The Best Writing Conferences and Workshops to Attend in 2024
Writing is more than just putting words on a page. To become a successful author, you need to learn about both the writing and the publishing processes, and network with publishers and other authors. Attending writing conferences and workshops is one of the best ways to accomplish this.
If you’re serious about becoming a successful author, then attending writing conferences and workshops is a must. These events can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and connections you need to take your writing to the next level.
To find the best writing conferences and workshops to attend in 2024, use our filtering tools below to browse through our list.
Writers’ Workshop Program provides writers at all stages of development with opportunities to explore the craft of writing. Each workshop has its own focus and application requirements. Enrollment is limited to twelve participants per workshop to ensure individual attention.
This year’s seminar marks the 41th year of creating world-class literary programming in this subtropical island city. To commemorate the occasion, they’re bringing together what may be their most accomplished roster yet, for a one-of-a-kind event celebrating Black Literature in America.
The Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway does not have an application process; everyone is welcome. They believe that every writer, whether they are just getting started or already have publications or an MFA, can improve their craft with rigorous instruction and a supportive community. Experienced writers may wish to register for an advanced workshop or try a new genre.
Colrain Classic
$1,000
The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused 4-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.
The Writers in Paradise 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.
Digital Book World
$1,499-$1,799
Digital Book World is the gathering of community across the wide world of publishing. It will feature keynotes by legendary tech journalists. It is the must-attend event for trade publishers, independent publishers, and content creators in every sector.
Each day will feature a craft talk by one of the faculty members and participants will split into small groups where they will dissect the art and craft of writing through lectures, writing exercises, and class discussions. They won’t be reading and critiquing manuscripts, but rather closely examining elements of craft with the intention of allowing participants to see their work with deeper insight while also generating new material.
Hay Festival Jericó
From $93
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
$40-$100
Whether you prefer watching performers on stage or on screen, or whether it’s your first Gathering or your 39h, the 2024 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will have something for everyone. Join them as they take a look at life in the West across the generations.
The acclaimed Todos Santos Writers Workshop celebrates its 11th year in the pueblo magico of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, MX, with classes in Fiction, Memoir, Poetry, and Strategies in Storytelling, featuring individual conferences and craft talks with guest authors.
The speakers for the 2024 symposium discuss multiple perspectives surrounding both the idea and the use of translation in their work. This is not just about how book artists and writers translate the world around them, but how they are engaged with texts, transcription, paraphrasing, or interpretation.
Pubwest
$89
PubWest is a vibrant, dynamic trade association of small-medium-sized book publishers, printers, editors, distributors, graphic designers, binderies, and related service companies. Established in 1977 as the Rocky Mountain Book Publishers Association, PubWest is dedicated to helping member book publishers succeed and has grown to include members in nearly every US state and multiple countries.
An Exclusive Workshop for Serious Children’s Book Writers. Founded by Andrea Brown, Executive Director and President of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. Through these personalized workshops, ABLA and publishing giants have had the good fortune to find new talent. Are you next?
The AWP Conference & Bookfair
$50-$540
The AWP Conference & Bookfair is the annual destination for writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers of contemporary creative writing. It includes thousands of attendees, hundreds of events and book fair exhibitors, and five days of essential literary conversation and celebration. The AWP Conference & Bookfair has always been a place of connection, reunion, and joy, and they are excited to offer the same experience in a new way this year. Join them and take part in this amazing community of writers!
SCBWI brings together top professionals in the children’s publishing world twice each year at the annual Summer and Winter Conferences. These annual events feature renowned authors and illustrators as well as top editors, art directors, and agents in the field of children’s publishing. The Summer & Winter Conferences are excellent networking opportunities for those already established in and just starting to enter the world of children’s book writing and illustrating.
Writing Day Workshops: Boston
$189.00
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This will be the 20th Celebration of Craft, Commerce, and Community for all writers. Attendees will join 100+ presenters and fellow writers from across the country and around the world at this year’s event. The SFWC events are consistently rated among the top writers’ conferences anywhere.
The SCWC provides veteran and emerging talent with authoritative feedback to help distinguish those manuscripts that are ready for market consideration. It facilitates well over $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals. Offering extended one-on-one evaluation of material and dozens of interactive workshops, the SCWC is among the only conferences specifically tailored to provide comprehensive feedback on writers’ work.
Regardless which path to publication you are pursuing, whether you’re a writer just starting out, a writer unable to determine why your work is not working, a writer simply in search of some answers, a writer wanting feedback on what you’ve written, or just a writer who wants to hang with other writers and publishing professionals in a safe, supportive community, do yourself a favor and join the 36th Annual Southern California Writers’ Conference *San Diego. Your words are worth it!
