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.
April 8 - 11, 2021 Book Lovers Convention, Nashville, Tennessee visit their site for updates and the status. https://www.bookloverscon.com/
April 9 - 10, 2021 24TH Annual Blue
Ridge Writers Conference in Blue Ridge Georgia. https://www.blueridgewritersconference.com/
April 10, 2021 Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference at the Holiday Inn in Clark, NJ http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference/
April 12 - 18, 2021 Breakout Novel Intensive in Hood River Oregon. https://www.free-expressions.com/breakout-novel-intensive-hood-river-or
April 13 - 29, 2021The American Society of
Journalists and Authors Conference (ASJA), New York Marriott Downtown, New York
City, New York, Conference will be hosted virtually April 13-29 and will span
three tracks: Journalism (April 13-15), Books (April 20-23), Content Marketing
(April 27-29). https://na.eventscloud.com/website/20696/
April 16 - 19, 2021 Colrain Poetry Classic will be held via Zoom this year. http://www.colrainpoetry.com/wp/?page_id=2871
April 17, 2021 A Rally For Writers Conference in Lansing, Michigan. The
2020 conference was cancelled. Check site for updates relating to the 2021
event. https://arallyofwriters.wordpress.com/
April 21 - 25, 2021 The Muse and the Marketplace, GrubStreet’s National Conference for Writers in Boston, Massachusetts will be virtual this year. http://museandthemarketplace.com/
April 21 – 25, 2021 Chanticleer Authors Conference, Bellingham, Washington. Hotel Bellwether will be virtual this year. https://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/
April
22 - 25, 2021 The St. Augustine
Author-Mentor Novel Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida https://algonkianconferences.com/conferences.html
April 23 - 25, 2021 Pikes Peak Writers Conference has decided to host a virtual conference in 2021 with the plan to come back as a hybrid conference in 2022. More to come about registration which will open January 15, 2021. Check site for updates in the upcoming days/weeks. https://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc
April 24 - May 1, 2021 Ravencon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention will take place in Richmond, Virginia. http://www.ravencon.com/
April 24 - May 2, 2021 Northern Colorado Writers Conference will be a virtual conference this year. Registration Begins December 2020. http://www.northerncoloradowriters.com/
April 30 - May 2, 2021 Malice Domestic Convention, Bethesda, MD. Malice Domestic is extending the Agatha Registration Deadline until January 31, 2021. While we continue to evaluate options and plan for the best possible Malice 32/33, we feel this deadline extension is necessary. Everyone who is registered or becomes a Friend of Malice by January 31, 2021, will receive an Agatha Nomination Ballot in early February. http://malicedomestic.org/
May
7 - 9, 2021 Atlanta Writers Conference, Our 24th conference offers
virtual agent/editor meetings and an online workshop doubleheader featuring NYT
bestseller Lisa Gardner. https://atlantawritersconference.com/
May 10 - 17, 2021 Longleaf Writers' Conference, Seaside, Florida. Tentative plans are for an in person event but is subject to change. www.longleafwritersconference.com
May 13 - 15, 2021 Storymakers 2021 Conference registration will open February 9th, 2021 at 6 AM MST. It is tentative set for an in-person event but may change to virtual. Check their site for updates. https://ldstorymakersconference.com/
May 15 - 18, 2021 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference in Alaska, will be a virtual event. Early-bird Registration is November 23, 2020 – February 28, 2021. Public Registration is March 1 - May 7, 2021. http://writersconf.kpc.alaska.edu/
May 20 - 23, 2021 Stokercon Horror Conference, the Royal and Grand Hotels, Scarborough, United Kingdom. Pandemic travel restrictions apply. http://stokercon2021.org/
May 24 - 28, 2021 Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers, University of Houston, Texas will be virtual this year. http://boldfaceconference.com/
May 26 - 29, 2021 North Words Writers Symposium, Skagway, Alaska. http://nwwriterss.com/
May
30 -June 2, 2021 Blue Ridge
Christian Writer’s Conference, Asheville, NC
https://www.blueridgeconference.com/
June 3 - 4, 2021 Clarksville Writers Conference in Clarksville, Tennessee. Visit site for updates. http://www.artsandheritage.us/writers/descript.html
June 3 - 6, 2021 Indiana University Writers' Conference, Bloomington, Indiana will be virtual this year. https://iuwc.indiana.edu/
June 7 - 13, 2021 VCFA Novel Retreat, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, Vermont. In a state of cautious optimism, we are planning for an on-campus retreat. However, if pandemic conditions warrant, we will again hold the retreat remotely via Zoom. https://vcfa.edu/novel-retreat/
June
11, 2021 Annual West of the Moon
Writer’s Retreat, New Harmony, Indiana has plans to be in
person. Visit site for updates and plans for 2021. http://westofthemoonretreat.com/the-retreat/
June
12 - 13, 2021 DFW Writers Conference (DFWCon), Dallas- Fort Worth Texas. Check site for status of
the workshop in 2021. https://dfwcon.org/
June
12-13, 2021 California Crime Writers
Conference Culver City, California, https://ccwconference.org/
June 13 - 17, 2021 Tinker Mountain Writers, Hollins University, Virginia will be virtual this year. https://www.hollins.edu/academics/workshops-online-writing-courses/tinker-mountain-writers-workshop-residential/
June 17 - 27, 2021 Fine Arts Residency
Conference Pacific University campus, Forest Grove, Oregon. https://www.pacificu.edu/masters-fine-arts-writing/residency-writers-conference
June 17 - 19, 2021 Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Updates to the website with plans for 2021 will be posted as soon as details are finalized. http://www.kychristianwriters.com/
June 20 - 26, 2021 Kenyon Review Fiction Workshop, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio is excited to offer a new suite of online programs for summer 2021. https://kenyonreview.org/writers/fiction/
June 20 - 26, 2021 Chesapeake Writers’ Conference at the St. Mary's College of Maryland hopes to offer an in person event this year. Check site for updates. https://www.smcm.edu/events/chesapeake-writers-conference/
June 21 -
26, 2021 Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference, Bemidji State University, Minnesota. Conference will be
online. http://www.northwoodswriters.org
June 22 - 26, 2022 Wesleyan Writers Conference, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. The 2021 conference has been cancelled. Check site for plans for 2022. http://www.wesleyan.edu/writing/conference/
June 23rd – 27th, 2021 The 30TH Jackson Hole Writer’s Conference registration
begins January 2nd. A 100% virtual event with post-conference access to
material. http://jacksonholewritersconference.com
June 25 - 26, 2021 Chuckanut Writers Conference in Bellingham, WA, will announce the full details in the fall. Check site for updates. https://www.whatcom.edu/academics/community-continuing-education/chuckanut-writers-conference