November is a great month for writing conferences and retreats. This is a good time to charge up before the Holidays take over your life. (It's hard to focus on writing when the house is in an uproar. I suggest vast quantities of turkey.)
If you miss your ideal conference this year, there is always next year. To find a month-by-month list of conferences all over the US and Canada, go to Writing Conferences. And if you live abroad, check the resources listed there to find conferences overseas.
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The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. November 2 - 6, 2016, Monterey, CA. Three of the best developmental commercial fiction editor-agents in the business--Paula Munier, Kimberley Cameron, and Michael Neff (see bios on the right)--will be available from 9 AM to noon each day of the retreat for one-on-one sessions with writers. Attendance and focus will be up to each individual writer. They will also schedule, as needed, up to two more hours during afternoons for further one-on-one sessions.
Other Words Literary Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Saint Augustine, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. This year's theme is "Writing Funny: The Literary Art of Humor." The faculty includes poets Kenneth Hart and Michelle Boisseau; fiction writers Ron Cooper and Suzanne Heagy; and nonfiction writers Dawn S. Davies and Bob Kunzinger. The cost of the conference is $50 for FLAC members and $80 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is October 15.
Sanibel Island Writers Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Sanibel Island, Florida. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations, readings, panels, concerts, and book signings. Faculty and visiting writers include poets Richard Blanco, Nickole Brown, and Jessica Jacobs; fiction writers Lynne Barrett, John Dufresne, Gina Frangello, Nathan Hill, Tom Piazza, Darin Strauss, and Liza Wieland; creative nonfiction writers Steve Almond, Sandra Beasley, Stephen Elliott, Jeffrey Thomson, and Sarah Tomlinson; agents Christopher Schelling (Selectric Artists), J. L. Stermer (N. S. Bienstock), and Lauren Tourtelot (Kuhn Projects); and editor Laura Apperson (St. Martin’s Press). The keynote speaker is fiction writer Sue Monk Kidd. The cost of the conference is $500 ($400 for BIG ARTS members and $300 for full-time students). For a manuscript consultation or workshop, submit up to 10 pages of poetry or prose by September 30.
Atlanta Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 5, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia. publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and marketing workshops. Participating publishing professionals include agents Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates), MacKenzie Fraser-Bub (Fraser-Bub Literary), Pete Knapp (New Leaf Literary), Alexa Stark (Trident Media Group), Julie Stevenson (Lippincott Massie McQuilkin), and Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); editors Hannah Braaten (St. Martin’s Press), Gabriella Doob (Ecco), Sarah Guan (DAW Books), Chloe Moffett (William Morrow), Natasha Simons (Gallery Books), and Amy Stapp (Forge and Tor Teen); and marketing associate Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee. The cost of a single session ranges from $40 to $160; The cost of the discounted “All-Activities Package,” which includes two manuscript critiques, one query letter critique, two pitch sessions, the marketing workshop, and two panels, is $560. Registration deadline November 2.
Picture Book Illustration: From Conception to Birth. November 4-6, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This workshop is designed to give you that competitive edge by providing practical tips and direction from an art director with many years of experience working in the trenches.
North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference. November 4-6, 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina. Workshops and master classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and panels on publishing and finding an agent. The faculty includes poets Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar, and Lenard D. Moore; fiction writers Clare Beams, Kim Church, and Angela Davis-Gardner; and creative nonfiction writers Haven Kimmel, Bridgette A. Lacy, Debbie Moose, and John Shelton Reed. The cost of the full conference is $200 or $260 (including meals) for members, and $300 or $375 (including meals) for nonmembers until October 28. Onsite registration is $450 for the full conference, $250 for Sunday-only attendance, and $350 for Saturday-only attendance.
Kauai Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 6, 2016, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Kapaa, Hawaii. craft talks, publishing presentations, agent consultations, and readings for fiction writers and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Lynne Cox, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Kristin Hannah, Jill Landis, Laura Moriarty, and Colson Whitehead; participating publishing professionals include Julie Barer (Barer Literary), Silissa Kenney (St. Martin's Press), and Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberly Cameron and Associates). Registration is limited to 150 participants.
Autumn Writing Getaway. Nov 5, 2016, Galloway NJ. Faculty includes Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds, Barbara Hurd, Carol Plum-Ucci, James Richardson, Peter E. Murphy and more.
Cascade Writers Workshop. November 5, 2016, Tacoma, WA. Remember, remember the 5th of November! This seems like the perfect theme for a Mystery/Crime/Noir and all mix of cross genres event! Even if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal, or another genre, knowing how to twist a plot and create tension through crime can make the difference between a best-seller and humdrum novel. Or taking a romance and adding a noir flair gives a fresher voice to the genre. Whether you’re writing straight crime or a mix, join pros Kat Richardson and Brian Thornton for this mysterious event!
