With the end of summer comes a renewed interest in getting back to work.
For a writer, the work never really ends, but aside from focusing on getting your ideas out of your head and onto paper, getting your manuscript into the hands of people who will publish it entails a great deal of effort - as well as knowledge, preparation, and encouragement.
Fortunately, there are many conferences this coming month that will accomplish just that, as well as enabling you to get connected with the larger writing community. (Speaking of getting connected - check out Dragon Con. Even if sci-fi is not your genre, this conference sounds like a hoot!)
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DragonCon, Sept. 4–7, Atlanta, Ga. HUGE sci-fi event, with parade, autograph sessions, live performances, readings, wrestling (!), workshops on belly dancing, writing (yes, there's even some writing), art show.
Kentucky Women Writers Conference, Sept. 11–12, Lexington, Ky.The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is the longest running literary festival of women in the nation. Presenters: Angela Ball, Bianca Bargo, Ann Beattie, Martha Billips, Emily Bingham, Meghan Daum, Kathleen Driskell, Joy Harris, Allison Joseph, Carson Kreitzer, Jessica Helen Lopez, Hannah Pittard, Sonia Sanchez, Jacinda Townsend. Numerous workshops.
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference, Sept. 11- 13, Westminster, CO. Keynote Speakers: Jeffery Deaver and Desiree Holt. Faculty includes a wide variety of published authors, marketers, editors, and agents. Opportunities to pitch projects to agents and editors.
San Francisco Writing for Change, Sept 12, San Francisco, CA. This event is for writers of nonfiction AND fiction who want to change the world for the better through their work.
Light Your Fuse Creativity Retreat, Sept 12, Bethlehem, PA. Writing workshop. "The event will focus on craft and motivation, and after our fabulous speakers do their thing, there will be brainstorming and writing sessions in a supportive, casual, and fun environment."
Slice Literary Writers’ Conference, Sept 12 - 13, Brooklyn, NY. craft workshops, panels, and one-on-one agent meetings for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include fiction writers Ben Greenman, Julia Fierro, Bret Anthony Johnston, and Nicole Krauss; and creative nonfiction writers Leslie Jamison and Rebecca Mead. Participating publishing professionals include Sarah Bowlin (Henry Holt), Katie Freeman (Riverhead/Penguin), Brigid Hughes (A Public Space), Maris Kreizman (Kickstarter), Vanessa Mobley (Little, Brown), Benjamin Samuel (National Book Foundation), and Rob Spillman (Tin House); and agents Michelle Brower (Folio Literary Management), Lisa DiMona (Writers House), Kirby Kim (Janklow & Nesbit), Stephanie Kip Rostan (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency), and Renée Zuckerbrot (Renée Zuckerbrot Literary Agency).
New York Pitch Conference, Sept 17 - 20, 2015, New York NY. Features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.Workshops, homework & pitch training, agent/editor feedback, market study, publication plan.
THE MAGIC OF 13 - SCBWI: Northern Ohio 13th Annual Conference, Sept 18 - 19, Cleveland, OH. Hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Northern Ohio. Faculty: Nikki Garcia (Little Brown Books); Loraine Joyner (Peachtree); Maria Lamba (Jennifer De Chiara); Kendra Levin (Viking's Children's Books/Penguin Young Readers); Jodel Sadler (Sadler Literary); Vicki Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara) and many authors.
North Coast Redwoods Writers' Conference. Sept 18 - 19, Crescent City, CA. Workshops on writing, poetry, memoir, editing, social media, marketing, fiction, submitting.
Brooklyn Book Festival, September 20, Brooklyn, NY. Readings, panels, workshops, and a book fair. Participants include poets Elizabeth Alexander, Tina Chang, Colin Channer, Nick Flynn, Saeed Jones, Gregory Pardlo, and Tracy K. Smith; fiction writers Daniel Alarcón, Carmiel Banasky, Paul Beatty, Edwidge Danticat, Andre Dubus III, Angela Flournoy, Ann Hood, Phil Klay, László Krasznahorkai, Joyce Carol Oates, Francine Prose, Salman Rushdie, and Laura van den Berg; and creative nonfiction writers Kate Bolick, Sloane Crosley, Geoff Dyer, Vivian Gornick, and Jon Ronson. All events are free and open to the public.
