These writing events offer everything a writer might want: intensive workshops, pitch sessions with agents, to how to market yourself and your books, discussions - there is something for everyone.
For a full list of conferences held throughout the year see Writing Conferences. If you miss an application deadline, put it on your calendar for next year. Quite a few conferences offer scholarships, so apply early. Plan ahead!
Be sure to check out Highlights list of workshops. They offer many throughout the year.
(Image: Amelia Island: Flickr)
________________________
Amelia Island Book Festival. March 1, 2025: Fernandina Beach, FL. During the Festival, Authors have opportunities to engage with over 1300 Readers in an up-close and personal way to showcase and sell their books. Readers will be able to engage with more than 100 exhibiting authors in a personal way about their work and what inspires them. There are numerous Author breakout presentations, including several led by New York Times best-selling authors, book signing session, food trucks, and a variety of activities designed to keep both Authors and Readers engaged, educated, and entertained through activities throughout the day.
The 2025 South Carolina Writing Workshop. March 1, 2025: Charleston, SC. This in-person writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (125 total).
Futurescapes. March 6 - 9, 2025. Workshop the first 3,500 words of your Novel; 7:1 Student-Faculty Ratio; Work with Top Agents & Authors in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror; Our Faculty have won Hugo, Nebula, Newbery & World Fantasy Awards; Apply Early - Seating is Capped and Competitive.
The 2025 Texas Writing Workshop. March 7 - 8, 2025: Online. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course 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).
2025 Carolina Writing Workshops. March 7 (Charlotte) and March 8 (Raleigh), 2025. "The workshops are both one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’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. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."
Colrain Classic. March 7 - 10, 2025: Via Zoom. "The Colrain Manuscript Classic is a highly focused, 3.5 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. In addition to the manuscript preparation workshop and editor sessions, there will be an editorial Q&A, and an after-conference strategy session."
Writing Your Queer Nature: A Generative Writing Workshop. March 8, 2025. Via Zoom. Join us for a generative writing workshop and discussion with a queer ecofeminist writer and the author of 18 books. The workshop will address the relationships between environmental diversity and the healing power of embracing our queer identities within different aspects of ourselves and our communities. Participants need not identify as queer to attend, as everyone will be welcomed. Together, we will practice different genres of writing from journaling to poetry to fiction, and participants will have the opportunity to generate new writing or work on existing projects in a safe and supportive way.
Bay to Ocean Writers Conference. March 8, 2025: Wye Mills, Maryland. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association. "Featuring six tracks and over 30 sessions sure to fit all your writing needs, this year’s Bay to Ocean Writers Conference celebrates a quarter of a century of helping writers develop their craft, edit, publish, and market their writing. This year’s sessions, all 50-minutes in length, are carefully designed to help you generate solid writing, hone your craft, and ask pointed questions from published and award-winning presenters about the process."
Getaway to Write - Florida. March 11 - 16, 2025: New Smyrna Beach, Florida. "Our retreats revolve around the belief that when writers leave behind the distractions of their busy lives to gather in an encouraging community, they are able to make important breakthroughs in their writing. Each workshop will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, feedback, motivation and inspiration. By spending the entire week in one workshop, you will venture deeper into your writing, making more progress than you thought possible. You may choose to spend the week working on your poetry or prose."
Alabama Writing Workshop. March 14, 2025: Birmingham, Alabama. "A one-day writing workshop full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We will also have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well."
Ossabaw Weekend Writer’s Retreat. March 14 - 19, 2025: Ossabaw Island, GA. Workshops and seminars led by nationally recognized faculty, and evening readings (special emphasis on ghost stories) by faculty and participants. Application deadline: February 1.
Atlanta Writing Workshop. March 15, 2025: Atlanta, GA. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’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. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."
The 2025 Writing Workshop of South Florida. March 15, 2025: Fort Lauderdale / Pompano, Florida. This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total).
Practical Matters in Children’s Book Publishing: A Two-Night Mini with Editor Harold Underdown. March 18 - 20, 2025. Online. Curious about breaking into children’s book publishing? Join editor Harold Underdown for a smart, engaging two-night course covering everything from book types to contracts—plus a chance to ask your pressing questions!
Breakout Novel Intensive. March 18 - April 22, 2025: Online. Included are new or revised units on story discovery, strong voice, standout characters, the inner journey, compelling story worlds, beautiful writing, creating resonance and finding meaning in both story and process. Breakout fundamentals are also covered: strong characters, inner conflict, personal stakes, plot layers, powerful scenes, micro-tension, practical theme techniques and much more. Instructor: Donald Maass.
a lot of curiosities. March 19, 2025: Via Zoom. This generative, crafty workshop aims to introduce a series of tools, ideas, and curiosities to storytellers of all levels, but especially those looking to dip their toes into creative writing for the first time. The workshop will consist of a short discussion asking the question: what is creative writing? And a guided session of an open writing prompt, titled “The Hands That Make Us.” Through this generative prompt, we’ll explore the stories in our hands, literally. Participants will come out with either a poem or piece of hybrid prose.
