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. Note that information for this list is accurate as to what was available in January 2023. Dates and formats may change.
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.
Due to the pandemic, some conferences will be virtual, others hybrid. However, most have returned to in-person events with or without requirements for vaccines and masking. Please check each conference website for details.
DATES/STATUS
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Alaska Writers Guild
Conference. Check site for updated information on the 2023 event. The
2022 event was in-person September 30 – October. https://www.alaskawritersguild.com/
Annual West of the Moon Writer’s Retreat, New Harmony, Indiana TBA http://westofthemoonretreat.com/the-retreat/
Annual James River Writers Annual Conference. TBAhttps://jamesriverwriters.org/
Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers, University of Houston, Texas details to be announced. http://boldfaceconference.com/
BookCon in Midtown Manhattan, check their site for updates regarding the 2023 event. http://www.thebookcon.com/
Castle
Rock Writers' Conference, Castle
Rock, Colorado. To be announced. Check their
site for updates. http://castlerockwriters.com/
Chesapeake Writers’ Conference at the St. Mary's College of Maryland hopes to offer an in person event this year. TBA. Check site for updates. https://www.smcm.edu/events/chesapeake-writers-conference/
DFW Writers Conference (DFWCon), Dallas- Fort Worth Texas. Check site for details of the 2023 conference. https://dfwcon.org/
Door County Young Writers Conference is an in-person event at Sturgeon Bay High School. Check their site for other online classes and events throughout the year. To Be Announced https://writeondoorcounty.org/
Fine Arts Residency Conference Pacific University campus, Forest Grove, Oregon. TBA. https://www.pacificu.edu/masters-fine-arts-writing/residency-writers-conference
Gold Rush Writer Conference in Mokelumne Hill, CA. TBA Check site for updates for 2023. http://www.goldrushwriters.com/
GrubStreet The Muse and the Marketplace, will evolve from an annual conference held once per year into a conference series featuring year-round online and in-person programming in GrubStreet's new home at the Center for Creative Writing. We expect to unveil our initial line-up of spring and summer presenters and dates early in the new year, with registration—including priority access and discounts for GrubStreet members—opening shortly after. We can’t wait to see you at our conference series in 2023 and to start this next chapter together! http://museandthemarketplace.com/
Hampton Roads Writers holds events throughout the year. Check their site for schedule and details. http://hamptonroadswriters.org/
Highlights Foundation holds classes and virtual workshops throughout the year, live and virtual events. 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 a 2023 event. https://hwa.clubexpress.com/
Juniper Institute for Young Writers, Amherst, Massachusetts. Event is for high school students finishing grades 9, 10, or 11. No dates announced for 2023. Visit the site for more information. https://www.umass.edu/juniperyoungwriters
Kauai Writers Conference Kauai to be announced for 2023. http://www.kauaiwritersconference.com
Kenyon Review Fiction Workshop, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio is excited to offer a new suite of online programs for summer dates to be determined. https://kenyonreview.org/writers/fiction/
Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Elizabethtown, Kentucky TBAt. http://www.kychristianwriters.com/
Men of Mystery Conference to be announced. https://www.menofmystery.org/
Mississippi Writers Conference was cancelled for 2020 and 2021. Check site for updates for 2023. http://www.mississippiwritersguild.com/
The National Black Writers Conference date to be announced. https://centerforblackliterature.org
North Carolina Writers Conference holds multiple events each year. Check site for dates and status for 2023. https://www.ncwriters.org/programs-and-services/conferences
Northern Woodlands Conference in Corinth, Vermont. Check the site for status and updates for 2023. Last year was a one-day conference. https://northernwoodlands.org/conference
Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire Odyssey offers other ongoing online resources such as classes, webinars, critiques, podcasts, etc. ext Sessions Starting June 5, 2023 (6 weeks), August 14, 2023 (12 weeks), November 27, 2023 (18 weeks) http://www.odysseyworkshop.org/
Pittsburgh Writing Workshop, in Pittsburgh, PA. Check site for updates and status for 2023. https://pittsburghwritingworkshop.com/
PNWA Annual Writer's Conference TBA https://www.pnwa.org/page/conference
Sanibel Writers Conference was held virtually for 2022. Check site for plans for 2023. https://www.fgcu.edu/siwc/
Sewanee Writers’ Conference, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. Check site for plans for 2023. http://www.sewaneewriters.org/
Southampton Writers Conference, Southampton, New York to be announced. https://www.stonybrook.edu/writers/
The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, New York, NY. To Be Announced. Check site for plans for the 2023 conference. http://writersdigestconference.com/
Writers' League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference, Austin, Texas. Check site for updates
on the 2023 Conference. https://writersleague.org/programs/summer-writing-retreat/
