferences whose status and dates have yet to be announced for 2021 and those that have been postponed until 2022 or 2023. Check their sites for updates. Many conferences are in limbo due to the pandemic. Some will be postponed, canceled. or go virtual.