11 Writers' Conferences in August

Summer is in full swing, but soon it will come to an end. This is a good time to slow down, take stock, and prepare for the mad dash of Fall. Fortunately, there are a few good conferences that will allow you to do just that.

There are several good conferences this coming month focusing on the craft of writing, which is timely. August is the "dead month" for agents and editors - a time when they catch up on their old queries, and take a break from receiving new ones. (See: When Not to Contact and Agent: What Writers Should Do During the Dead Month.)

Whether you decide to retreat with other writers, or simply head out to the garden shed, this is a good month for writers to stop a spell, and ruminate.

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Writing Short Nonfiction: Picture Books and Articles. Aug 2 - 6, 2015, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Highlights Foundation. Workshop faculty: Debra Hess, Deborah Heiligman, Barbara Kerley. Two one-on-one critique sessions with a member of the faculty included.

Green Mountain Writers Conference. August 3 - 7, Chittenden, Vermont. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as one-on-one consultations, lectures, publishing discussions, and readings. The faculty includes poets Christian McEwen, Peter Money, and Verandah Porche; fiction writers Elizabeth Rosner and Phoebe Stone; and creative nonfiction writers Chuck Clarino and Yvonne Daley.

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. August 6 - 8, Fort Bragg, California. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and workshops with editors and agents, craft lectures, readings, and discussion forums on publishing and marketing. The faculty includes poets Albert Flynn DeSilver and Indigo Moor; fiction writers David Corbett, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lisa Locascio; and creative nonfiction writer Sheila Bender. 

Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. August 6 - 9, Hyannis, Massachusetts. Workshops and craft classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations and mentoring sessions with editors and agents. The faculty includes poets Marge Piercy and Kevin Pilkington; fiction writers Claire Cook, David Anthony Durham, Indira Ganesan, Kate Klise, and Charles Salzberg; nonfiction writer Jerry Armenic; editor Chantelle Aimée Osman (A Twist of Karma Entertainment, LLC); and agents Michael Carr (Veritas), April Eberhardt (April Eberhardt Literary), Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank (Fairbank Literary Representation), Amaryah Orenstein (GO Literary), and Rick Richter (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth). Application Deadline: July 24, 2015.

Florida Authors and Publishers Association Annual Conference. Aug 7 - 8, 2015, Orlando, Florida. Professional development sessions designed to provide authors and publishers with up-to-date publishing resources. Faculty: Steven Spatz, President of BookBaby; Dete Meserve, President Wind Dancer Films; Tara Alemany, Aleweb Social marketing; Ken Countess, Constant Contact; Carol Topp, CPA; David Essel, inspirational speaker; Saundra Kelley, storyteller.

HippoCamp Creative Nonfiction Conference. August 7 - 9, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. craft and query workshops, panel discussions, lectures, open mics, and readings for creative nonfiction writers. Participating nonfiction writers include Amy Jo Burns, Tara Caimi, Viannah E. Duncan, Sarah Einstein, Wendy Fontaine, Robert Long Foreman, Lee Gutkind, Vicki Mayk, Jennifer McGuiggan, Kate McIntyre, Lori M. Myers, Matt Skillen, James Stafford, D. Watkins, Allison Williams, and Stefanie Wortman; participating publishing professionals include Tyler Barton (Triangle), Carol Cool Erin Dorney (Triangle and Third Point Press), Nicole Frail (Skyhorse Publishing), Monique Antonette Lewis (At The Inkwell), Gale Martin (Harcum College), Donna Talarico (Hippocampus Magazine), and Jim Warner (Quiddity).

Willamette Writers Conference. August 7 - 9, Portland, Oregon. 100 workshops conducted by more than 50 seasoned pros in the areas of fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, manuscript editing, publishing, self-publishing and promotion, pitching, entering writing contests, research and business. Whether you write self-help books, historic fiction, blockbuster Hollywood screenplays, mysteries, romance, magazine articles, sci-fi, plays, children's books, humor, self publish or simply need help marketing yourself as a professional, you'll find helpful guidance and keen insights. Other conference features include advance manuscript critiques, filmlab, silent auction, awards banquet, and group and one-on-one pitch sessions with New York literary agents and editors and Hollywood film agents, managers, and producers.

Mid-Atlantic Fiction Writers Institute. August 7 - 9, Hagerstown, Maryland. The annual MAFWI summer conference offers workshops and breakout sessions by bestselling authors, college faculty, and experienced public relations professionals. From story fundamentals like plot and point of view to seasoned advice on how to market your work, there is something for writers of every genre.

Deadly Ink Mystery Conference. August 7 - 9, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 12 workshops, 2-tracks for writers and fans. Guest of Honor: Brad Parks, Toastmaster: E.F. Watkins, Fan Guest of Honor: Ilene Schneider,Other authors: S.W. Hubbard, Other authors: Jeff Markowitz, Jane Cleland, Jack Getze, Roberta Rogow, S.A. Solomon, Annamaria Alfieri, Richard Belsky, and more.

Travel Writers & Photographers Conference, Aug. 13–16, Corte Madera, Calif. Writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restauranteurs, guidebook writers, and more.

Unicorn Writers' Conference, August 15, Purchase, NY. Make connections and get feedback with dozens of opportunities for one-on-one face time with industry insiders, including: One-on-one manuscript reading and feed-back sessions with agents and editors, Networking breakfast, lunch and dinner, After-conference networking party. Perfect Your Craft with a choice of seven workshops to attend from over thirty different sessions offered in: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Mystery, Poetry, Screenwriting, Children’s Literature, Romance, Horror/Sci-Fi. Get the insider’s edge with a vast selection of rare, how-to tutorials from every department within a publishing company, including: Marketing/Publicity, Art/Production, Contracts, Special sales, Media training, Pitching Your Work, How to appeal to agents and editors, Various writing workshops, Literary agents and editors - discussion panels.