Mendocino Coast: Flickr
August is hot hot, hot! This August there are more than two dozen writing conferences. Many conferences and workshops will be held online, but some will be held in person or use a hybrid format.
These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.
For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!
(Image: Mendocino Coast: Flickr)
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Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 5 - August 19, 2022: Provincetown, Massachusetts. Last year's faculty included David Baker, Samiya Bashir, Jill Bialosky, Sophie Cabot Black, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Martha Collins, Kate Daniels, Nick Flynn, Vievee Francis, Gabriel Fried, Jorie Graham, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Fred Marchant, Gail Mazur, Jane Mead, John Murillo, Eileen Myles, Matthew Olzmann, Gregory Pardlo, Carl Phillips, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Victoria Redel, Martha Rhodes, Brenda Shaughnessy, Nicole Sealey, Alan Shapiro, Carmen Giménez Smith, Craig Morgan Teicher and many more. See individual workshops for dates.
Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 4 - August 6, 2022: Mendocino, California. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft seminars, panels, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and open mics. The faculty includes poet Claudia Castro Luna, fiction writers Jean Chen Ho and Lydia Kiesling, creative nonfiction writer Faith Adiele, and cross-genre writer Anastacia-Reneé. Fiction writer Karen Tei Yamashita will give the keynote address. Participating publishing professionals include agent Jonah Straus (Straus Literary). The registration fee is $675 and includes morning workshops, all afternoon events, and breakfast and lunch each day. One-on-one manuscript consultations are available for an additional $60. Lodging is available at a wide range of accommodations on the Mendocino Coast, including oceanfront inns, campgrounds, glamping facilities, and motels. The registration deadline is June 30.
Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 4 - 6, 2022: Hyannis, Massachusetts. Supporting published and aspiring writers. Featuring distinguished authors, editors and agents in workshops on fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry, mysteries and thrillers, social media, promotion and more! Will be held virtually.
Ocean View Writing Getaway. August 4 - 7, 2022: Atlantic City, NJ. "Our experienced workshop leaders plan their sessions to benefit both beginning and experienced writers. We pride ourselves on building an encouraging community of writers where all feel welcome." This program is presented by Murphy Writing of Stockton University in collaboration with AC Residential Life.
Kansas City Writing Workshop. August 5 - 6, 2022: Kansas City. This is an online “How to Get Published” writing event on August 5-6, 2022. (Writers are welcome to attend virtually from everywhere and anywhere.) This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). Will be held virtually.
Into the Springs Writers Workshop. August 5 - 7, 2022: Yellow Springs, OH. Faculty for 2022 are John Kachuba, Raul Ramos, and Juliette Hyland.
Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Via Zoom. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions. Will be held online.
Willamette Writers Conference. August 5 -7, 2022: Portland, Oregon. Three full days of classes, workshops, keynotes, critiques, and events. There are also Master Classes with industry professionals in which you can learn from top instructors in a small group setting and many options for one on one critique, including On the Spot Critiques and Advance Manuscript Critique. As always, they will have a roster of agents, editors and film executives ready to hear about your project. Will be held online and in person.
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference, August 5 - 7, 2022: West Coast Writers Conferences presents a full weekend of panels, workshops and presentations by educators, noted speakers, and industry professionals focused on the craft and business of writing.
Mystery Writers Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Corte Madera, CA. In this conference, mystery writers learn the clues to a successful writing career. Editors, agents, and publishers tell participants what they need to know to get published. Authors offer classes on setting, dialogue, suspense, point of view, and openings. They tell how to write about private eyes, amateur sleuths, and police protagonists, and how to create thrillers and historical mysteries. Panels of detectives, forensic experts, police, and other crime-fighting professionals provide information that allows crime fiction writers to put realism in their work.
