Arizona
Power of Words Conference, Scottsdale, September 26-29
Workshops, talking circles, performances; features storytellers, writers, performers, musicians, activists, health professionals.
California
Litquake, San Francisco, October 10-19
Largest independent literary festival on the West Coast, panel discussions, readings, Lit Crawl through the Mission District.
Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Novel Workshop & Retreat, Santa Cruz, September 20-22
Limited attendance, workshops, panels, classes, read peer manuscripts in advance, compare- conclusions with editors and agents, also has a teen workshop.
Colorado
Colorado Gold Conference, Denver, September 6-8
Hosted by the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, workshops, panels, pitch sessions, networking, with authors, editors, agents. Keynote speakers are Marie Force, John Gilstrap, and Anne Hillerman.
Florida
Sanibel Island Writers Conference, Sanibel Island, November 7-10
Workshops for fiction, poetry, songwriting, children’s literature, journalism, screenwriting, creative nonfiction, panels on publishing and editing.
Massachusetts
New England Crime Bake, Dedham, November 8-10
Hosted by the New England Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, manuscript critiques, agent pitches, master classes, guest of honor Ann Cleeves.
Viable Paradise, Martha’s Vineyard, October 20-25
Residential workshop in writing and selling commercial science fiction and fantasy, extensive time with authors and professional editors in the field, one-on-one and groups.
Nevada
Las Vegas Book Festival, Las Vegas, October 19
Celebrating the written, spoken, and illustrated word, programs around sharing resources, developing an audience, most events free and open to the public.
New Hampshire
Live Free and Write, Sunapee, August 18-23
Lakes Region five-day retreat with writing time, workshops, homemade meals, relaxation.
North Carolina
Writers Police Academy, Raleigh, August 1-4
Hands-on, interactive, educational experience so writers learn about law enforcement and forensics. Guest of Honor: Heather Graham.
South Dakota
South Dakota Festival of Books, Deadwood, October 3-6
Panel discussions, signings, topics include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s, young adult, history, tribal, and writer support.
Washington
Poets on the Coast, for Women, September 6-8
Writing retreat designed for writers of all levels, sessions on creativity, getting work, publication, master class workshop, one-on-one mentoring, and morning yoga.
Canada
The Vancouver Writes Fest, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, October 21-27
Authors can connect with readers in a celebration of authors, poets, spoken-word performers, and graphic novelists, helpful for teachers too.
England
Swanwick Writers Summer School, Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire, England, August 10-16
For writers of all ages, abilities, and genres, courses, workshops, panels, one-on-one sessions, cost includes full board and evening entertainment.
Scotland
Get Away to Write, Dundee, Scotland, August 1-9
For writers and poets of all genres, workshops, writing time, excursions to St. Andrews and the Highlands, special freelancing feature stories by Juliet Fletcher, scholarships and early registration discounts available.