The San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival is the largest and most prestigious cross-cultural, bi-lingual literary gathering in the Americas. It attracts distinguished authors, established and emerging writers, industry experts, teaching professionals, and avid readers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Coastal Magic is a casual reader weekend, celebrating the magic of stories and storytellers. They focus on creating opportunities for authors & readers to mingle, have bookish fun, and create amazing memories.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Gotham Writers is a creative home in New York City and online where writers develop their craft and come together in the spirit of discovery and fellowship. They’ve been teaching creative writing since 1993.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Breakout Novel Intensive Workshop
$3,295- $3,395
Every year, writers of fiction and narrative nonfiction from around the world, and in various stages of their writing careers, attend the Breakout Novel Intensive. Whether attendees are new to the publishing industry or are seasoned professionals, BONI is tailored toward helping every writer elevate his or her level of craft and reach new career heights as well.
This conference is all about writing and well-being. It is the 4th annual Conference on Writing and Well-Being to be held in-person in Tucson, Arizona at the University of Arizona. In addition to speeches by prominent figures, and 30+ concurrent sessions on topics ranging from writing assignments to mindfulness, meditation to well-being curricula, inhabiting writing to experiential learning via writing.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This conference welcomes members to share experiences with other writers about every facet of converting ideas, feelings, hopes, dreams, and opinions to the printed word. Members write fiction and nonfiction for the page and for stage and screen. Some are editors and small publishers. The members ranger from individuals who aspire to write to those who have published all of their lives.
The New York Pitch Conference birthed a lot of careers, educated hundreds more, and at a minimum resulted in several score fitted for the brass ring. Its array of programs and methodology provoke aspiring authors into developing, refining, and pitching their novels in such a manner as to greatly increase their chances of becoming published.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The Writing By Writers Boulder Generative Workshop brings aspiring writers into close community with nationally known writers for a weekend of inspiration, craft and the generation of new work.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) is one of the major programs of the Center for Black Literature. It was founded by John Oliver Killens in 1986 at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. It is held during the last weekend of March each year.
To celebrate the conference’s 10-year anniversary, this conference (featuring in-person and live streamed events) will focus on different approaches for thinking about story and story sharing.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The Power of Narrative Conference
$99-$289
Attendees for this conference come from across the United States and from many nations; they identify as writers, visual media creators, audio journalists, or all three. They work on every imaginable platform, from newspapers to magazines, books to the web, podcasts to multimedia, sometimes pushing the boundaries with innovative start-ups.
SAW are looking forward to once more bringing you a full lineup of workshops to help you on your writing and publishing journey. This will be a full programme and, as requested by members at last year’s AGM, they will be bringing you a bigger programme of workshops this year.
The Chicago’s Writers Conference is an annual event that provides a platform for writers to connect, learn, and grow. The conference offers a variety of events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, master classes, pitch sessions with agents/publishers, and live lit.
The Liberty States Fiction Writers 12th Annual Conference features a line-up of more published authors and industry professionals who will share their expertise and experience. Located at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hamilton, New Jersey, they offer a full day of education and networking for those who are published or want to be published. Workshops will focus on craft, business, promotion and indie-publishing.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
It is an annual conference that brings together undergraduate writers and poets from across North America and beyond to present their work and learn from some of the most important writers in contemporary literature.
The mission of the Tennessee Mountain Writers, Inc. is to promote literary arts by providing opportunities for members and the community at large to enhance individual literary skills and appreciation through a broad spectrum of learning experiences.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop is the only one in the country devoted to both humor and human interest writing. Through the workshop, the University of Dayton and the Bombeck family honor one of America’s most celebrated storytellers and humorists.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Festival of Faith & Writing
From $25
The CCFW capitalizes on the rich heritage of the long-running Festival, expanding the conversations that often begin there into additional educational opportunities, deeper community engagement, and sustained scholarship for readers of all ages.
This year – and every year – the Las Vegas Writers Conference is dedicated to helping writers of all genres improve their craft, sharpen their business skills, and network with publishing professionals. Held each spring, this year’s conference will draw virtual attendees from around the world. Pitch sessions with literary agents and editors are included in the price of registration. Writers will have the opportunity for one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty members and other published authors. Join them, virtually, to take your writing skills to the next level.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
A Rally of Writers features up to 16 sessions of Michigan writers, poets, teachers, editors, and publishers discussing every aspect of writing and the publishing business.
The Chanticleer Authors Conference is unique and progressive. It’s designed to share insight and knowledge about the marketing and business side of being an author and/or a publisher. It’s dedicated to professional authors, offering them a chance to learn everything about the industry.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Clockwork Alchemy is the San Francisco area’s own steampunk convention. Originally a part of FanimeCon, Clockwork Alchemy is now its own independent event celebrating music, makers, dancing, writing, crafting, fashion, and fun related to steampunk!
Poetry at Round Top is an annual festival presenting the nation’s most exciting and prominent poets over three days of readings, workshops, and conversations on craft. Located on the gorgeous Festival Hill campus between Austin and Houston, in Round Top, Texas, Poetry at Round Top presents an immersion experience like no other poetry conference or festival in the country.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This conference’s mission is to advocate for, support, and educate independent publishers and author publishers, and to improve the standards of independent publishing.