ShowMe Writers Masterclass, Nov. 5-6, 2016, Columbia, MO. Sessions on how to get published by publishing pros. Pitchfest with agents.
Words & Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans. Nov 9 - 13, 2016, New Orleans, LA. Faculty includes National Book Award winners Julia Glass, Adam Johnson; Journalist and fiction editor Jorge F.Hernandez; humorists Roy Bount, Jr.and Harrison Scott Key; poets Mark Yackich, Roger Kamenetz, and Peter Cooley; and 16 top agents and editors.
Everything You Need to Know About Children's Book Publishing: A Crash Course. Nov 10 - 13, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. "If you’ve thought about writing for children but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We’ll guide you through the processes of creating, submitting and selling a book or magazine article, provide you with a one-on-one review of your manuscript and answer all of your questions."
Writing by Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. November 11 - 14, 2016, Tahoe City, California. Workshops for book-length manuscripts, as well as craft talks, readings, and agent panels, and individual meetings with agents. The faculty includes fiction writers Samantha Dunn and Alan Heathcock; and fiction and nonfiction writers Pam Houston and B. K. Loren. The cost of tuition, which includes a manuscript review of up to 300 pages with a faculty member, an individual meeting with an agent, lodging at the Granlibakken Resort, and all meals, is $3,250. Registration deadline September 15.
Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. November 11 - 14, 2016, Hatfield, MA. features workshops of book-length poetry manuscripts with poets and editors Peter Covino, Joan Houlihan, Stephen Motika, Martha Rhodes, and Ellen Watson. The cost of the conference is $1,375, which includes tuition, a private room, and meals. Using the online application system, submit three to four poems and a brief bio.
Time Sculpting: A Workshop for Parent Artists. November 12, 2016, NY, NY. Writing Faculty includes: Melissa Febos, Carmen Maria Machado, Kristin Prevallet, and Colleen Kinder. Professional Development for Teachers led by Sarah Dohrman.
Wake Up and Write Writer's Retreat Workshop. Nov 14 - 19, 2016, Haverford, PA. Classes, one-on-ones, and plenty of writing time. Faculty: author/Instructor David Corbett (The Mercy of the Night, T
he Art of Character) Author/Instructor Arianne Tex Thompson (Children of the Drought series) Editor-in Residence Jason Sitzes Director/Instructor Carol Dougherty.
The Writers Workshop of Las Vegas, November 19, 2016, Las Vegas, NV. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites – Las Vegas. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. Attending agents: Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Jamie Bodnar Drowley (Inklings Literary); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary); Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary); and Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary).
If you miss your ideal conference this year, there is always next year. To find a month-by-month list of conferences all over the US and Canada, go to Writing Conferences. And if you live abroad, check the resources listed there to find conferences overseas.
_________________________
The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. November 2 - 6, 2016, Monterey, CA. Three of the best developmental commercial fiction editor-agents in the business--Paula Munier, Kimberley Cameron, and Michael Neff (see bios on the right)--will be available from 9 AM to noon each day of the retreat for one-on-one sessions with writers. Attendance and focus will be up to each individual writer. They will also schedule, as needed, up to two more hours during afternoons for further one-on-one sessions.
Other Words Literary Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Saint Augustine, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. This year's theme is "Writing Funny: The Literary Art of Humor." The faculty includes poets Kenneth Hart and Michelle Boisseau; fiction writers Ron Cooper and Suzanne Heagy; and nonfiction writers Dawn S. Davies and Bob Kunzinger. The cost of the conference is $50 for FLAC members and $80 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is October 15.
Sanibel Island Writers Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Sanibel Island, Florida. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations, readings, panels, concerts, and book signings. Faculty and visiting writers include poets Richard Blanco, Nickole Brown, and Jessica Jacobs; fiction writers Lynne Barrett, John Dufresne, Gina Frangello, Nathan Hill, Tom Piazza, Darin Strauss, and Liza Wieland; creative nonfiction writers Steve Almond, Sandra Beasley, Stephen Elliott, Jeffrey Thomson, and Sarah Tomlinson; agents Christopher Schelling (Selectric Artists), J. L. Stermer (N. S. Bienstock), and Lauren Tourtelot (Kuhn Projects); and editor Laura Apperson (St. Martin’s Press). The keynote speaker is fiction writer Sue Monk Kidd. The cost of the conference is $500 ($400 for BIG ARTS members and $300 for full-time students). For a manuscript consultation or workshop, submit up to 10 pages of poetry or prose by September 30.