The Florida Heritage Book Festival & Writers Conference, Sept 24 - 26, St. Augustine FL. Faculty includes Vicki Hendricks, Elizabeth Sims, John Dufresne, Laura Lee Smith, and more. Book Festival authors include Mary Kay Andrews, Lisa Black, John Dufresne, Scott Eyman, Jon Jefferson, Connie Mae Fowler and many more.
Be a Better Freelancer - Take it to the 10th! Sept 25 - 26, Rochester NY. Annual conference for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, graphic artists, website managers and developers, etc., with presenters offering guidance and tips on marketing, promotions, new skills and other business aspects of freelancing. Focus: Nonfiction.
Chicago Writers Conference, September 25 - 27, 2015, Chicago, Ill. Join other writers, editors, publishers and agents for a weekend of learning and fun! Panels, pitch sessions, and educational talks, along with a Friday night kick-off party. Sessions on publishing, self-publishing, how to pitch, craft of YA, meet the publishers, websites, nonfiction, and many more.
Creatures, Crimes & Creativity, September 25 - 27, Hunt Valley, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.
SF:SE 2015, September 25 - 27, Orlando, FL. Focus: Speculative fiction. Workshops, panels and editor one-on-ones, together with convention debauchery like werewolf LARPing, masquerade balls and a tattoo gallery. All events to be shared with authorial greats like Orson Scott Card, Jacqueline Carey, Peter V. Brett, Kelley Armstrong, and industry icons.
A Weekend For Words: 13th Annual Southern California Writers’ Conference, September 25 - 27, 2015, Irvine, CA. "Having facilitated some $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals since 1986, the SCWC remains devoted to writers of all levels working to become both exceptional authors and modern, entrepreneurial self-advocates. Through our uniquely tailored, inclusive programs the SCWC empowers writers with the vital recognition, encouragement and understanding to better succeed in today’s ever-changing transmedia marketplace." Limited to 150 participants.
LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 25 - 27, Tieton, WA. Faculty includes poets Elizabeth Austen, Ellen Bass, Sally Green, Sam Green, Tara Hardy, Christopher Howell, Talena Lachelle Queen, David Schein, Derek Sheffield, and Chad Sweeney.
Rom Com: Reader Weekend/University. September 25-27, Denver, Colorado. 60+ Authors of all genres of romance - Contemporary, Erotic, Historical, Inspirational, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, & Suspense. 20 Author-led games and events- Interact with authors. 10+ Intimate Chats.
Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. September 25 - 28, Whidbey Island, WA. Evaluation and discussion of book-length and chapbook-length manuscripts with poets, editors, and publishers. The faculty includes poets Joan Houlihan and Fred Marchant; and editors Rusty Morrison of Omnidawn Publishing, Martha Rhodes of Four Way Books, and Jeff Shotts of Graywolf Press.
9th Annual Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference, Sept 26, Columbus, GA, "Whether you write prose or poetry you can explore capturing thoughts, observations, and reflections with the written word. The sessions will be criticism free. You will be exposed to various writers and their styles, and work on editing, polishing and expanding writings into something that is reflective of your personality and talents. You should leave with a piece of original work and a sense of writing as an avenue to discovering self."
2015 Flathead River Writers Conference, Sep 26 - 27, Kalispell, MT. Faculty: Margie Lawson, James W. Hall, Keith McCafferty, agents Annie Hwang (Folio) and Kerri Buckley (Carina).
Chanticleer Authors Conference 2015, September 26 - 29, Bellingham WA. This conference is about increasing books sales and the business side of writing: Book Marketing, Branding, Promotion, Distribution,New Publishing Avenues and Social Media Mastery for Authors. Faculty: Harvey Chute of KBoards, Kiffer Brown of Chanticleer Reviews, Pamela Beason, Bennett Coles Promontory Press, Elizabeth DiMarco, Rochelle Parry, Wendy Delaney, Wendy DeWar Hughes, Robert Dugoni, Karen Brown, and others.