Nebraska Writers Guild Conference
$129-$279
The Nebraska Writers Guild offers a three-day conference filled with consultations, publishing panel discussion, and much more.
A 3-day fiction-writing conference for writers of all levels, indie and traditionally published, featuring a variety of craft and business workshops, acquiring editors/agents and well-known authors across a variety of genres.
The Creativity Workshop in New York will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. They use many techniques in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness, and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
The Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference (ASPC) is dedicated to serving self-published authors and the independent publishing market. No matter whether you’re curious about the self-publishing market or you want to learn how to grow your independent author business, their conference will help you launch your career forward.
Write Now!
$89
TAF is committed to educating, mentoring and promoting both aspiring and established writers by connecting them with fellow writers and the vital resources and services available to them. TAF advocates for fair compensation of writers and content creators, as well as the ongoing professional development of those in the writing profession. To those ends, TAF hosts monthly meetings featuring guest speakers presenting on a diverse array of topics, and presents an annual writers conference each spring.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Writing professionals will guide you through a bonanza of presentations, workshops, and open-mic readings. This intimate event includes successful poets, novelists, screen and play writers, memoirists, and short story writers.
The Lakefly Writers Conference, organized by the Wisconsin Writers Association, will offer over a dozen workshops on the craft and business of writing designed to inspire and guide your creative journey.
The goal of the Atlanta Writers Conference is to allow you to meet eight top publishing acquisitions editors and eight literary agents actively seeking new clients. It also helps you get your work ready for them and educate you with workshops and talks by experienced authors and other industry professionals.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The forum for training with EMWA is its annual conference, held in a different European city each spring, which provides a wonderful opportunity for networking, plenary lectures on key topics, strengthening your writing skills and sending out feelers to get a sense of other areas you might have been contemplating exploring as a writer. A shorter conference is also held each autumn.
Nonfiction Writers Conference
$197-$397
Since the Nonfiction Writers Conference began in 2010, their mission has always been to take the traditional writers’ conference experience and deliver it online. This allows more people to attend from around the world, saving valuable time and travel expenses. It also delivers powerful access to speakers during LIVE learning sessions with interactive Q&A.
Storymakers Conference
$185-$285
The Storymakers Guild is a community built by writers for writers. They created the Storymakers Conference with the goal of providing education, support, and a welcoming community for writers at all skill levels and on all publishing paths. Each year they celebrate the accomplishments of the writers in our community at the Whitney Awards Gala.
The Muse & the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference that educates aspiring and emerging writers on the craft of fiction and non-fiction. It prepares them for the ever-changing world of publishing and promotion and creates opportunities for meaningful networking.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Longleaf Writers Conference
$1,760
The Longleaf Writers Conference includes a full week of intensive and generative writing workshops, one-day seminars, agent consultations, school outreach programs, and special social events. The conference, which takes place in Seaside, Florida, provides an opportunity for all levels of writers to celebrate writing, to network, and to hone their craft in a beautiful setting among generous and celebrated writers and poets.
This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the Event 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).
The Fiction Readers Summit exists to connect readers with authors, books, and fellow believers. They hope these three days are filled with inspiration, connection, and an even longer to–be–read list.
Small select groups of conference attendees experience working under the guidance of notable writers. Founded in 2016 as a partnership between the Transylvania County Library and Brevard College, this annual conference consists of writing workshops for select participants and public readings by the workshop leaders free to the community.
Biographers International Organization (BIO) aims to promote the art and craft of biography, cultivate a diverse community of biographers, encourage public interest in biography, and provide educational and fellowship opportunities that support the work of biographers worldwide.
Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival’s sessions will include both skill development workshops and open forums with authors based on questions and answers in an intimate setting.
Poetry by the Sea is a Global Conference that has been created in the spirit of beginning afresh. The conference will literally take place by the sea, in an awe-inspiring landscape, and at Mercy by the Sea, a beautiful retreat center. You will find workshops, seminars, and panels in areas such as craft, subject/topic, and global issues.
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
The Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) is the leading festival in Asia for children’s stories and young adult (YA) fiction. Targeted at writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, educators and media professionals, AFCC offers a series of exciting programmes, including panel discussions, presentations, workshops, lectures, masterclasses, networking sessions and public programmes that promote the creation and appreciation of quality children’s literature and YA with a focus on Asian themes.
The Martha’s Vineyard Summer Writers’ Conference brings together writers from around the world with the central belief that we can all learn from one another. Their program offers week-long classes on the craft of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, evening readings, panel discussions, and individualized manuscript sessions. Attendees study with award-winning Visiting Authors & Poets and celebrate writing on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard.
Thrillerfest
$567
A hub for all mystery and thriller authors, Thrillerfest includes sessions on marketing, publishing, and honing your craft. They even have a Master Craftfest with specialized small sessions in which successful, published authors work with you on your manuscript.
The Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature is devoted to the study and production of Midwestern literature in whatever directions the insight, imagination, and curiosity of the members may lead. The SSML annual symposium brings together writers, scholars, and filmmakers to present criticism, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
North Words Writers Symposium is an annual event that takes place in Skagway, Alaska. It’s a chance for writers to connect with other writers and thinkers in a spectacular, intimate Alaska setting.
Wyoming Writers, Inc. annual conference is in the works with some amazing faculty lined up to learn from! Attendees get the opportunity to pitch their work to an agent or publisher accepting pitches for their agency or publishing house.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Join this fun, affordable, and talent-laden conference featuring two days of writing workshops and presentations, a keynote banquet with the authors, manuscript consultations, and more!
The Writer’s Hotel Maine “Mini MFA” is a unique, hybrid, comprehensive writing program. The programming includes thrit TWH two-editor pre-conference Team Reading and the conference, to be held IN-PERSON this year. TWH Directors and Editors Shanna McNair and Scott Wolven read and consult on each writer’s full length manuscript pre-conference in their “TWH Team Reading”.
Reader & Author Get Together
$150-$170
The RAGT is a fan-friendly event meant for readers, and open to everyone, readers, authors, and industry alike, in different ratios! In the process, the event also raises funds for many local causes. The incredible raffles garner thousands, and each year Lori Foster puts out an anthology with proceeds earmarked for direct donation. Combined, the event and the anthology go to benefit very worthwhile local charities.
Lit Camp Conference
$1295-$2595
Lit Camp was founded in 2012 to help writers get their books into the world. Since that time, many of Lit Campers have gotten book deals from major publishers and published their books.
The Creativity Workshop in New York will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. They use many techniques in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness, and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
Indiana University Writers’ Conference
$375-$800
The Indiana University Writers’ Conference is the second oldest in the United States. 2024 marks the 84th anniversary of the conference which, since its inception, has stood for literary excellence.
Lit Fest
TBA
Lit Fest is an eight-day celebration of writers and readers, an extravaganza of weeklong and weekend advanced workshops, craft seminars, readings, salons, business panels, agent meetings, and parties.
Paris Cafe Writing
$1,700
Spend a week in Paris. Join a small group of fellow travelers/writers for morning workshops—yes, in English!—then wander the city in the afternoon, perhaps lingering at a cafe to write, perhaps finally climbing the Eiffel Tower. Paris Café Writing seminars are ideal for the independent traveler who wants just a little structure to corral the creative writing process.
The Juniper Summer Writing Institute is an inclusive literary space that welcomes adult writers at all stages of their careers. Writers interested in participating submit an application to their workshop of choice. Acceptance to the Institute is based upon the strength and promise of the writing sample. They operate on a rolling admissions basis.
The Mont Blanc workshop is a one or two-week long writing adventure where writers will have the opportunity to generate new work, receive manuscript critique, explore Chamonix and hike in stunning French Alps. The workshops are limited to 12 participants to ensure an intimate setting, plus plenty of time to write and enjoy France.
Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference
$2,365-2,735
The Translators’ Conference aims to strengthen the visibility and access to high-quality literary translations in the United States, and also to acknowledge that translators require the same training and skills as creative writers.
Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference
$2,365-2,735
The 11th annual Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference is a week-long session designed to hone the skills of people interested in producing literary writing about the environment and the natural world.
Since 1971, Write-to-Publish has been training, inspiring and encouraging writers like you, connecting them with editors to help them improve their craft, with publishers who are looking for good books to publish, and with literary agents who can represent them. No matter where you are in your writing career—beginning the journey to becoming a published writer, exploring the process of becoming a working writer, or an experienced professional desiring to stay connected and growing—the Write-to-Publish Conference is your key to reaching those goals.
Youth Workshops and Activities
$400-$1200
In this workshop, high school-aged conference attendees will explore poetry, fiction, personal narrative, and playwriting. Students will read and write in traditional forms such as sonnets, villanelles, short stories, memoirs, and plays, as well as read and use less traditional forms and techniques, from prose poems and automatic writing to cut-ups, magical realism, and first-person journalism.
Join a community of writers, improve your craft, and reimagine how you think about nature. Guided by award-winning instructors, the Orion Environmental Writers’ Workshop provides an intimate space to connect with writers, artists, and editors, spark creativity, and renew, illuminate, and deepen your relationship with place. This week-long workshop is cosponsored by the Omega Center for Sustainable Living.
The Creativity Workshop in Barcelona will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. Many techniques will be used in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
The 2024 Chautauqua Writers’ Festival takes place over the four days (Wednesday to Saturday) before Week One of Chautauqua Institution’s summer season commences and will be happening in-person and on the grounds this year.
Agents & Editors Conference
$150.00 – $459.00
The WLT’s Agents & Editors Conference is one of the nation’s premier conferences for writers. Every year, they bring together nationally-known literary agents and book editors and other industry professionals with writers at all stages of the writing process for a weekend of conversation and community around the craft of writing and the practical steps toward publication.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
This is a special one-day in-person “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
Paris Cafe Writing
$1,700
Spend a week in Paris. Join a small group of fellow travelers/writers for morning workshops—yes, in English!—then wander the city in the afternoon, perhaps lingering at a cafe to write, perhaps finally climbing the Eiffel Tower. Paris Café Writing seminars are ideal for the independent traveler who wants just a little structure to corral the creative writing process.