Colrain Classic. August 5 - 8, 2022. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3-day conference designed for poets with manuscripts in progress. The Classic features in-depth pre-conference work and candid, realistic evaluation and feedback from nationally-known poets, editors and publishers. In preparation, participants work at home on pre-conference assignments and then, in the workshop, review, arrange, and winnow their work based on the pre-conference work. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop, manuscript workshop and editorial sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session."
The Writer's Hotel Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop. August 6 - 28, 2022. All fiction genres. "TWH Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop program centers on weekend writing workshops and lectures over four weeks, plus two full manuscript readings by TWH Editors, one-on-one agent pitching sessions and attendee readings. Space is extremely limited. There will be two cohorts of just 14 people each." App deadline: May 16, 2022
EPIC: Elena Hartwell Taylor Writing Workshop. August 6, 2022. Fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir manuscripts that lack a solid foundation are a common problem for writers, and an issue that developmental editors see over and over again. Flawed stucture can impact even a "well-written" manuscript, as beautiful sentences can't cover flaws in foundation. Join author and developmental editor Elena Hartwell Taylor for a two-hour virtual writers' workshop to analyze issues in structure, such as scenes unrelated to the plot, or starting too soon in your story, no clear inciting incident; discover the difference between plot and story; and develop strategies to complete a first draft or for approaching rewrites.
PJ Library Retreat: Picture Book Summer Camp for Emerging Writers. August 7 - 11, 2022: Honesdale, PA. "If you’re a pre-published author with a Jewish picture book in progress (or no more than one published book) we invite you to apply for five-days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity on the beautiful campus of the Highlights Foundation." Application Deadline: on or before April 28, 2022.
Elk River Writers Workshop. August 7 - 12, 2022: Chico Hot Springs, MT. The Elk River Writers Workshop embodies the idea that deep, communal experiences with the wild open the door to creativity. We bring together some of the most celebrated nature writers in the United States with students who are serious about fostering a connection with the environment in their writing. It all happens at Chico Hot Springs, a historic retreat just north of Yellowstone National Park. Faculty members Camille Dungy, Sean Hill, J. Drew Lanham, Beth Piatote, and Laura Pritchett.
Writing on the Door: "August Master Class Series," August 8-12, 2022: Fish Creek, WI. With Lan Samantha Chang (Fiction), Nan Cohen (Poetry), & Kyoko Mori (Nonfiction) The Writing On The Door Week-Long Master Class Series offers intensive sessions in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for intermediate to advanced writers.
Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 8 - 14, 2022: Montpelier, Vermont. The conference is designed for writers with graduate degrees or equivalent experience. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, craft classes, and individual consultations with faculty members. "At the heart of the Postgraduate Writers' Conference's unique model is the small workshop size, with groups led by acclaimed faculty limited to five or six writers. The intimate format allows for an extraordinarily in-depth, far-reaching discussion of participants’ work. Beyond the daily group sessions, each member has an individual consultation with the workshop instructor. The schedule also features a rich menu of readings by faculty and participants, craft talks, generative writing sessions and social events that galvanize our vibrant, inclusive community." \
So You Want to be an Author/Illustrator? Online Course. August 11 - September 15, 2022. Explore the possibilities of moving from Illustrator to Author/Illustrator, or becoming an Author/Illustrator. Learn how to find ideas and move from sketch to story ideas. Explore narrative drawing, pagination, thumbnail sketches and dummy (mock-up) creation. Will be held online.
HippoCamp Creative Nonfiction Conference. August 12 - 14, 2022: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This three-day creative writing conference in PA features 50+ notable speakers, engaging sessions in four tracks, interactive panels, readings, social activities, networking opps and optional, intimate pre-conference workshops.
The Whole Novel Workshop. August 12 - 16, 2022: Honesdale, PA. This intensive Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens. Application Deadline: May 20, 2022.