Atlanta Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 5, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia. publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and marketing workshops. Participating publishing professionals include agents Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates), MacKenzie Fraser-Bub (Fraser-Bub Literary), Pete Knapp (New Leaf Literary), Alexa Stark (Trident Media Group), Julie Stevenson (Lippincott Massie McQuilkin), and Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); editors Hannah Braaten (St. Martin’s Press), Gabriella Doob (Ecco), Sarah Guan (DAW Books), Chloe Moffett (William Morrow), Natasha Simons (Gallery Books), and Amy Stapp (Forge and Tor Teen); and marketing associate Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee. The cost of a single session ranges from $40 to $160; The cost of the discounted “All-Activities Package,” which includes two manuscript critiques, one query letter critique, two pitch sessions, the marketing workshop, and two panels, is $560. Registration deadline November 2.
Picture Book Illustration: From Conception to Birth. November 4-6, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This workshop is designed to give you that competitive edge by providing practical tips and direction from an art director with many years of experience working in the trenches.
North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference. November 4-6, 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina. Workshops and master classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and panels on publishing and finding an agent. The faculty includes poets Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar, and Lenard D. Moore; fiction writers Clare Beams, Kim Church, and Angela Davis-Gardner; and creative nonfiction writers Haven Kimmel, Bridgette A. Lacy, Debbie Moose, and John Shelton Reed. The cost of the full conference is $200 or $260 (including meals) for members, and $300 or $375 (including meals) for nonmembers until October 28. Onsite registration is $450 for the full conference, $250 for Sunday-only attendance, and $350 for Saturday-only attendance.
Kauai Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 6, 2016, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Kapaa, Hawaii. craft talks, publishing presentations, agent consultations, and readings for fiction writers and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Lynne Cox, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Kristin Hannah, Jill Landis, Laura Moriarty, and Colson Whitehead; participating publishing professionals include Julie Barer (Barer Literary), Silissa Kenney (St. Martin's Press), and Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberly Cameron and Associates). Registration is limited to 150 participants.
Autumn Writing Getaway. Nov 5, 2016, Galloway NJ. Faculty includes Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds, Barbara Hurd, Carol Plum-Ucci, James Richardson, Peter E. Murphy and more.
Cascade Writers Workshop. November 5, 2016, Tacoma, WA. Remember, remember the 5th of November! This seems like the perfect theme for a Mystery/Crime/Noir and all mix of cross genres event! Even if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal, or another genre, knowing how to twist a plot and create tension through crime can make the difference between a best-seller and humdrum novel. Or taking a romance and adding a noir flair gives a fresher voice to the genre. Whether you’re writing straight crime or a mix, join pros Kat Richardson and Brian Thornton for this mysterious event!
ShowMe Writers Masterclass, Nov. 5-6, 2016, Columbia, MO. Sessions on how to get published by publishing pros. Pitchfest with agents.
Words & Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans. Nov 9 - 13, 2016, New Orleans, LA. Faculty includes National Book Award winners Julia Glass, Adam Johnson; Journalist and fiction editor Jorge F.Hernandez; humorists Roy Bount, Jr.and Harrison Scott Key; poets Mark Yackich, Roger Kamenetz, and Peter Cooley; and 16 top agents and editors.
Everything You Need to Know About Children's Book Publishing: A Crash Course. Nov 10 - 13, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. "If you’ve thought about writing for children but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We’ll guide you through the processes of creating, submitting and selling a book or magazine article, provide you with a one-on-one review of your manuscript and answer all of your questions."
Writing by Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. November 11 - 14, 2016, Tahoe City, California. Workshops for book-length manuscripts, as well as craft talks, readings, and agent panels, and individual meetings with agents. The faculty includes fiction writers Samantha Dunn and Alan Heathcock; and fiction and nonfiction writers Pam Houston and B. K. Loren. The cost of tuition, which includes a manuscript review of up to 300 pages with a faculty member, an individual meeting with an agent, lodging at the Granlibakken Resort, and all meals, is $3,250. Registration deadline September 15.
Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. November 11 - 14, 2016, Hatfield, MA. features workshops of book-length poetry manuscripts with poets and editors Peter Covino, Joan Houlihan, Stephen Motika, Martha Rhodes, and Ellen Watson. The cost of the conference is $1,375, which includes tuition, a private room, and meals. Using the online application system, submit three to four poems and a brief bio.
Time Sculpting: A Workshop for Parent Artists. November 12, 2016, NY, NY. Writing Faculty includes: Melissa Febos, Carmen Maria Machado, Kristin Prevallet, and Colleen Kinder. Professional Development for Teachers led by Sarah Dohrman.
Wake Up and Write Writer's Retreat Workshop. Nov 14 - 19, 2016, Haverford, PA. Classes, one-on-ones, and plenty of writing time. Faculty: author/Instructor David Corbett (The Mercy of the Night, T
he Art of Character) Author/Instructor Arianne Tex Thompson (Children of the Drought series) Editor-in Residence Jason Sitzes Director/Instructor Carol Dougherty.
The Writers Workshop of Las Vegas, November 19, 2016, Las Vegas, NV. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites – Las Vegas. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. Attending agents: Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Jamie Bodnar Drowley (Inklings Literary); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary); Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary); and Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary).
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