Established in 1968, the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop is the oldest workshop of its kind and is widely recognized as a premier proving and training ground for aspiring writers of fantasy and science fiction.
Disquiet International Literary Program aims to deepen mutual understanding among writers from North America and writers from Portugal. The program takes its inspiration from The Book of Disquiet, the great Lisbon poet Fernando Pessoa’s masterpiece; from the city of Lisbon itself; and from the late Portuguese poet Alberto de Lacerda, who believed above all in the importance of literary community.
Summer Words 2024 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music – all year round.
Since 2003, writers from all over the United States have gathered in their intimate lakeside setting with award-winning authors and teachers to practice the arts of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. They offer five intensive week-long writing workshops and an affordable auditor option.
The Creativity Workshop in Florence will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. Many techniques will be used in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
This evolving research network brings writers, readers, publishers, and emerging scholars together to discuss investigations on the nature and forms of information and publishing practices as distinctive modes of social knowledge and cultural production. Conference attendees have a range of session types and presentation options that allow opportunities for networking and learning more about key issues in the industry.
This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. They’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.
The Chuckanut Writers Conference is an annual conference that aims to inspire and empower writers of various genres and levels of experience. It is presented by Whatcom Community College and Village Books in Bellingham, Washington.
The Creativity Workshop in Prague will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. Many techniques will be used in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
The Canterbury Arts Conference welcomes artists in all disciplines and media, academics and students, historians, and other professionals. Participants have the opportunity to share and publish research and network with peers. The conference includes creative writing and visual art workshops, as well as presentations of art in a variety of media.
Readercon 33
$75
Readercon is an annual conference or convention devoted to “imaginative literature” — literary science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the unclassifiable works often called “slipstream.” It features over 150 writers, editors, publishers, and critics, attracting prominent figures from across the U.S., and from Canada, the U.K., and occasionally even Australia and Japan.
The mission of MWW is to nurture aspiring and accomplished writers to improve their craft and achieve their writing and publishing goals in an inclusive community that welcomes and uplifts all voices.
The UK’s Great International Creative Writing Conference is a place to share creative and critical work, to explore creative writing, and to discuss those explorations with creative writing colleagues from around the world. Launched 26 years ago, each year the conference welcomes creative writers from all over the world–many of whom work in universities and colleges, or are undertaking graduate degrees in creative writing.
The Tin House Summer Workshop is a weeklong intensive that consists of curated workshops with limited participants (eight to ten per class), one-on-one meetings with faculty and industry guests, craft lectures, author conversations, generative exercises, and readings. There will be plenty of opportunities for mingling, happy hours, and, of course, karaoke.
Sewanee Writers Conference
$2,000
Offering workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting, the Conference invites talented writers to come to Sewanee each summer to learn from each other in a welcoming and supportive environment. We’re grateful to Tennessee Williams, whose generous gift of the Walter E. Dakin Memorial Fund allows us to give every participant assistance that covers two–thirds of the actual costs to attend. Additional funding is awarded to fellows and scholars.
Writing Heights Writers Conference
$225-$425
Over the years, WHWC have worked hard to maintain the intimate feel that their conference is known for. They create a solid agenda, featuring writing craft, business and marketing sessions, as well as Pre-Conference Intensives that will give attendees a chance to dive deep. Writing conferences can feel overwhelming, so they aim for quality over quantity, hand-picking a diverse and talented faculty who will guide you on your writing journey.
SOMOS, the Society of the Muse of the Southwest, supports and nurtures the literary arts, in both written and oral tradition, honoring cultural diversity in the Southwest.
The Imaginarium Convention, now in its 10th year, is a unique event for writers and storytellers of all genres, including filmmakers, game developers, artists, musicians, poets, cosplayers, and many other creatives, and their fans. The convention features three days of extensive panel and workshop programming, an expo, a film festival, live entertainment, literary and film awards, cosplay, and much more!
The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference strives to bring together readers, writers, and artists of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experiences to be informed, enlightened, challenged, and inspired by a world-class literary program in the great outdoors.
In a literary culture often dominated by concerns of business and marketing, the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference has maintained its emphases on process and craft, featuring a faculty as renowned for the quality of their teaching as for their work. Small workshops foster an unusual rapport between faculty writers and conference participants, who find the Napa Valley experience nurturing and challenging. The conference is suited to experienced writers, but enthusiastic beginners are also encouraged to apply.
The Macondo Writers Workshop is an association of socially-engaged writers working to advance creativity, foster generosity, and serve the community. Founded in 1995 by poet and writer Sandra Cisneros and named after the town in Gabriel García Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, the workshop gathers writers from all genres who work on geographic, cultural, economic, gender, and spiritual borders.
