Writers tend to be a solitary lot. Most of us spend our days bent over keyboards and pads of paper putting words on the page or poring over various sources for research. If you’re already an active member of Knoxville Writers’ Guild, you know the value of occasionally getting out of the writing or researching bubble and mingling with fellow scribes.
Writing conferences are a great, if sometimes pricey, way to meet other writers, hone your craft, and get in front of people who might help you get your work out to the world. If you are interested in attending a conference, I’ve collected a few in the Southeast to get you started. If you want to look further afield, Shaw Guides provides a detailed list of writing conferences around the U.S. and throughout the world.
If you have a favorite conference, festival, or retreat you’ve attended, please shoot me an email about it for a future blog post.
Important note: I have attended a few of these, but not all. This list is not an endorsement by me or the Knoxville Writers’ Guild.
Wallet factor:
$ – under $500
$$ – $500-1000
$$$ – over $1000
August
Location: Nashville, TN
Focus: Killer Nashville is geared toward thriller, mystery, and suspense writers but panels and speakers cover a wide array of writing, publishing, and marketing topics.
Featured guests: Janet Evanovich, Kevin O’Brien, Anne Perry
Date: August 18-21, 2016
Fun fact: An award is given for solving a crime from a staged crime scene.
Registration deadline: ticketed events may be full, but you can register on the day of the conference
Wallet factor: $
September
Kentucky Women Writers Conference
Location: Lexington, KY
Focus: Celebration of women’s arts and letters.
Featured guests: Mary Carr, Dana Spiotta, Crystal Wilkinson
Date: September 15-18, 2016
Fun fact: Longest running women writers conference in the U.S.
Registration deadline: Open up to the day of the conference
Wallet factor: $-$$ (various attendance packages available)
Chattahoochee Valley Writers Conference
Location: Columbus, GA
Focus: From the website: “Whether you are an aspiring or a published writer, poet, scriptwriter, playwright, or blogger, this conference will inspire you and guide you!”
Featured guest: William “Billy” Winn
Date: September 23-24, 2016
Fun fact: 2016 is the 10th anniversary of this conference
Registration deadline: Deadline for one on one review: August 15, 2016. Conference registration is up to day of conference.
Wallet factor: $
October
SilverHart SWAT Academy: Suspense writers adventure & training
Location: Zachary, LA
Focus: From the website: “Suspense Writers Adventure and Training is an action-packed, four-day training opportunity for authors, screenwriters, and video game developers.”
Featured guests: Chief Scott Silverii and Liliana Hart host the SWAT Academy
Date: October 13-16, 2016
Fun fact: Includes a graduation ceremony.
Registration deadline: Open until filled.
Wallet factor: $$
Location: Nashville, TN
Focus: The Southern Festival of Books’ tagline is “A Celebration of the Written Word”
Featured guests: Full list of participating writers
Date: October 14-16, 2016
Fun fact: The SFB was one of the first book festivals of its kind and inspired many other book festivals around the country.
Registration deadline: Deadline has passed to submit books for consideration. Attendance does not require registration
Wallet factor: FREE
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Focus: Broad focus on writing, publishing, and marketing.
Featured guest: John Gilstrap
Date: October 20-23, 2016
Fun fact: Genre breakfasts offer an opportunity to meet and greet with writers in your genre over eggs and coffee.
Registration deadline: Late registration up to the day of the conference.
Wallet factor: $$
November
Location: Atlanta, GA
Focus: Publishing – critiques and sessions with agents and editors
Featured guests: Susan Crawford and Anju Gattani
Date: November 4-5, 2016
Fun fact: The agents and editors give out awards for best manuscript sample submitted and for best query letter pitch.
Registration deadline: October 3 for manuscript critique, or until filled. November 2 for all other conference activities
Wallet factor: $-$$ (multiple packages available)
January
Key West Writers’ Workshop Program
Location: Key West, FL
Focus: By application and open enrollment workshops with featured writers. This event takes place on the heels on the Key West Literary Seminar (geared toward readers). Part conference/part retreat.
Featured guests: 2017 faculty include: Robert Antoni, Jennine Capó Crucet, Billy Collins and others.
Date: January 16-29, 2017
Registration deadline: Until filled. Registration is per workshop.
Fun fact: The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is located in Key West and has a population of polydactyl cats.
Wallet factor: $$$
Spring 2017
Location: Nashville, TN
Focus: Fledging conference specializing in fight scenes and combat. Panels and workshops include publishing, marketing, and other writing topics.
Featured guests: TBA
Date: April 2017
Registration deadline: By October 1, 2016 (see registration page for special note)
Fun fact: You can rent ninjas to stage your fights scenes
Wallet Factor: $
