Conferences

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, city or country, national or international, find the writing conference you desire. Our selective, searchable list of conferences features many of our published authors.


Location:
Degree:
Season (Northern):
Duration:
Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop

Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop

MARCH 26—30, 2025

ALGONKIAN PARK, VA

Our ultimate goal is to realistically increase your odds of becoming a published author by showing you how to inhabit that upper percentile of writers who will have their work taken seriously by professionals in the business.
Faculty: Carol Mitchell, Michael Neff, Christine Stewart, Art Taylor, Richard Washer, Emily Williamson
Genres Offered: Fiction
Contact: @email
Angelo State University Writers’ Conference

Angelo State University Writers’ Conference

MARCH 6—7, 2025

SAN ANGELO, TX

The ASU Writers Conference brings award-winning authors from all genres to campus to share their works and their creativity with the ASU community and the public. Featured speakers have included renowned authors, such as Manuel Muñoz, Brandon Hobson, Naomi Shihab Nye, Craig Johnson, Leslie Marmon Silko, Art Spiegelman and Tim O’Brien.
Faculty: Jenny Browne
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: @email
Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

MARCH 26—29, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA (ONLINE & IN PERSON)

The AWP Conference & Bookfair is an essential annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers. Each year more than 12,000 attendees join our community for four days of insightful dialogue, networking, and unrivaled access to the organizations and opinion makers that matter most in contemporary literature.
Faculty: Roxane Gay
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: @email
Bay Area Book Festival

Bay Area Book Festival

MAY 31—JUNE 1, 2025

BERKELEY, CA (IN PERSON & ONLINE)

The Bay Area Book Festival is a two-day event complete with literary sessions presenting top authors from this region, the nation, and the world, along with an outdoor fair with hundreds of literary exhibitors. The Festival kicked off in 2015 with the mission to create a free, inclusive, world-class literary event in the Bay Area. Since then, the Festival has welcomed more than 800 authors and is approaching 100,000 attendees.
Faculty: Judith Butler, MK Chavez, micha cárdenas, Tara Dorabji, Kinsale Drake, Rosa Kwon Easton, Huda Fahmy, Garrett Felber, Roxane Gay, Carolina Ixta, David Jay, Tomas Moniz, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Clare Osongco, john a powell, Greg Sarris, Kim Shuck, Gene Luen Yang
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Memoir, History, Philosophy
Contact: @email
Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference

Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference

JULY 18—AUGUST 20, 2025
CORTE MADERA, CA

The four-day Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference has a strong tradition of great authors and teachers. It covers everything mystery writers need—from developing ideas and writing skills to finding a publisher.
Faculty: Cara Black, Rhys Bowen, Susan Breall, Tony Broadbent, Elvis Chan, Joe Clifford, Michael Connelly, Brian Copeland, Samantha Downing, George Fong, Rachel Howzell Hall, Naomi Hirarhara, Laurie R. King, Jon Lindstrom, Tim Maleeny, Kelli Stanley
Genres Offered: Fiction, Mystery
Contact: @email.
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

AUGUST 13—23, 2025
RIPTON, VT

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, founded in 1926 and boasting a rich literary and intellectual tradition, gathers together emerging writers to work closely with a diverse and talented faculty. For ten days in August, conference attendees experience the intensity—and challenge—of working under the guidance of notable writers.
Faculty: Laura van den Berg, Christopher Castellani, Camille T. Dungy, Stacey D’Erasmo, Danielle Evans, Elisa Gabbert, Amina Gautier, Ishion Hutchinson, Mat Johnson, Victor LaValle, Claire Messud, Marie Mutsuki Mockett, Valzhyna Mort, Tomás Q. Morín, V. Penelope Pelizzon, Carl Phillips, Paisley Rekdal, Carter Sickels, Paul Yoon
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: @email
Free Expressions Seminars: Breakout Novel Intensive

Virtual Breakout Novel Intensive

MARCH 18—APRIL 22, 2025, NOVEMBER 11—DECEMBER 16, 2025

ONLINE

This workshop is as ideal for those just beginning a new project as it is for those embarking on a revision of a completed work. While writers at all level of craft are welcome, we assume a basic understanding of fiction craft.
Faculty: Donald Maas, Lorin Oberweger, Veronica Rossi, Brenda Windberg
Genres Offered: Fiction
Contact: Lorin Oberweger @email
The Colrain Classic