Writing Through the Lifespan is a collaboration with dozens of scholars around the world who are committed to sharing related and complementary research studies focused on key conceptual and developmental aspects of writing across one’s life (lifespanwriting.org).
Confluence–SFF
$65
Confluence is Pittsburgh’s longest-running literary conference with a strong focus on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Award-winning authors, editors, artists, and songwriters gather for three full days.
This is the perfect way to begin your journey as a freelance writer, staff journalist, fiction or nonfiction author, public relations writer, social media expert, editor, and more. Classes are designed for beginners and professionals alike. You’ll have opportunity to meet one-on-one with a publishing professional to pitch your manuscript, get feedback, get advice, or just chat.
The Creativity Workshop in New York will help you become more creative in your personal and professional life. They use many techniques in creative writing memoir, art, photography, storytelling, mapmaking, mindfulness, and guided visualization to help you explore your inner creativity.
National Writers’ Conference
From £40
Join this conference for a friendly day of presentations and panel discussions, focusing on how writers can develop their talents. Subjects will include how publishing works, working as a writer in residence, writing for television and film, and many more. Come along, ask questions, share answers and be part of a vibrant network of writers form across the country, working in many forms and genres.
At the RWA Annual Conference, you’ll experience four days filled with education, career enhancement, and networking with your peers and industry professionals.
Willamette Writers is the largest writers organization in the Pacific Northwest. Writers of all genres and at all stages of their careers come to the meetings, annual conference, and workshops to connect with their community, develop their craft, and advance their career.
At Author Advantage Live, you’ll be rubbing shoulders and collaborating with some of the top Self Publishing School coaches, the entire Self-Publishing School team, and your fellow authors and community members so that you can see what it takes to write and publish a bestselling book, build a six and seven-figure business, and create a platform that allows you to scale your income, influence, and impact.
The Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference is a vibrant gathering that offers morning workshops in a wide range of genres. Afternoons are packed with craft seminars, panels, one-on-one consultations, and open mics; and every evening offers an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie and connection that make this conference, in the words of one participant, “life changing.”
The National Book Club Conference places readers in an upscale, intimate environment with some of their favorite authors–and introduces attendees to new talent to add to their reading lists. The panel discussions on how to publish your book, the dynamics of the publishing industry and Black women’s health lend invaluable information that is lasting.
FAPA Conference
TBA
Attendees can choose from six 75-minute workshops on Friday afternoon—some for beginners to the publishing industry and some for those who are more experienced. These workshops will deal with specific topics and are priced separately, allowing you to customize your conference experience and focus on what is most important to you.
The Writers’ Summer School — known simply as ‘Swanwick’ — is legendary for the warmth of its welcome. If you love writing, then Swanwick offers you the opportunity to learn new skills and hone existing ones. You’ll explore your creativity, make new friends, perform your poetry, sing, act, dance, laugh, and write.
With a rich literary and intellectual tradition, the 99th annual Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference brings together emerging writers to work closely with a diverse and talented faculty. For ten days in August, you’ll experience the intensity—and challenge—of working under the guidance of notable writers, including MacArthur Fellows, U.S. poets laureate, and recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.
Readers, writers, editors, publishers, agents, and other artists attend the When Words Collide Festival, which highlights commercial and literary fiction. When Words Collide welcomes writers of most genres, including fiction, YA, children’s books, non-fiction, and poetry.
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.
Whatever stage of your writing career you are in, Bouchercon can be a good fit for you. If you are unpublished but are writing in the fields of mystery/suspense/thriller/crime, you will get to meet many authors in your field. You will also get to know readers who might some day be reading yours books.
It’s that time of year when they begin making plans for the upcoming Writers Conference — to be held. They have three speakers lined up, each with a solid background in publishing. You will love their presentations!
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
Their focus is to nurture and engage a diverse community of Alabama writers with this year’s conference, and they’re pleased with how the backgrounds and expertise of their faculty reflect that focus.
This conference aims to gather readers and writers of all genre fiction; including mystery, suspense, romance, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal, etc.
Milford is a gathering of authors who write speculative fiction (in its widest sense). It is not a school for beginners; there are no “teachers” or “students.” It is not an elitist in-group. Invitations are extended to any SF author, from relative newcomers to those who may only dimly recall what rejection slips look like. Generally, the workshop includes some writers who have not attended a previous Milford event, and they are particularly welcome. The main language for the conference is English, so all work must be submitted for critique in English.
PNWA Writer’s Conference
$425-$525
Since 1955, writers in the NW have been dedicated to helping writers connect to other writers, publishers, agents, and editors across the country. Zola Helen Ross and Lucille McDonald came together to form the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and since the beginning many people have dedicated their time to ensure its continuation. Over the years, they have expanded their efforts so that writers receive a trusted resource within this ever-changing publishing industry while staying true to their mission of helping writers carve out their place and provide them with a platform for their literary voice.
They have assembled one of the strongest list of writers you will ever find at a conference, with a list of agents, editors and publisher representatives ready to guide you forward! Combined with educational sessions and workshops
The Six Bridges Book Festival presented by the Central Arkansas Library System will host approximately 50 authors for free panel discussions, readings, book signings, and other fun and enriching programs. Most festival events will be held at CALS’s Library Square in downtown Little Rock. In addition to offering an opportunity for thousands of readers to meet some of their favorite authors, the festival will send many of the presenters into local schools to inspire their next generation of readers and writers.
Kingston WritersFest is an annual literary festival that takes place in Kingston, Canada. The festival hosts more than 60 local, regional, national, and international writers in a series of events designed to delight, inspire, and inform readers of all ages and interests.
SleuthFest
TBA
Sleuthfest features sessions on the craft of writing, marketing, and promoting your work. There are social events to mingle with agents, editors, and your favorite authors. There’s also an auction to purchase great writing stuff from bestselling authors and editors.
The Writing Sisters Summit was born in 2018 as a way for writers of color to come together and share what they have learned about the craft and business of writing and help mentor less-experienced writers on their journey to become published authors.
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
$449-$599
The RMFW Board Conference Committee is excited to announce that their Colorado Gold Writers Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver. The conference will feature keynote speeches by Chuck Wendig, the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers, and Beverly Jenkins, the recipient of the 2018 Michigan Author Award by the Michigan Library Association. The conference will also offer master classes with some of your favorite presenters.
The Travel & Words Conference is produced by Explorer Media & Marketing to build productive connections between travel journalists and destination marketers.
This conference aims to inspire fresh intellectual and artistic engagement with a range of relevant texts, while extending ongoing experimentations in western literature and transcending the boundaries of literary genres and temporal contexts.
Alaska Writers Conference is an all-day event of keynotes and panels. It has tracks specifically designed for the writing craft, author marketing, traditional publishing, self–publishing. There are workshops on romance, children’s literature, memoir, and non–fiction writing.
The conference, held over 3 days, features over 30 workshops, sessions and panel discussions for all levels and interests. A limited admission of approximately 250 attendees makes WOTS the perfect place to spark your creativity, share ideas, receive up-to-date publishing industry information and network with other writers.
They’re a non-profit, volunteer community of writers in the Greater Houston area. Like you, they love writing and our purpose is to support each other, work to sharpen your craft, and promote their members’ writing careers.
The James River Writers Conference is an annual gathering that usually takes place in Richmond, Virginia, and attracts prize-winning authors and highly regarded editors and literary agents from around the country to share their wisdom about writing and publishing.
The Annual Flathead Writers Conference brings together inspiring speakers from different genres. They’ll provide information on the e-publishing industry, including formatting your manuscript and guidelines for choosing the right cover to represent your book.
Next Chapter Con
Free
Celebrate reading and literature with nearly 50 local authors at this annual Books and Authors Convention. Discuss books in panels and on a vendor floor full of great reads. Talk to authors about their writing, get signed paperback or hardback copies, and find inspiration for your own book that you’ve been meaning to write.
The DFW Writers Conference is a great opportunity for you to meet professionals from the publishing industry and build on your mastery of the craft and business of writing.
The Women Writing the West Annual Conference is an annual conference featuring respected writers, agents, publishers and other book professionals, plus camaraderie and just plain fun. It offers a supportive and welcoming community of writers and other writing professionals who share a passion for the stories of the Women’s West, and will happily answer questions, lend their expertise, and will sympathize, motivate and celebrate with you on your writing journey.
The mission of this conference is to support writers at every stage of their development by providing challenging, diverse, and accessible educational opportunities. When you attend Desert Nights, you’ll be participating in lively discussions, sharing thoughtful feedback, and creating new work in a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment of peers. Wherever you are in your journey as a writer, this conference is there for you.
Ozark Creative Writers, Inc. is a nonprofit organization guided by a volunteer board of directors and officers, dedicated to presenting one of the oldest and best writing conferences in the region featuring bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers, and media specialists.
Orlando Reads Books
$253
Orlando Reads Books is a four-day event that includes workshops, panels and social events for indie, hybrid, and traditionally-published authors. It features sessions on craft and marketing, as well as events that let you mingle with readers and fellow authors.
Writer’s Digest Annual Conference offers everything you need to advance your writing career creatively and professionally. Gain invaluable tips to improve your craft, explore publishing options and learn how to establish a sustainable career—all while being inspired by successful authors and your fellow attendees. It’s all brought to you by Writer’s Digest, the experts at nurturing and developing writers at every stage of their career for over 100 years.
The Steamboat Springs Writers Conference is an annual event. It’s designed to sharpen the skills of writers from all backgrounds and experiences. Writers of all genres and levels of experience are welcome to read their unpublished works. They offer a seminar-type workshops for all levels, beginning to professional. Topics change each year.
A three-day event designed to help emerging and established writers produce their best work in preparation for publication be it indie, traditional, or something in-between!
