Contributed by Heather Štefanec
Are you a writer looking to hone your craft or navigate the exciting world of publishing? Do you want to learn from literary agents and editors while hanging with your writer friends or making new connections? Then you won't want to miss the Annual Conference for Writers & Illustrators this fall, September 29th and 30th, at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hosted by the Alaska Writers Guild and the Alaska chapters of Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, we are pleased to partner with the UAA Department of Writing to offer discounted registration for the 2023 conference to all University of Alaska students and faculty, as well as members of our organizations.
No matter where you are in your writing or publishing career, the conference offers the opportunity to attend sessions to improve your writing, learn strategies about the business of writing, be inspired by bestselling authors, connect with industry experts, talk shop with other writers, pitch to agents, and stay current on what is happening in the world of writing and publishing. This year, you'll be able to learn from 17 agents, editors, publishers, authors, and other industry professionals from across the country, live and in person.
Friday will consist of pre-purchased manuscript reviews and optional workshops, such as: "Learning to Love Synopsis Writing" with Anjanette Barr, "Success in Self-Publishing" with Erick Mertz, "Six Elements of Story Structure for Romance Writing" with Jessica Snyder, and "Don't Fear the Query (Or Those First Ten Pages)" with YA author and literary agent Eric Smith. The main conference starts on Saturday, September 30th, with a keynote speech from Smith titled "Focusing on What You Can Control." The day is packed with numerous breakout sessions on all kinds of writerly topics. From "Tricky Situations in Publishing" to "Crafting Characters with Depth and Dimension" to "Mindfulness Practices for Your Writing," there will be something for everyone. The conference closes out with a panel discussion with our out-of-state faculty, a member book sale, and a silent auction to fund our Lin Halterman Grant.
One of the greatest benefits of a conference is the camaraderie among attendees and faculty, who understand each other's passion for writing, common struggles in the journey to publication, and the stresses of fitting writing in among all of life's responsibilities. Lunch and break times will offer excellent opportunities to make genuine connections with fellow writers and our many knowledgeable speakers. Sharing and learning new ideas and skills with one another can prove invaluable to your endeavors.
So please come and be inspired! Register on our website at alaskawritersguild.com/conference or in person each day of the event. We look forward to seeing you there!