The Colrain Classic

MAY 16—19, 2025

ONLINE

A select group of poets will bring their completed or in-progress manuscripts to the The Arlington Inn in Arlington, Vermont, a village estate built in 1847 that was later turned into a summer hotel. In this beautiful setting, poets will work closely with conference faculty.
Faculty: Joan Houlihan, Jeff Shotts
Genres Offered: Poetry
Contact: Joan Houlihan @email
Community of Writers

Community of Writers

JUNE 21—27, 2025, JULY 7—14, 2025

OLYMPIC VALLEY, CA

These workshops assist serious writers by exploring the art and craft as well as the business of writing. The week offers daily morning workshops, craft lectures, panel discussions on editing and publishing, staff readings, and brief individual conferences. In addition to their workshop manuscripts, participants may have a second manuscript read by a staff member who meets with them in individual conferences.
Faculty: Lisa Alvarez, Thomas Barbash, Lou Berney, Venita Blackburn, Anthony Cody, Frances Dinkelspiel, Brian Eule, Rickey Fayne, Jamie Ford, Samuel Freedman, Forrest Gander, Charlie Haas, Sands Hall, Katy Hays, Brenda Hillman, Vanessa Hua, Rhoda Huffey, Louis B. Jones, Michelle Latiolais, Jane Miller, Maceo Montoya, Wayétu Moore, Sameer Pandya, Gregory Pardlo, Kirstin Valdez Quade, Robin Romm, Evie Shockley, Julia Flynn Siler, Gregory Spatz, Amy Tan, Amy Waldman, Bernice Yeung
Genres Offered: Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: https://communityofwriters.org/contact/
Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference

OCTOBER 9—11, 2025

TEMPE, AZ

Featuring over 25 award-winning writers, editors, agents, educators, and other internationally recognized creative writing professionals, our faculty are here to do more than expand your skill set or open new ways of thinking about your work. They're here to share their experiences, answer questions, and spend time connecting with conference attendees.
Faculty: Sally Ball, Matt Bell, Sherwin Bitsui, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Vanessa Hua, Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Solmaz Sharif
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction
Contact: @email
Eckerd College Writers’ Conference: Writers in Paradise

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference:
Writers in Paradise

JANUARY 18—25, 2025

ST. PETERSBURG, FL

Located on the beautiful waterfront campus of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, this writers’ conference features professional writers at the top of their form spending quality time with motivated and talented participants seeking an intimate, unhurried climate for learning . . . in paradise.
Faculty: Emily Bernard, Ann Hood, Laura Lippman, Ana Menéndez, Gloria Muñoz, Thisbe Nissen, Dzvinia Orlowsky, Ann Patchett, Richard Russo, David Yoo
Genres Offered: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Contact: Marina Pruna @email
Flathead River Writers’ Conference

Flathead River Writers’ Conference

OCTOBER 3—5, 2025

KALISPELL, MT

The Annual Flathead River Writers’ Conference is a nationally acclaimed two-day event giving members and guests the opportunity to learn from and mingle with published authors, agents, editors, and publishers from all over the country.
Faculty (previous): Leslie Budewitz, Maggie Doherty, Kathy Dunnehoff, Debra Magpie Earling, Keir Graff, Carl Stevens, Danica Winters
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Screenwriting
Contact: http://www.authorsoftheflathead.org
Haiku North America

Haiku North America

SEPTEMBER 24—28, 2025

CINCINNATI, OH

Haiku North America (HNA) is a biennial conference in celebration of haiku poetry. Every two years we offer five stimulating days of papers, panels, workshops, readings, performances, book sales, cultural outings, and much socialization with fellow poets, translators, scholars, editors, and publishers. Everyone is welcome to attend HNA, the largest and oldest gathering of haiku poets in the United States and Canada.
Faculty (previous): Garry Gay, Deborah P. Kolodji, Paul Miller, Michael Dylan Welch
Genres Offered: Poetry
Contact: http://www.haikunorthamerica.com/contact-us.html
Iceland Writers Retreat

Iceland Writers Retreat

APRIL 23—27, 2025

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Join us for a series of workshops and panels led by an esteemed team of international writers. Between intimate workshops and lectures, we’ll offer the chance to tour the spectacular Golden Circle, sit in the cozy cafés of Reykjavík, soak in geothermal hot springs, listen to new Icelandic music, meet contemporary Icelandic writers, and learn about the country’s rich literary tradition.
Faculty: Jann Arden, Kevin Chong, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Thordis Elva, Pedro Gunnlaugur Garcia, Rick Jervis, Meng Jin, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Helen Macdonald, Danny Ramadan, Curtis Sittenfeld
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction
Contact: @email
Jackson Hole Writers Conference