Their theme this year is The Power of Storytelling and they will highlight Native American storytelling and Native American writers will be presenting one track of sessions on Saturday. They will have even more breakout sessions and are adding a second day on Sunday that will be a standalone focus on publishing and marketing your work.
The Self-Publishing Advice Conference (#SelfPubCon) is an online author conference. It runs free of charge twice yearly, in association with the Alliance of Independent Authors, and attracts the cream of self–publishing experts and advisors as speakers and sponsors.
The Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference is an event dedicated to various writing topics, including fiction, non-fiction, and business. It features Michigan authors, speakers, agents, and educators. The conference offers lectures, workshops, and panel discussions, with a special focus on literary agents who will host a panel and offer individual appointments.
Participants come to Iota to study all forms of short prose writing, including essays, prose poems, short stories, flash fiction and nonfiction, micro essays, and much more. “Short” is a relative term, of course, and our students work onsite on pieces that vary in length from flash to novellas. The conference is generative, and we know that some pieces begun at Iota have grown into much longer projects once the authors got back home.
Words shape our worlds. They can delight, inspire, provoke, comfort, and unite—as do the authors, journalists, and poets who wield them. At the Vancouver Writers Fest readers of all ages are encouraged to explore the power of storytelling and books through dozens of events with local and international writers.
If you are an indie, hybrid or small press romance author, then this conference is perfect for you. With workshops and panels during the day and fun events at night, participants will be more than happy they took part in it. They also offer a two-hour open to the public book signing on Saturday. Both readers and authors can get to know each other on a more personal note.
Share your perspective, expertise, challenges, and successes at the 2024 Medical Writing & Communication Conference. They are seeking content at the applied and strategic levels to address the needs of medical communicators at mid- to advanced level of their careers.
The Surrey International Writers’ Conference is a workshop–based conference with a focus on the development of skills and industry-based knowledge. From beginner writers to published writers, this is the place to hone your skills, learn more about publishing markets, and network for future sales.
The passion for storytelling at the Mayborn Conference re- charges them each year. The craft of narrative nonfiction is a flame their preeminent conference keeps alight. They focus on craft, and they’ll hear from established heroes of literary nonfiction along with new voices as they push storytelling boundaries in print, broadcast, and film.
Power of Words Conference
$465-$650
Immerse yourself in workshops, celebrations, open mics, and fierce beauty among 50 presenters––storytellers, writers, performers, activists, educators, healers, and more.
For more than thirty years, diverse groups of passionate professional and novice writers have gathered at the Jackson Hole Writers Conference. While attending workshops and keynote addresses at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, writers learn about the craft of writing, share ideas, and make new friends while networking with authors, editors and agents from myriad backgrounds.
The Hay Festival in Wales joins coinciding festivals around the world to celebrate writing of all kinds through panel discussions and lectures.
The All Write, Columbia conference is committed to diversity and their faculty reflect an all-encompassing and equal world. Their goal is to challenge, inspire and foster a writer’s community that continues beyond the workshops. Develop both your craft and your creative marketing savvy in this small, focused conference.
The Hampton Roads Writers Conference is a dynamic workshop-based event that caters to writers of all levels. Whether you’re a budding writer or a seasoned author, this conference provides a unique platform to enhance your skills, gain industry insights, and expand your network.
Free and open to the public, the Pee Dee Fiction and Poetry Festival celebrates and promotes literature and reading. During the two days, renowned authors discuss their work in various panel discussions. Each evening, two writers read from their work. All readings are followed by a book signing as well as a reception at The Cottage. Books will be on sale at the event. Auditoriums and The Cottage are wheelchair-accessible.
Join fellow writers working in education and community settings and special guests for the NAWE annual conference, which for the first time will be online. This will be an opportunity to share, network, and raise a glass to resilience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can expect a packed and lively program that will include talks, panels, open mics, workshops, and author events.
Join bestselling authors and agents in an intimate, oceanfront setting, with an emphasis on fiction, memoir, thrillers, and screenwriting. The conference includes in-depth sessions on craft, publishing, and the writing life, with opportunities for agent/editor feedback.
Paris Cafe Writing
$1,700
Spend a week in Paris. Join a small group of fellow travelers/writers for morning workshops—yes, in English!—then wander the city in the afternoon, perhaps lingering at a cafe to write, perhaps finally climbing the Eiffel Tower. Paris Café Writing seminars are ideal for the independent traveler who wants just a little structure to corral the creative writing process.
For over 30 years, Hay has brought readers and writers together to share stories and ideas in live sustainable events around the world, from the beaches of Cartagena de Indias to the cities of Beirut and Mumbai, reaching more than five million people across five continents. Thier festivals inspire, examine and entertain.
Writing can be a solitary process, but it doesn’t have to be! Attending a writing conference or workshop can help you hone your craft, connect with other writers, and learn from industry professionals. There are many events to choose from in 2024, so you’re sure to find one that suits your interests and schedule.
.
Read More
Amazing Writing Retreats to Attend in 2024
The 2024 International Book Fairs Calendar
The Comprehensive List of 2024 Writing Contests
