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/
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/
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/
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.
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