For a writer, the work never really ends, but aside from focusing on getting your ideas out of your head and onto paper, getting your manuscript into the hands of people who will publish it entails a great deal of effort - as well as knowledge, preparation, and encouragement.
Fortunately, there are many conferences this coming month that will accomplish just that, as well as enabling you to get connected with the larger writing community. (Speaking of getting connected - check out Dragon Con. Even if sci-fi is not your genre, this conference sounds like a hoot!)
___________________
DragonCon, Sept. 4–7, Atlanta, Ga. HUGE sci-fi event, with parade, autograph sessions, live performances, readings, wrestling (!), workshops on belly dancing, writing (yes, there's even some writing), art show.
Kentucky Women Writers Conference, Sept. 11–12, Lexington, Ky.The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is the longest running literary festival of women in the nation. Presenters: Angela Ball, Bianca Bargo, Ann Beattie, Martha Billips, Emily Bingham, Meghan Daum, Kathleen Driskell, Joy Harris, Allison Joseph, Carson Kreitzer, Jessica Helen Lopez, Hannah Pittard, Sonia Sanchez, Jacinda Townsend. Numerous workshops.
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference, Sept. 11- 13, Westminster, CO. Keynote Speakers: Jeffery Deaver and Desiree Holt. Faculty includes a wide variety of published authors, marketers, editors, and agents. Opportunities to pitch projects to agents and editors.
San Francisco Writing for Change, Sept 12, San Francisco, CA. This event is for writers of nonfiction AND fiction who want to change the world for the better through their work.
Light Your Fuse Creativity Retreat, Sept 12, Bethlehem, PA. Writing workshop. "The event will focus on craft and motivation, and after our fabulous speakers do their thing, there will be brainstorming and writing sessions in a supportive, casual, and fun environment."
Slice Literary Writers’ Conference, Sept 12 - 13, Brooklyn, NY. craft workshops, panels, and one-on-one agent meetings for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include fiction writers Ben Greenman, Julia Fierro, Bret Anthony Johnston, and Nicole Krauss; and creative nonfiction writers Leslie Jamison and Rebecca Mead. Participating publishing professionals include Sarah Bowlin (Henry Holt), Katie Freeman (Riverhead/Penguin), Brigid Hughes (A Public Space), Maris Kreizman (Kickstarter), Vanessa Mobley (Little, Brown), Benjamin Samuel (National Book Foundation), and Rob Spillman (Tin House); and agents Michelle Brower (Folio Literary Management), Lisa DiMona (Writers House), Kirby Kim (Janklow & Nesbit), Stephanie Kip Rostan (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency), and Renée Zuckerbrot (Renée Zuckerbrot Literary Agency).
New York Pitch Conference, Sept 17 - 20, 2015, New York NY. Features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals.Workshops, homework & pitch training, agent/editor feedback, market study, publication plan.
THE MAGIC OF 13 - SCBWI: Northern Ohio 13th Annual Conference, Sept 18 - 19, Cleveland, OH. Hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Northern Ohio. Faculty: Nikki Garcia (Little Brown Books); Loraine Joyner (Peachtree); Maria Lamba (Jennifer De Chiara); Kendra Levin (Viking's Children's Books/Penguin Young Readers); Jodel Sadler (Sadler Literary); Vicki Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara) and many authors.
North Coast Redwoods Writers' Conference. Sept 18 - 19, Crescent City, CA. Workshops on writing, poetry, memoir, editing, social media, marketing, fiction, submitting.
Brooklyn Book Festival, September 20, Brooklyn, NY. Readings, panels, workshops, and a book fair. Participants include poets Elizabeth Alexander, Tina Chang, Colin Channer, Nick Flynn, Saeed Jones, Gregory Pardlo, and Tracy K. Smith; fiction writers Daniel Alarcón, Carmiel Banasky, Paul Beatty, Edwidge Danticat, Andre Dubus III, Angela Flournoy, Ann Hood, Phil Klay, László Krasznahorkai, Joyce Carol Oates, Francine Prose, Salman Rushdie, and Laura van den Berg; and creative nonfiction writers Kate Bolick, Sloane Crosley, Geoff Dyer, Vivian Gornick, and Jon Ronson. All events are free and open to the public.