Horror Bites. August 13, 2022. "Horror Bites serves up a series of short horror writing workshops, covering some of the most essentials elements of the genre, including atmosphere, characterisation, pacing, writing violence and more. Led by horror writer, workshopper and Creative Writing Lecturer Alex Davis, HORROR BITES gives you the chance to take a big bite of horror or select some light bites from the workshop buffet…" Tickets £28 for full day or £7 per workshop session. Virtual.
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 17 - 27, 2022: Ripton, VT. Workshops in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days. Groups are kept small to facilitate discussion, and all participants meet individually with their faculty leaders to elaborate on workshop comments. Faculty members also offer lectures on issues around literary writing and one-hour classes on specific aspects of the craft. Readings by the faculty, conference participants, and guests take place throughout the day and into the night. Participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and publishers who provide information and answer questions, individually or in small groups.
Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 18 - 21, 2022: Nashville, TN. The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. "At the conference, we try diligently to ensure that the weekend has something for every writer and lover of literature, and our sessions are structured to assist writers on multiple career levels. Our learning tracks tackle the craft of writing, business of writing, marketing, and forensics. Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, live music performances and—of course—all the great activities one can enjoy in downtown Nashville."
Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. August 18– 21, 2022: Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restaurateurs, guidebook writers, and more.
Poetry at the Frost Farm. August 19 - 21, 2022: Derry, New Hampshire. The retreat offers workshops, readings, and one-on-one consultations for formalist poets. "Join a small community of people at the historic Robert Frost Farm learning, reading and writing formal poetry with contemporary award-winning poets. Choose your focus from a series of offerings designed to provide tools for beginning poets as well as perfect the mastery of published poets."
The Alabama Writers' Conclave. August 26 - 28, 2022: Mountain Brook, Alabama. The Conclave is today one of the oldest continuing writers' organization in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers and supporters of the writing arts may join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual meeting.
These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.
For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!
(Image: Mendocino Coast: Flickr)
____________________
Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops (poetry, fiction, art, and creative nonfiction). June 5 - August 19, 2022: Provincetown, Massachusetts. Last year's faculty included David Baker, Samiya Bashir, Jill Bialosky, Sophie Cabot Black, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Martha Collins, Kate Daniels, Nick Flynn, Vievee Francis, Gabriel Fried, Jorie Graham, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Fred Marchant, Gail Mazur, Jane Mead, John Murillo, Eileen Myles, Matthew Olzmann, Gregory Pardlo, Carl Phillips, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Victoria Redel, Martha Rhodes, Brenda Shaughnessy, Nicole Sealey, Alan Shapiro, Carmen Giménez Smith, Craig Morgan Teicher and many more. See individual workshops for dates.
Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 4 - August 6, 2022: Mendocino, California. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft seminars, panels, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and open mics. The faculty includes poet Claudia Castro Luna, fiction writers Jean Chen Ho and Lydia Kiesling, creative nonfiction writer Faith Adiele, and cross-genre writer Anastacia-Reneé. Fiction writer Karen Tei Yamashita will give the keynote address. Participating publishing professionals include agent Jonah Straus (Straus Literary). The registration fee is $675 and includes morning workshops, all afternoon events, and breakfast and lunch each day. One-on-one manuscript consultations are available for an additional $60. Lodging is available at a wide range of accommodations on the Mendocino Coast, including oceanfront inns, campgrounds, glamping facilities, and motels. The registration deadline is June 30.
Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 4 - 6, 2022: Hyannis, Massachusetts. Supporting published and aspiring writers. Featuring distinguished authors, editors and agents in workshops on fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry, mysteries and thrillers, social media, promotion and more! Will be held virtually.
Ocean View Writing Getaway. August 4 - 7, 2022: Atlantic City, NJ. "Our experienced workshop leaders plan their sessions to benefit both beginning and experienced writers. We pride ourselves on building an encouraging community of writers where all feel welcome." This program is presented by Murphy Writing of Stockton University in collaboration with AC Residential Life.
