29 Fabulous Writing Conferences in April 2019

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Spring is here! There are some excellent opportunities to network, pitch your work, and attend stimulating workshops in April.

I strongly urge you to plan ahead if you are thinking of attending a writing conference. Many offer scholarships that can significantly reduce the cost. And all of the intensive writing workshops have application deadlines.

For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.)

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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted. Cost: $400 per class.

Beall Poetry Festival. April 3 - 5, 2019, Waco, TX. The festival features readings, panel discussions, and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry. Participating poets include Mary Szybist, Donald Revell, Juan Felipe Herrera, Meg Tyler, and a Poetry Panel. All events are free and open to the public.

Tennessee Mountain Writers Annual Conference, Apr 4 - 6, 2019: Oak Ridge, TN. Speakers and session leaders include Richard Hague, Judy Goldman, Abigail DeWitt, and more!

IBPA Publishing University. April 5-6, 2019, Portland, OR. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and so more! Cost: $195-$475.

California Dreamin' Conference for Writers. April 5 - 7, 2019, Brea, CA. Workshops, pitch sessions, critiques for romance writers.

Grub Street Muse and the Marketplace Conference. April 5 - 7, 2019, Boston, Massachusetts. The Muse and the Marketplace is a three-day literary conference designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking. On all three days, prominent and nationally-recognized established and emerging authors lead sessions on the craft of writing—the "muse" side of things—while editors, literary agents, publicists and other industry professionals lead sessions on the business side—the "marketplace."

Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. April 5 - 8, 2019. Tahoe City, CA. The Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp is for the writer who has a full book-length manuscript (novel, memoir or short story collection) and would like to engage with a small group for a serious and productive response. The long weekend will include an intimate full manuscript workshop, craft talks, readings, an agent panel and individual agent meetings – the perfect pre-publication boot camp for any manuscript. Classes are limited to 5 participants.Tuition includes one three-day workshop, admittance to all craft talks, panels and readings, a one-on-one with an agent, all meals (dinner on Friday; three meals Saturday and Sunday; breakfast, and lunch on Sunday) and lodging in a single room for three nights. Vegetarian meals are available upon request.

Colrain Classic. April 5 - 8, 2019. Arlington, Vermont. "The Arlington Inn is a village estate built in 1847 that was later turned into a summer hotel in Arlington, Vermont. Today, the inn encompasses four buildings throughout four acres. This includes three buildings, 16 guest rooms and a restaurant. Located in the heart of The Shires of Vermont on The Shires By-Way, the Arlington Inn is just a short drive from Manchester and Bennington, Vermont; Massachusetts, and New York. Please note that we will make all reservations and arrangements for conference participants. Other details will be sent to all registrants along with the pre-conference materials." Here you will work with poet-editors Joan Houlihan and Martha Rhodes.

San Antonio Book Festival. April 6, 2019, San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages.

William Paterson University Spring Writer’s Conference.  April 6, 2019: Wayne, New Jersey.  Readings and workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The faculty includes Paul Lisicky.

Northeast Texas Writers Organization. April 6, 2019, Mt. Pleasant, TX. One-day bootcamp.

Rally of Writers Conference. April 6, 2019, Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more.

Spring Big Apple: From Inspiration to Finished Product. April 7, 2019, NYC, NY.  Conquering your fears of Queries and Pitches, Putting your emotions on the page.

Writing on the Door: Paths to Publication. April 12 - 13, 2019: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Authors, agents, editors, and publishers will present on a variety of topics from freelance writing for magazines, entering contests, submitting query letters, finding an agent and more!

Great Plains Writers Conference. April 12 - 14, 2019: South Dakota State University. "Intimate conversations about the writing craft."

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 12 - 14, 2019. Round Top, Texas. The faculty includes poets Sherwin Bitsui, Vievee Francis, Forrest Gander, Marie Howe, Major Jackson, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Natalia Treviño. The cost of the conference is $150 ($50 for students) or $75 for Saturday only. Workshops are an additional $40. Private manuscript consultations are available for an additional $70.

New York Writers Workshop Fiction Pitch Conference. April 12 – 14, 2019: Ripley-Grier Studios (NY Spaces) 520 Eighth Ave (36th/37th), 16th Fl. Participants polish their pitches with the help of conference leaders who are members of the New York Writers Workshop faculty, then they present them to three different editors from major New York publishing houses. Editors provide feedback and may request proposals and manuscripts after the conference.

Writers' Day. April 14, 2019: East Longmeadow, MA. Workshops and seminars featuring Jane Yolen, Shahnaz Habib, and C. Flanagan Flynn.

Norwescon. April 18 - 21, 2019: Sea Tac, WA. Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions in the United States.

Arkansas Literary Festival. Apr 25 - 28, 2019: Little Rock, Arkansas. "Prestigious award-winners, screenwriters, comedians, an expert witness, artists, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions." Free.

Idaho Writers Guild Conference. April 26 - 27, 2019, Boise, Idaho. Meet with agents, editors, and authors. Panel discussions, workshops, and a keynote speaker. Your registration - $195 for IWG members, $225 for non-members.

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 26 - April 28, 2019: Bellingham, Washington. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more.

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat. Apr 26 - 28, 2019. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

Writing By Degrees. April 27, 2019, Binghamton, NY. Event is organized by Binghamton University graduate students, and designed to create a community of creative writing graduate students. The conference will feature panels, readings, and presentations by accomplished keynote speakers as well as other events and informal gatherings. There will be representatives from journals to discuss their periodicals. They will also be holding a writing contest this year. (The next conference will be held in 2019.)

Writing in the Pines. April 27, 2019, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Choose from workshops in memoir, poetry and revision. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 27, 2019, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

Western Reserve Writers' Conference. Apr 27, 2019, South Euclid, Ohio. This free one-day writing conference takes place at Cuyahoga County Public Library's William N. Skirball Writers' Center, located in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch library. It features a choice of breakout sessions, a keynote address, and private sessions with editors. It occurs annually on the 4th Saturday in April.

Write Now! Apr 27, 2019, Raleigh, NC. One day writing conference hosted by Triangle Association of Freelancers.Sessions include screenwriting, financial tips for writers, pillars of freelance success, copyediting, trade pubs, column writing, publishing tips and more. Cost: $69; $59 for students with ID and seniors 65+; $80 at the door.

Crafting Successful Author Visits. April 28 - May 2, 2019, Honesdale, PA. School visits are a powerful way to get your book into the hands of readers. But how do you take what you’ve written or illustrated and turn it into an attention-grabbing presentation for kids? This workshop will give you strategies for creating and delivering engaging talks, information on developing materials for teachers and students, and guidelines for developing other promotional tools. Carmen Oliver and Jan Cheripko will advise you in the creation or revision of your presentation intended for a school audience. In addition to one-to-one feedback on your presentation, Jan and Carmen will accompany you to an on-site school visit during the workshop.