The Florida Heritage Book Festival & Writers Conference, Sept 24 - 26, St. Augustine FL. Faculty includes Vicki Hendricks, Elizabeth Sims, John Dufresne, Laura Lee Smith, and more. Book Festival authors include Mary Kay Andrews, Lisa Black, John Dufresne, Scott Eyman, Jon Jefferson, Connie Mae Fowler and many more.
Be a Better Freelancer - Take it to the 10th! Sept 25 - 26, Rochester NY. Annual conference for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, graphic artists, website managers and developers, etc., with presenters offering guidance and tips on marketing, promotions, new skills and other business aspects of freelancing. Focus: Nonfiction.
Chicago Writers Conference, September 25 - 27, 2015, Chicago, Ill. Join other writers, editors, publishers and agents for a weekend of learning and fun! Panels, pitch sessions, and educational talks, along with a Friday night kick-off party. Sessions on publishing, self-publishing, how to pitch, craft of YA, meet the publishers, websites, nonfiction, and many more.
Creatures, Crimes & Creativity, September 25 - 27, Hunt Valley, MD. A writer's and fan's conference for genre fiction covering mystery, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk & horror.
SF:SE 2015, September 25 - 27, Orlando, FL. Focus: Speculative fiction. Workshops, panels and editor one-on-ones, together with convention debauchery like werewolf LARPing, masquerade balls and a tattoo gallery. All events to be shared with authorial greats like Orson Scott Card, Jacqueline Carey, Peter V. Brett, Kelley Armstrong, and industry icons.
A Weekend For Words: 13th Annual Southern California Writers’ Conference, September 25 - 27, 2015, Irvine, CA. "Having facilitated some $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals since 1986, the SCWC remains devoted to writers of all levels working to become both exceptional authors and modern, entrepreneurial self-advocates. Through our uniquely tailored, inclusive programs the SCWC empowers writers with the vital recognition, encouragement and understanding to better succeed in today’s ever-changing transmedia marketplace." Limited to 150 participants.
LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop. September 25 - 27, Tieton, WA. Faculty includes poets Elizabeth Austen, Ellen Bass, Sally Green, Sam Green, Tara Hardy, Christopher Howell, Talena Lachelle Queen, David Schein, Derek Sheffield, and Chad Sweeney.
Rom Com: Reader Weekend/University. September 25-27, Denver, Colorado. 60+ Authors of all genres of romance - Contemporary, Erotic, Historical, Inspirational, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, & Suspense. 20 Author-led games and events- Interact with authors. 10+ Intimate Chats.
Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. September 25 - 28, Whidbey Island, WA. Evaluation and discussion of book-length and chapbook-length manuscripts with poets, editors, and publishers. The faculty includes poets Joan Houlihan and Fred Marchant; and editors Rusty Morrison of Omnidawn Publishing, Martha Rhodes of Four Way Books, and Jeff Shotts of Graywolf Press.
9th Annual Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference, Sept 26, Columbus, GA, "Whether you write prose or poetry you can explore capturing thoughts, observations, and reflections with the written word. The sessions will be criticism free. You will be exposed to various writers and their styles, and work on editing, polishing and expanding writings into something that is reflective of your personality and talents. You should leave with a piece of original work and a sense of writing as an avenue to discovering self."
2015 Flathead River Writers Conference, Sep 26 - 27, Kalispell, MT. Faculty: Margie Lawson, James W. Hall, Keith McCafferty, agents Annie Hwang (Folio) and Kerri Buckley (Carina).
Chanticleer Authors Conference 2015, September 26 - 29, Bellingham WA. This conference is about increasing books sales and the business side of writing: Book Marketing, Branding, Promotion, Distribution,New Publishing Avenues and Social Media Mastery for Authors. Faculty: Harvey Chute of KBoards, Kiffer Brown of Chanticleer Reviews, Pamela Beason, Bennett Coles Promontory Press, Elizabeth DiMarco, Rochelle Parry, Wendy Delaney, Wendy DeWar Hughes, Robert Dugoni, Karen Brown, and others.
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