Kansas City Writing Workshop. August 5 - 6, 2022: Kansas City. This is an online “How to Get Published” writing event on August 5-6, 2022. (Writers are welcome to attend virtually from everywhere and anywhere.) This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited online “seats” at the event (200 total). Will be held virtually.
Into the Springs Writers Workshop. August 5 - 7, 2022: Yellow Springs, OH. Faculty for 2022 are John Kachuba, Raul Ramos, and Juliette Hyland.
Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Annual Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Via Zoom. More than 100 writers, editors, illustrators, & agents. Workshops, breakout sessions, manuscript and portfolio consultations, panels, discussions. Will be held online.
Willamette Writers Conference. August 5 -7, 2022: Portland, Oregon. Three full days of classes, workshops, keynotes, critiques, and events. There are also Master Classes with industry professionals in which you can learn from top instructors in a small group setting and many options for one on one critique, including On the Spot Critiques and Advance Manuscript Critique. As always, they will have a roster of agents, editors and film executives ready to hear about your project. Will be held online and in person.
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference, August 5 - 7, 2022: West Coast Writers Conferences presents a full weekend of panels, workshops and presentations by educators, noted speakers, and industry professionals focused on the craft and business of writing.
Mystery Writers Conference. August 5 - 7, 2022: Corte Madera, CA. In this conference, mystery writers learn the clues to a successful writing career. Editors, agents, and publishers tell participants what they need to know to get published. Authors offer classes on setting, dialogue, suspense, point of view, and openings. They tell how to write about private eyes, amateur sleuths, and police protagonists, and how to create thrillers and historical mysteries. Panels of detectives, forensic experts, police, and other crime-fighting professionals provide information that allows crime fiction writers to put realism in their work.
Colrain Classic. August 5 - 8, 2022. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3-day conference designed for poets with manuscripts in progress. The Classic features in-depth pre-conference work and candid, realistic evaluation and feedback from nationally-known poets, editors and publishers. In preparation, participants work at home on pre-conference assignments and then, in the workshop, review, arrange, and winnow their work based on the pre-conference work. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop, manuscript workshop and editorial sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session."
The Writer's Hotel Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop. August 6 - 28, 2022. All fiction genres. "TWH Virtual Summer Fiction Workshop program centers on weekend writing workshops and lectures over four weeks, plus two full manuscript readings by TWH Editors, one-on-one agent pitching sessions and attendee readings. Space is extremely limited. There will be two cohorts of just 14 people each." App deadline: May 16, 2022
EPIC: Elena Hartwell Taylor Writing Workshop. August 6, 2022. Fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir manuscripts that lack a solid foundation are a common problem for writers, and an issue that developmental editors see over and over again. Flawed stucture can impact even a "well-written" manuscript, as beautiful sentences can't cover flaws in foundation. Join author and developmental editor Elena Hartwell Taylor for a two-hour virtual writers' workshop to analyze issues in structure, such as scenes unrelated to the plot, or starting too soon in your story, no clear inciting incident; discover the difference between plot and story; and develop strategies to complete a first draft or for approaching rewrites.
PJ Library Retreat: Picture Book Summer Camp for Emerging Writers. August 7 - 11, 2022: Honesdale, PA. "If you’re a pre-published author with a Jewish picture book in progress (or no more than one published book) we invite you to apply for five-days of inspiration, mentorship, fun, and creativity on the beautiful campus of the Highlights Foundation." Application Deadline: on or before April 28, 2022.
Elk River Writers Workshop. August 7 - 12, 2022: Chico Hot Springs, MT. The Elk River Writers Workshop embodies the idea that deep, communal experiences with the wild open the door to creativity. We bring together some of the most celebrated nature writers in the United States with students who are serious about fostering a connection with the environment in their writing. It all happens at Chico Hot Springs, a historic retreat just north of Yellowstone National Park. Faculty members Camille Dungy, Sean Hill, J. Drew Lanham, Beth Piatote, and Laura Pritchett.
