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Finding the Right Writers Conference -- Fall Events

In my March 26th post, I listed a sampling of upcoming conferences through August 2010. This month I’m taking a look at conferences scheduled for September through December. The list is representative of events across the country available to help you improve your writing skills and get feedback from editors and agents.

You can find more information at Shaw Guides. For a series of informative articles about conferences from Writer's Digest editor Chuck Sambuchino, check out the Writers Conference category of his blog archives.

The focus of these conferences is writing. Pitch sessions are available at several. All of the information for each conference or workshop can be found at its official website. Click on the conference name and follow the link.

September

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference
Denver, Colorado
September 10-12, 2010

Alaska Writers Guild Workshop
Anchorage, Alaska
September 11-12, 2010

Wrangling with Writing 2010
Tucson, Arizona
September 24-26, 2010

October

SinC Into Great Writing 2010
San Francisco, California
The day before Bouchercon 2010 begins
October 13, 2010

South Carolina Annual Writers Conference
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
October 22-24, 2010

Florida Writers Association Conference
Lake Mary, Florida
October 22-24, 2010

November

Sanibel Island Writers Conference
Sanibel Island, Florida
November 4-7, 2010


I’ve attended the Colorado Gold Conference many times and can vouch for the great programs and workshops there. If anyone has additional feedback on the other conferences, please let us know. Do you have a favorite writers' conference to add? If so, please give us a link with your comment.

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Patricia Stoltey is a mystery author, blogger, and critique group facilitator. Active in promoting new authors, she also helps local unpublished writers learn the critical skills of manuscript revision and self-editing. For information about Patricia’s Sylvia and Willie mystery series, visit her website and her blog. You can also find her on Facebook (Patricia Stoltey) and Twitter (@PStoltey).

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Comments

  1. Thanks for this great info on upcoming conferences, Patricia! I attended Thrillerfest in New York City in July and thought it was excellent! Really well organized, and interesting, well-presented workshops by well-known authors.

    I'm going to Bouchercon in San Francisco for the first time in mid-October. Should be great! Plus a chance to see San Francisco at a pretty good (I hope) time of year.

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  2. Jodie, I attended Bouchercon in Indianapolis last year and Left Coast Crime before that. These are amazing conference/conventions for anyone who's a mystery/thriller writer or a fan of the genres. You don't get much writing instruction, but you get the opportunity to hear a lot of authors speak on "how they done it." Bouchercon in San Francisco should be wonderful -- I'm sorry to miss that one.

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  3. Don't forget Magna cum Murder, a mystery fan/writer conference in Muncie, Indiana!
    http://www.magnacummurder.com/
    October 29-31
    It's a wonderful, friendly, exciting event, with panels, talks, games, signings and elbow-rubbing. The organizer, Katherine Kennison, was Fan Guest of Honor at Bouchercon last year.

    Marian Allen

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  5. Thanks for the info on the upcoming conferences. I probably won't be able to attend this year but it gives me an idea of what to be looking for in the future so I can make my plans in advance.

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  6. Marian is right. Closely connected to Ball State University, Magna cum Murder is another mystery fan convention with excellent panels of authors and publishing experts. It's an outstanding event for mystery readers and writers, booksellers, and publishers. I've attended three or four times. For the beginning writer in other genres, you'll get more help at conferences with a bigger focus on writing and getting published.

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  7. I'm going to the Writer's Police Academy in North Carolina in September--specialized, hands on experience for those who write anything dealing with Law Enforcement.

    In October, there's the Emerald City RWA conference in the Seattle area.

    Terry
    Terry's Place
    Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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  8. A.M. -- I did cut back on my conferences this year, but I can't resist attending those that are close to home. Colorado Gold is only 18 days away.

    Terry -- thanks for the note on the RWA Emerald City conference. The Writer's Police Academy sounds great for crime writers.

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  9. Thanks for all the tips on conferences everyone. I would love to attend the Writer's Police Academy. Too late for this year, but maybe next.

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  10. And there's the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), which is being held in Indianapolis this year, September 17-20. It's the biggest conference for Christian authors.

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  11. Maryann -- I'd like to do that, too.

    BTW everyone, here's the link for the Emerald City RWA Conference.

    Hi Patricia -- The ACFW conference is a great addition to our list.

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  12. Haven't been to any of these, but have been to Bouchercon. A great gathering for mystery writers. It offers opportunities to learn, but it's best for networking.

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  13. Helen -- One good thing about these conventions, even if you go as a reader/fan, you will have a chance to meet published authors and learn from panels and interviews how they write and how they got published.

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