University of North Dakota Writers Conference. March 19 - 21, 2025: Grand Forks, North Dakota. Founded in 1970 and held every year since, the UND Writers Conference is a three day event featuring six to eight authors annually. Authors ranging from Gwendolyn Brooks and August Wilson to Tommy Orange and Colson Whitehead, the UND Writers Conference is committed to community outreach, engagement, and finding ways to increase audience access to literature. The conference is free, but workshop space is limited to twenty participants; registration is first come, first served.
Beall Poetry Festival. March 19 - 21, 2025: Waco, TX. Baylor University’s Beall Poetry Festival is a three-day celebration of contemporary poetry, with poetry readings, a panel discussion, and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry. The festival is supported by the John A. and DeLouise McClelland Beall Endowed Fund, established in 1994 by Mrs. Virginia B. Ball to honor her parents and to encourage the writing and appreciation of poetry.
Virginia Festival of the Book. March 20 - 23, 2025: Charlottesville, VA. "The Festival is the largest community-based book event in the Mid-Atlantic region and has attracted audiences of more than 20,000 for each of the past thirteen years. We have presented a captivating list of authors, ranging from international bestsellers to topical specialists to debut authors." Book exhibits, talks by authors, readings, workshops on book promotion, finding an agent, poetry, publishing, agents roundtable - you name it, this conference has it.
WTP. March 20 - 23, 2025: NY. NY. "The goal of this conference, and all its companion editorial and development programs, is to set you on a realistic path not only to publication, but to becoming a career author. The Write to Pitch utilizes a time-tested methodology that works to get writers published. Pitching TV/Film pros, literary agents, and publishing house acquisition editors is a vital component (see the Schedule), of course, but when asked what specific elements make the event unique and better than other writer conferences, our response lists a number of game-changing factors, both major and minor." Limited to 65 participants, so apply early.
The 2025 Colorado Writing Workshop. March 22, 2025: Denver, CO. "This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Courtyard Denver Airport at Gateway Park. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’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. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."
Western Reserve Writers' Conference. March 22, 2025, 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.
Chesapeake Writing Day Workshop. March 22, 2025. Online. A full-day “How to Get Published” event. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more."
Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. March 22, 2025: Atlanta, Georgia. 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, our conference will help you launch your career forward.
The 2025 Oklahoma Writing Workshop. March 22, 2025: Oklahoma City, OK. This in-person writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (125 total).
From Spark to Story: A Fiction Workshop. March 24 - April 21, 2025. Online. In this five-week short fiction course, we’ll delve into the elements that make short stories most compelling. Through generative writing exercises and discussions about contemporary short stories, we’ll experiment with plot, character development, point of view and more. During each weekly session, we’ll workshop works-in-progress we want to improve, or entirely new pieces we write during the course. We’ll assign small workshop groups for each coming session, and everyone will read their group’s work ahead of class to be prepared to discuss each in a safe, supportive setting. By the end of this workshop, you will have the tools and feedback you need to complete a short story or two, and to continue honing your future writing. Limited to 12 participants.
Building Worlds: An Online Poetry Workshop. March 26 - April 23, 2025. Online. In this five-week course, we’ll explore the art of world-building within the confines of poetry, creating vibrant, imaginative spaces that come alive with detail, emotion and resonance. Through generative writing exercises, prompts and discussions, we will learn how to develop poems that transport readers to fully realized universes rooted in fantasy, myth, memory or reality. The course will emphasize techniques for establishing mood and atmosphere, as well as infusing our work with dynamic characters, stories and themes. Together, we’ll read exemplary pieces from William Blake to Audre Lorde to Jamaal May and more to analyze how world-building enhances the emotional and narrative depth of a poem, making it engaging and memorable. Weekly workshops will provide a supportive environment for feedback, helping you refine your craft and push the boundaries of your imagination.
Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. March 26 - 29, 2025: Los Angeles, California. "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. AWP’s is now the largest literary conference in North America."
