Conferences

Do you have a conference that may be of interest to Missouri Writers' Guild members? Send information to Jennifer Jiang at jjiang@earthlink.net

Conferences/Workshops

ST. LOUIS WRITERS GUILD TO HOST FREE WRITERS FESTIVAL
AND MINI-CONFERENCE

St. Louis Writers Guild is proud to bring back the tradition of its conferences of the 1940s and 1950s with Writers in the Park, a free writers festival and mini-conference for all ages, held in Kirkwood Park in Kirkwood, MO on August 28, 10 am – 2 pm.

Workshops begin at 10 am, with breakout sessions every hour. Readings suitable for all ages start at noon in the amphitheatre. Event includes a children’s workshop for ages 8-14 and a booth where SLWG members can sell their books. Food will be available for purchase.

• Cole Gibsen, author of Katana, will speak on Querying an Agent and Writing for Young Adults.
• Judy Moresi, author of Widow’s Walk, will speak on Querying a Publisher and Mystery Writing.
• Faye Adams, author of Chester the Lonely Crow, will host the Children’s Writing Workshop for ages 8-14.
• Peter Green, author of Dad’s War with the United States Marines, will speak on Memoir/Biography Writing.
• Mary Menke, essayist and owner of WordAblities LLC, will speak on Editing Essentials.
• Jaclyn Devay, the 2009 SLWG Short Story Contest Winner, will speak on Sci-fi/Fantasy Writing.
• David Lucas, internet columnist, will speak on Writing for the Internet.
• Dr. Rebecca Carron Wood, author of Full Moon Hotel, will speak on Romance Writing.

This 90th Anniversary Year of Festivals includes events featuring: Ted Kooser, Pulitzer Prize winner and Past Poet Laureate of the United States; Mark Sableman, distinguished literary lawyer; Chris Richman, New York literary agent, and celebrated columnist Bill McClellan keynoting our Winter Gala, along with the Big Read Festival, a “Writers in the Park” mini-conference, craft talks and business workshops and our popular open mike nights.

St. Louis Writers Guild, founded in 1920 by a group of writers including screenwriter Sam Hellman and Eleanor Maxwell McCord, has grown to be one of the nation’s premier literary organizations. The Guild, averaging 300 members, today includes distinguished local published authors, journalists, freelancers and beginners interested in improving their skills and meeting fellow writers. Tennessee Williams won the Guild’s Short Story Contest in 1935 with “Stella for Star,” and the continuing competition draws entrants from across the nation and several foreign countries every year.

October 15-17 Writing It Real in Madison, WI Conference
Start your 2010 fall planning and find some friends to come with you for a great weekend away. Email us at conference@writingitreal.com if you’d like to hold a spot for our first Midwestern conference.

Come and write with us in beautiful Madison, WI during the fall color. Our conference will be housed at a lovely retreat center among fall leaves, a lake and rolling hills. Faculty members Sheila Bender, Meg Files and Jack Heffron will offer you hands-on lectures, small group in-class writing instruction, small group manuscript workshops, and writing and publishing consultations in our weekend intensive Friday evening through Sunday late afternoon.

If you are ready to reserve space at this conference, let us know as soon as possible by email conference@writingitreal.com. Our small groups are limited to 10 per instructor. Check online to see our workshop schedule and to download a registration form.

• Those staying onsite in one of 15 single rooms: $550 includes tuition, lodging, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Those staying offsite at home or other hotels: $450 includes tuition, lodging, dinners and lunches.

Remember, whether you are experienced or new to writing, have a special project in mind, need a jumpstart or are switching genres, our conference provides the professional guidance you are looking for in writing and publishing memoir, non-fiction, fiction and poetry.

Since 1999 our faculty's trademark has been enthusiasm, warmth and genuine down-to-earth instruction.

Questions?
Send us an email at conference@writingitreal.com for more info or join our mailing list for updates.

TED KOOSER, FORMER U.S. POET LAUREATE AND PULITZER PRIZE WINNER, TO SPEAK IN ST. LOUIS

Reception, Lecture, and Workshop Open to the Public

St. Louis Writer’s Guild and Maryville University present former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Ted Kooser, for three public events on October 22 and 23.

On Fri. Oct. 22 at 8:00 p.m. in Ted Kooser will read his works at the Julia Medart free public lecture in the Maryville University Auditorium, followed by a question and answer period. At 6:30 p.m. before the lecture, a reception and book signing will be held in the Maryville Library and Art Gallery, where David Clewell, Missouri Poet Laureate, will introduce Mr. Kooser. On Sat. Oct. 23 Mr. Kooser will conduct a poetry workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the University’s Buder Family Student Commons. Fee for the reception will be $25. The workshop cost is $75, or $50 for Guild members and students. For details and to register for the reception and workshop, visit St. Louis Writers Guild online at www.stlwritersguild.org.

One of the most distinguished writers of our time, Kooser served as the United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. A Presidential Professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he has published twelve books of poetry, including Delights and Shadows, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2005.

St. Louis Writers Guild’s 90th Anniversary Year of Festivals will also include events featuring: Chris Richman, New York literary agent, and celebrated columnist Bill McClellan keynoting a Winter Gala, along with participation in the Big Read Festival, a “Writers in the Park” mini-conference, craft talks, business workshops and open mic nights for members’ readings of their work.

Founded in 1920 by a group of writers including screenwriter Sam Hellman and Eleanor Maxwell McCord, St. Louis Writers Guild, has grown to be one of the nation’s premier literary organizations. The Guild, averaging 300 members, today includes distinguished local published authors, journalists, freelancers, and beginning writers interested in improving their skills and meeting fellow writers. Tennessee Williams won the Guild’s Short Story Contest in 1935 with “Stella for Star,” and the continuing competition draws entrants from across the nation and several foreign countries every year.