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.

Story Analysis Questionnaire

I often see the question, "Do I need to read books to write books?"

I believe you do. Even without a formal education, through reading you absorb story architecture, effective dialogue, vivid scene setting, use of language, etc. I honestly don't understand why someone would wish to write books if they don't like them! Publishing is worse odds than playing the lotto if they are looking for a quick buck.

Analyzing story through reading is a powerful tool. By opening the cover and dissecting the construction of each scene and chapter, you become familiar with story architecture. Find a book that interests you and take notes as you read. Reading for pleasure and reading for mechanics are different experiences.

STORY ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE

1) What was the genre/subgenre?

2)  What was the overall problem the story centered around? Can you identify it (a battle to be won, a mystery to be solved, a relationship to be resolved)? 

3) Note the key events that happen in each chapter or scene. Were questions raised or answered? Conflicts started, extended, or resolved? Important information or background given? Did any of them feel like wasted page time?

4) Where was the setting for the book overall and each scene? How was it described? Did evoke emotion? Did descriptions include the five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, touch? Did the location support or contrast the action and dialogue? For example, a humorous moment at a sad occasion, etc.

5) Who were the characters? How were they described? Were the descriptions vague or highly detailed? Were you satisfied by the descriptions? Were the characters unique or caricatures? What were the details of each main character that you gathered along the way? Were they overly repetitive? Were any of the characters too stupid to live? Were any of them unnecessary? What made you love/hate each character?

6) Note the chapter when each character was introduced. Were they dismissed from the story? What was their final disposition?

7) Looking at dialogue, was important information relayed in each exchange or did it kill time? Was there conflict or tension in the exchanges, perhaps humor to break the tension? Mark the conversations that felt critical and those that bored or annoyed you. Did the conversations elicit emotion?

8) Was there a physical altercation, battle, or chase scene? Break down the action and reaction beats. Was there a recovery?

9) Were there subplots? List the details. Did they add to the story or detract from it? Were the subplots or secondary characters' stories resolved?

10) Mark places you lost interest and segments where you could not put it down.

11) Highlight segments that made you feel emotion: happiness, sadness, anger, tension, anticipation, anxiety, fear, love. Did a section bring you to tears or make you laugh out loud?

12) Could you determine a theme or themes? What passages addressed theme? Were there specific statements by characters or incidents to reinforce theme?

13) Did anything turn you off about the story or their writing style? What would you do differently?

14) Were you left feeling satisfied with the story or do you feel the writer let you down at the end? What could have been done differently to fix it?

You can learn a lot by reading top selling books in the genre you wish to write in.

Here are several worksheets to help you with this process:

Story Building Worksheet

Scene Building Worksheet

Character Building Worksheet

Dissecting Agatha Christie

Story Analyses

You can find more free forms http://dianahurwitz.com/freeforms.html

Learning From Story Analyses

While researching the information for Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict, I dissected hundreds of books, movies, and television shows. I broke them down chapter by chapter and scene by scene. Breaking down a story in this way can help you learn structure, elements that worked and those that didn't.

Here are a few of my blog posts about story elements.

The Power of Story

New Stories

Conflict Overview: The Americans

Antihero as Protagonist Luke Murphy

What Dan Brown Does Right

Analysis Watcher in the Woods

Dissecting Christie Part 1 Crooked House

Dissecting Christie Part 2

Dissecting Christie Part 3

Dissecting Christie Part 4

Dissecting Christie Part 5

Dissecting Christie Part 6

The Magic of Voice A R Kahler

Mental Detours Burn Notice

House at the End of the Street Part 1

House at the End of the Street Part 2

Going Dark

Dark Places Part 1

Dark Places Part 2

Red Sparrow: A Broken Winged Bird

Wonder Woman versus Atomic Blonde

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Review of Throne of Glass

And Then There Were None Agatha Christie

Anne of Green Gables

Lessons from The Voice

A Tale of Two Dystopias Kincaid and Bracken

A Mystery with Multiple POVs Deborah Crombie

Conflicts of the Hunger Games Reading as a fan and reading as an analyst are two different experiences. To analyze a book, you have to pause after each scene and take notes, then take a longer look back at the overall arc and what worked (or failed). Here are some questions to ponder as you do so.