Algonkian Novel Retreat. Algonkian Park, Virginia, March 26 - 30, 2025. "In keeping with the spirit of this place and the goals of this retreat, you can be as goal-oriented or as hesitant in approach as you wish. You can show us your manuscript, improve your skills, clear your head, have your work read by our writer mentors, whatever works for you, whatever helps you grow and discover your vision as a writer. You discuss with us ahead of time via the Algonkian Writer Retreat Application the goals you wish to accomplish, and we'll work with you to make it happen. Do you desire a review of your short stories or flash fiction? A line edit? Do you wish to discuss the reality of the current fiction market, your novel project, plot and characters, or perhaps get feedback on the opening hook or a few sample chapters? Or would you simply like a relaxed and productive dialogue about your goals as a writer?" Registration is first come, first served.
National Black Writers Conference 2025 Biennial Symposium. March 27 - 29, 2025: Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn, New York. This Symposium, a culturally enriched literary gathering of writers, educators, literary professionals and the general public, specifically targets Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) Literature by Black authors, a genre that has expanded over the last two decades. This genre serves as an energizing force for cultivating and nurturing the critical reading and writing habits of a cross-generation of readers and writers, helps to affirm students’ self-esteem, literacy, identity, and awareness of the contributions of literature by Black writers.
The 2025 Connecticut Writing Workshop. March 28, 2025: New Haven, CT. This in-person writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (125 total).
Power of Narrative. March 28- 29, 2025: Boston, MA. Over 30 journalists, directors, producers and editors lead three days of lively discussions geared to advance the knowledge of narrative storytellers. Approximately 500 persons attend. Early registration is encouraged.
WonderCon. March 28 - 30, 2025: Anaheim, CA. HUGE comic book convention.
The 2025 Boston Writing Workshop. March 29, 2025: Boston, MA. "This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course 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). This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop. In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’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. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome."
Conferences with application deadlines in March 2025
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops. June 22 – July 5, 2025 and July 13–26, 2025: Gambier, Ohio. At Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops, talented high school students from around the world join a dynamic and supportive literary community to stretch their talents, discover new strengths, and challenge themselves in the company of peers who are also passionate about writing. Application deadline: March 1.
Sewanee Writers’ Conference. July 15 - 27, 2025: Sewanee, TN. Faculty will give readings and provide instruction and criticism through workshops and craft lectures, as well as meet individually with participants to discuss their manuscripts. The Conference will offer five fiction workshops, four poetry workshops, and a playwriting workshop supported by two professional actors. In addition, a substantial number of literary agents will attend. Application deadline March 1.
Write Stuff Writers Conference. April 13 -15, 2025: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Workshops, Agent./Editor pitch sessions, marketing consults plus lunch and Keynote address, Book Fair, Flash Literature Writing Contest, Door Prizes. Featuring: Tiffany Yates Martin. Registration closes March 2.
Community of Writers at Squaw Valley: Poetry Workshop. June 21 - 27, 2025: Olympic Valley, California. "We work together to create an atmosphere in which everyone might feel free to try anything. In the mornings we meet in workshops to read to each other the work of the previous twenty-four hours; each participant also has an opportunity to work with each staff poet. In the late afternoons we gather for a conversation about some aspect of craft. On several afternoons staff poets hold brief individual conferences." Registration deadline: March 10.
Community of Writers Workshop in Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, and Memoir. July 7 - 14, 2025: Olympic Valley, California. 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, as well as brief individual conferences. The morning workshops are led by staff writer-teachers, editors, or agents. There are separate morning workshops for Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction/ Memoir. In addition to their workshop manuscript, participants may have a second manuscript read by a staff member who meets with them in an individual conference. During the week, a portion of our workshops is devoted exclusively to nonfiction. Memoir, narrative nonfiction, and essays are invited. Literary criticism and scholarly work will not be considered. Nonfiction applicants can use the same general form for submission. Application deadline March 10.
New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College. June 22 - July 19, 2025: Saratoga Springs, NY. Since 1987, the Institute has been offering students the opportunity to learn from an extraordinary faculty of distinguished writers led by director Robert Boyers. The program is an offshoot of the New York State Writers Institute created by Albany native and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy. The curriculum is designed for college-aged students and adults, and the new virtual format will retain many of the Institute’s hallmark features:
- Creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction and non-fiction
- Small classes that offer individualized attention and workshop student writings
- Public readings and afternoon Q & A sessions with world-renowned guest writers
- Private tutorial sessions for student fiction manuscripts, book-length poetry, or non-fiction (available for an additional fee)
- Option to enroll for one-week, two-week, or four-week sessions
- Optional undergraduate credit for eligible students enrolled in one genre for four weeks
- Merit Scholarships for tuition
The deadline for Scholarship Applications is March 15
Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers. May 7 - July 16, 2025: Online. A transformative opportunity to have your entire draft (up to 80,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and a private consultation provided. This online program is for any writer of a middle grade or young adult novel. Apply by March 24.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.