Jackson Hole Writers Conference

OCTOBER 23—25, 2025

JACKSON HOLE, WY

Jackson Hole Writers Conference’s intimate size means writers meet each other and the faculty, share ideas along with a glass of beer or wine, and make new contacts in a workshop.
Faculty: Elana K. Arnold, Jericho Brown, Matt Daly, Kevin Grange, Mark Hummel, Maria Kelson, Mira Landry, Susan Marsh, Nathaniel Teal Minton, Téa Obreht, Matteo Pistono, Parini Schroff, Dan Sheehan, Katherine Standefer, Nanci Turner Steveson, Nikki Terpilowski, Maw Shein Win, Shana Youngdahl
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Childrens's Literature
Contact: Anne Marie Wells @email
James River Writers Annual Conference

James River Writers Annual Conference

OCTOBER 3—5, 2025

RICHMOND, VA

Since 2003, the James River Writers Conference has attracted award-winning authors and highly regarded editors and agents from around the country to share their wisdom about the craft and business of writing and publishing.
Faculty (previous): Nancy Agabian, Kristi Tuck Austin, Catherine Baab-Muguira, Craig Belcher, Bill Blume, Lyn Liao Butler, John Copenhaver, Joan B. Davis, Camille DeAngelis, Wendy DeGroat, Ana Edwards, Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction
Contact: https://jamesriverwriters.org/contact/
Kauai Writers Conference

Kauai Writers Conference

NOVEMBER 10—16, 2025

LIHUE, HI

The Kauai Writers Conference offers keynote talks by distinguished authors, one-on-one workshops led by literary agents, editors, and other publishing experts, and intensive master classes to inspire writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, screenplays, and poetry, and help all conference participants find their path to publication.
Faculty: Janelle Brown, Lyn Liao Butler, Patti Callahan, Jeanine Cummins, Ali Hazelwood, Sadeqa Johnson, Christina Bake Kline, Jean Kwok, Ariel Lawhon, Laura Lentz, Rebecca Makkai, Paula McLain, Joshua Mohr, Liz Moore, Priya Parmar, Steven Rowley, John Searles, Tim Seibles, Curtis Sittenfeld, Danielle Trussoni, Meg Wolitzer
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Screenwriting, Poetry
Contact: @email
Key West Literary Seminar and Writers’ Workshop Program

Key West Literary Seminar
and Writers’ Workshop Program

JANUARY 8—11, 2026

KEY WEST, FL

Each year, the Key West Literary Seminar explores a particular literary theme. In 2020, for the first time, we’ll look at writing about sports. For “Reading Between the Lines: Sports and Literature,” we focus on literature that gets at the heart of why sports matter so much to so many, and explores the roles sports play in momentous social issues, personal transformation, and cultural change.
Faculty: Forrest Gander, Rachel Kushner, Claire Messud, Richard Russo, Gary Shteyngart, James Wood
Genres Offered: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Playwriting, Screenwriting
Contact: https://www.kwls.org/contact/
Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference

Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference

AUGUST 21—24, 2025

NASHVILLE, TN

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.
Faculty previous: Alicia Brooks, John DeDakis, Kemper Donovan, Tara Gelsomino, Ronald Gerber, Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong, Dean Krystek, Amber Meyer, James Mustelier, Sara Paretsky, Caitlin Rother, Clay Stafford, Helen Thornton-Gussy
Genres Offered: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Live Storytelling
Contact: https://www.killernashville.com/contact-us
Las Vegas Writers’ Conference

Las Vegas Writers’ Conference

APRIL 3—5, 2025

LAS VEGAS, NV (ONLINE & IN PERSON)

Throughout the weekend, you will be able to meet and socialize with our faculty, pitch to agents and publishers, and learn from experts in fields connected to writing and publishing.
Faculty: James Abbate, Meredith Bernstein, Sue Brown-Moore, Michael Carr, Lori Culwell, Laurie Dennison, Sam Hiyate, Michael Jamin, Tavia Kowalchuk, La Sheera Lee, Connie Mableson, Rhonda Penders, James Rollins, Amanda Skenandore, Latoya C. Smith-Wharton, Bruce Wawrzyniak, Jo A. Wilkins
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction
Contact: @email