Story Analysis Questions Next week's post is a questionnaire to help you with your analysis of books.
Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict, available in ebook and print, was the result of my analyses of what makes good fiction. You can learn about the process and access free tools and forms at http://dianahurwitz.com/sbbbooks.html

Mastering Revision

Once your draft is done, the hard work starts: the revision process. In addition to grammar and sentence structure, these revisions tips can help you identify plot holes and speed bumps that affect the reader's enjoyment of your story.

Revision is Half the Battle

Speed Bumps

The Reaction Plot Hole

Find and Replace Tool

Proofreading Tips Part 1 of 2

Proofreading Tips Part 2 of 2

Give Your Book A Listen

Backing up your Babies

Tips for Managing Your Files

More tips on revising your draft can be found in Story Building Blocks III: The Revision Layers available in ebook and print. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website  www.dianahurwitz.com along with free forms.

Mastering Grammar and Prose

The elements that make prose "good" are subjective. It can be lyrical or plain. Your readers must be able to understand your words to enjoy the story. Grammatical and word usage errors are speed bumps. It is important to smooth them out so the reader's trip through your story is smooth. You don't have to waste time on perfecting your words until you have a solid draft.

Think of sentence structure and grammar as the melody to the lyrics of your words.

Here are articles on sentence structure, basic grammar, rhetorical devices and other story elements.

Ten Tasks of the First Chapter 

First Lines 

First Lines Don't Have to be Complex 

Prologue and Epilogue 

Backstory with Bite 

Layering Backstory to Create Conflict 

Avoid Backstory Plot Holes

Memories and Flashbacks

Description Exercises 

Crafting Rules of Magic 

Perils of the Paranormal 

Universal Themes Part 1 

Universal Themes Part 2 

Watch That Tone 

Examples of Tone 

What is Tone? 

Endings

Narrative Summary 

Five Show Don't Tell Danger Zones 

Narrator Intrusion Part 1 

Narrator Intrusion Part 2 

Injecting Humor Plot 

Injecting Humor 

Injecting Humor into Dialogue 

Humor Isn't just for Comedies 

Pick Your Battles: Writing Fight Scenes 

Interiority Part 1 

Interiority Part 2 

Catching the Rhythm (Sentences) 

Verb Tense 

Made Up Verbs 

Irregular Verbs

Passive Verbs

Weak Verbs 

Split Infinitives 

Subject Verb Agreement 

Verb Phrases

Redundancies 

Cliches 

Colloquialisms

  

Idioms 

Purple Prose

Melodrama

Interjections 

Jargon 

Profanity 

Sound Effects 

Foreign and Made Up Words 

Crafting Fictional Languages 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 1 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 2 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 3 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 4 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 5 

Spicing Up Your Prose Part 6 

Revising Rhetorical Devices 

The above information can be found in Story Building Blocks III: The Revision Layers available in ebook and print. 

Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms.

Mastering Worldbuilding

Whether you are covering a historical time period or crafting a Fantasy or Science Fiction world, it is important to bring the time and place to life for the reader. The following articles can help you do so.


Welcome to Worldbuilding

Apparel

Pigments and Dyes

Fabrics

Footwear

Accessories

Metals

Jewelry

Gemstones

Appearance

Hygiene

Communication

Crafting Languages

Information

Education

Employment

Technology

Dates & Measures

Medicine

Transportation

Entertainment

Finance

Public Spaces

Food

Climate and Weather

Flora and Fauna

Shelter

Law

Governance

Social Structure

Weapons

Mores

Myths and Legends

Worldbuilding: Imaginary Creatures

Research Maps

Build A World Map Sites

Research Festivals and Faires

Research Live Reenactments

Research Film Reenactments

Research Virtual Reality Tours

Research Online Resources

Worldbuilding Revision

The information on worldbuilding is available in Story Building Blocks Build A World Workbook in ebook and print. 

 Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms.