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:
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