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

SEPTEMBER 16—20, 2026

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 26—27, 2026

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: Colson Whitehead
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: @email
Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

MARCH 17—20, 2027

CHICAGO, IL

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 29—31, 2026

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: Isis Asare, Sophia Benoit, Elaine Hsieh Chou, Max Delsohn, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Emily St. James, Susana M. Morris, Julian Brave Noisecat, Phoebe Robinson, Greg Sarris, Greg Sarris, Kyla Shao, Renee Swindle
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Memoir, History, Philosophy
Contact: @email
Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference

Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference

JULY 17—19, 2026

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, Samantha Downing, Elizabeth George, Rachel Howzell Hall, James L'Etoile, Tim Maleeny, Lisa Scottoline, Luisa Smith, Kelli Stanley
Genres Offered: Fiction, Mystery
Contact: @email.
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

AUGUST 12—22, 2026

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: Catherine Barnett, Rick Barot, Charles Baxter, Marie-Helene Bertino, Jericho Brown, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Alexander Chee, Brock Clarke, Michael Collier, Camille T. Dungy, Edward Hirsch, Maria Hummel, Toni Jensen, Paul Lisicky’, Elizabeth McCracken, Chigozie Obioma, Chinelo Okparanta, Patrick Phillips, Rion Amilcar Scott, Natasha Trethewey, Luis Alberto Urrea, Tiphanie Yanique
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: @email
Free Expressions Seminars: Breakout Novel Intensive

Virtual Breakout Novel Intensive

NOVEMBER 3—DECEMBER 15, 2026, 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, Jason Sitzes, Brenda Windberg
Genres Offered: Fiction
Contact: Lorin Oberweger @email
The Colrain Classic

The Colrain Classic

JULY 19, 2026

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 Summer Poetry and Writers Workshops

CCommunity of Writers Summer Poetry and Writers Workshops

JUNE 22—28, 2026, JULY 10—17, 2026

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: Kazim Ali, Lisa Alvarez, Chris Feliciano Arnold, Ama Codjoe, Mac Crane, Leslie Daniels, Tyler Dilts, Janet Fitch, Carmen Giménez, Francisco Goldman, Sands Hall, Brenda Hillman, Dana Johnson, Louis B. Jones, Dylan Landis, Ananda Lima, Kelly McMasters, Keenan Norris, Peter Orner, Shobha Rao, Jason Roberts, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, Julia Flynn Siler, Gregory Spatz, Brian Teare, Héctor Tobar, Andrew Tonkovich, Diana Wagman, Josh Weil, Matthew Zapruder
Genres Offered: Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Poetry
Contact: https://communityofwriters.org/contact/
Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference

OCTOBER 16—17, 2026

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: Remica Bingham-Risher, Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, David Bowles, Regina Brooks, Lauren Camp, Amie Charney, Jonathan Danielson, Kathy Fagan, Anel I. Flores, Wendy J. Fox, Kenny Fries, Reyna Grande, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Saúl Hernández, Jenny Irish, Jen Knox, Travis Chi Wing Lau, Diana López, Oscar Mancinas, Sally Wen Mao, Sean Avery Medlin, Susan Nguyen, Karen Odden, Naomi Ortiz, Barry Pearce, Justin Petropoulos, Gionni Ponce, Alberto Ríos, Cecilia Savala, Laura Tohe, Sarah Viren, Nicole Walker
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction
Contact: @email
Eckerd College Writers’ Conference: Writers in Paradise

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference:
Writers in Paradise

JANUARY 17—24, 2026

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: Madeleine Blais, Ann Hood, Andre Dubus III, Didi Jackson, Major Jackson, Michael Koryta, Laura Lippman, Stewart O’Nan, Karen Russell, Les Standiford, Luis Alberto Urrea
Genres Offered: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Contact: Marina Pruna @email
Flathead River Writers’ Conference

Flathead River Writers’ Conference

SEPTEMBER 25—27, 2026

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): Mandy Smoker Broaddus, Marybeth Lorbiecki, Shayla Paradeis, Robert Petrone, Michael Punke, Peter Stark, Carl Bond Stevens
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 14—18, 2027

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: Kaveh Akbar, Louise Doughty, Christina Bake Kline
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction
Contact: @email
Jackson Hole Writers Conference

Jackson Hole Writers Conference

OCTOBER 21—26, 2026

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: Emily Bell, Amy Bishop-Wycisk, Claire Boyles, Maile Chapman, Kristina Marie Darling, Kate Garrick, Naomi Gibbs, Nina McConigley, Laura Munson, Ethan Nosowsky, Mallory O'Meara, Michelle Orange, Tiffany Troy
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Childrens's Literature
Contact: Anne Marie Wells @email
James River Writers Annual Conference

James River Writers Annual Conference

SEPTEMBER 25—27, 2026

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: Stacy Hawkins Adams, Rachel Beanland, Craig Belcher, Anne Blankman, Bill Blume, Denny S. Bryce, Shonda Buchanan, Jacqueline Cangro, Rosa Castellano, Wendy DeGroat, Sarah N. Fisk, Rachel Kahan, Courtney Milan, Patricia Bradby Moore, Aggie Prakash, Ran Walker
Genres Offered: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction
Contact: https://jamesriverwriters.org/contact/
Kauai Writers Conference

Kauai Writers Conference

NOVEMBER 2—8, 2026

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: Rumaan Alam, Kwame Alexander, Regina Brooks, Julia Cook, Nicholas Delbanco, Jennifer Franklin, Sam Hiyate, Christina Bake Kline, Jean Kwok, Kevin Larimer, Megha Majumdar, Rebecca Makkai, Michael Maren, Paula McLain, Joshua Mohr, Priya Parmar, Elizabeth Rosner, John Searles, Dani Shapiro, Lisa Sharkey, Steven de Souza, Lisa Unger, Chris Whitaker, 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 4—10, 2027

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: Hanif Abdurraqib, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Billy Collins, P. Scott Cunningham, Natalie Diaz, Jonathan Galassi, Kimiko Hahn, Langdon Hammer, Marie Howe, Adrian Matejka, Campbell McGrath, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Maya C. Popa, Declan Ryan, Emily Schulten, Patricia Smith, Emily Wilson, Kevin Young
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 20—23, 2026

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: Chris Berg, David Bruns, J.J. Cagney, Lori B. Duff, G.P. Gottlieb, Bradley Harper, Steven James, DP Lyle, Scott Moore, T.O. Paine, John Peragine, Carol Potenza, Lynda Rees, Becky Tuch, Steven Womack
Genres Offered: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Live Storytelling
Contact: https://www.killernashville.com/contact-us
Las Vegas Writers’ Conference

Las Vegas Writers’ Conference

APRIL 23—25, 2026

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: Meredith Allard, Alba Arango, Marisa A. Corvisiero, Andres Fragoso Jr., Jonathan Maberry, Marijke McCandless, RobRoy McCandless, Erick Mertz, Mariah Tyler Moore, Julie Okabayashi, Tessa Shaffer, Eva Shaw, S.G. Tasz
Genres Offered: Fiction, Nonfiction
Contact: @email