Writing on the Door: "August Master Class Series," August 8-12, 2022: Fish Creek, WI. With Lan Samantha Chang (Fiction), Nan Cohen (Poetry), & Kyoko Mori (Nonfiction) The Writing On The Door Week-Long Master Class Series offers intensive sessions in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for intermediate to advanced writers.
Vermont College of Fine Arts Postgraduate Writers’ Conference. August 8 - 14, 2022: Montpelier, Vermont. The conference is designed for writers with graduate degrees or equivalent experience. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, craft classes, and individual consultations with faculty members. "At the heart of the Postgraduate Writers' Conference's unique model is the small workshop size, with groups led by acclaimed faculty limited to five or six writers. The intimate format allows for an extraordinarily in-depth, far-reaching discussion of participants’ work. Beyond the daily group sessions, each member has an individual consultation with the workshop instructor. The schedule also features a rich menu of readings by faculty and participants, craft talks, generative writing sessions and social events that galvanize our vibrant, inclusive community." \
So You Want to be an Author/Illustrator? Online Course. August 11 - September 15, 2022. Explore the possibilities of moving from Illustrator to Author/Illustrator, or becoming an Author/Illustrator. Learn how to find ideas and move from sketch to story ideas. Explore narrative drawing, pagination, thumbnail sketches and dummy (mock-up) creation. Will be held online.
HippoCamp Creative Nonfiction Conference. August 12 - 14, 2022: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This three-day creative writing conference in PA features 50+ notable speakers, engaging sessions in four tracks, interactive panels, readings, social activities, networking opps and optional, intimate pre-conference workshops.
The Whole Novel Workshop. August 12 - 16, 2022: Honesdale, PA. This intensive Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided. Attention in an intimate setting makes this program one that guarantees significant progress in preparation for submission. This Whole Novel Workshop is specifically designed for writers of novels for children and teens. Application Deadline: May 20, 2022.
Horror Bites. August 13, 2022. "Horror Bites serves up a series of short horror writing workshops, covering some of the most essentials elements of the genre, including atmosphere, characterisation, pacing, writing violence and more. Led by horror writer, workshopper and Creative Writing Lecturer Alex Davis, HORROR BITES gives you the chance to take a big bite of horror or select some light bites from the workshop buffet…" Tickets £28 for full day or £7 per workshop session. Virtual.
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. August 17 - 27, 2022: Ripton, VT. Workshops in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days. Groups are kept small to facilitate discussion, and all participants meet individually with their faculty leaders to elaborate on workshop comments. Faculty members also offer lectures on issues around literary writing and one-hour classes on specific aspects of the craft. Readings by the faculty, conference participants, and guests take place throughout the day and into the night. Participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and publishers who provide information and answer questions, individually or in small groups.
Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference. August 18 - 21, 2022: Nashville, TN. The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. "At the conference, we try diligently to ensure that the weekend has something for every writer and lover of literature, and our sessions are structured to assist writers on multiple career levels. Our learning tracks tackle the craft of writing, business of writing, marketing, and forensics. Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, live music performances and—of course—all the great activities one can enjoy in downtown Nashville."
Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. August 18– 21, 2022: Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restaurateurs, guidebook writers, and more.
Poetry at the Frost Farm. August 19 - 21, 2022: Derry, New Hampshire. The retreat offers workshops, readings, and one-on-one consultations for formalist poets. "Join a small community of people at the historic Robert Frost Farm learning, reading and writing formal poetry with contemporary award-winning poets. Choose your focus from a series of offerings designed to provide tools for beginning poets as well as perfect the mastery of published poets."
The Alabama Writers' Conclave. August 26 - 28, 2022: Mountain Brook, Alabama. The Conclave is today one of the oldest continuing writers' organization in the United States. Writers, aspiring writers and supporters of the writing arts may join. Sharing information, developing ideas, honing skills, and receiving practical advice are hallmarks of the annual meeting.
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