On February 5, 2012, Rachel Unkefer, Jody Hesler, Susan Shafarzek and George Kamide discussed their writing conference experiences at a WriterHouse member event. Among the four panelists, eight conferences were represented. Rather than go over the information about those conferences that can be found on websites or other directories, the panelists focused on their subjective experiences. Some introductory comments about conferences in general:

Common Characteristics of Writing Conferences:

• Famous or near-famous faculty from writing and publishing industry
• Lectures/Craft Talks/Panel Discussions
• Social events

Some offer:

• Personalized manuscript feedback from a professional reader
• Meetings with agents and/or editors

Things that vary a lot among the different conferences:

• Duration
• Cost
• Lodging/Meals provided
• Availability of scholarships
• Daily schedules
• Size
• Personality/environment (friendliness, seriousness, etc.)
• Selectivity/Application Process

Some more complete directories of Writing Conferences:

• New Pages Directory
• Poets & Writers

One question from the audience: “Was it worth taking the time off to go to a conference? Was there a lasting effect on your writing?”

The panelists were unanimous. A writing conference can give you that intense, concentrated dose of craft and community that you can carry back home to your everyday writing life. One panelist said she had her “head turned around” and others said they came home inspired to take their writing to the next level.

Hawthorne is a freelance reporter for the New York Times, Newsday, and The Scientist, with 20 years of journalism experience and four books to her credit.

Check out the Event Page on Facebook, RSVP, and don’t forget to become a fan of WriterHouse.

»Nanowrimo Kickoff, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2-5pm—Hosted by the Charlottesville official Municipal Liasons, Rachel and Sophia. Get to know the other area Wrimos, get stoked, and then get writing! We’ll probably meet and greet for an hour or so and then settle in for some serious writing. If you have leftover Halloween candy, bring it along and swap candies you hate for candies you love. We’ll also have soda and a bag or two of chips — if you feel like contributing, please do! Drop Sophia a note so she can keep track. If you haven’t already signed up, make it official!

»Literary Journals from Both Sides of the Transom, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:30-4:30pm—Editors and writers enjoy a symbiotic relationship. How do they find each other? What can writers do to facilitate a “good match”? Linda Fritz, editor of The Delmarva Review, Thom Didato, Publisher and Founding Editor of Failbetter.com and Barbara Esstman, an accomplished writer/teacher and a contributor to The Delmarva Review in 2008, will compare and contrast their experiences in literary publishing, share their insights, and answer questions about how to get your work published. More info…

»Save the date:

• 01-05-2010, 7:00 Launch Party for member Laura Bynum’s book Veracity

Complete Public Event Details…

Half-Day Seminars (Registration Required)

If you’ve wanted to take a class, but can’t commit to an eight-week schedule, our Saturday Seminar Series is for you.

• 11-14-2009, 9:00 AM-1:00PM Publishing Your Poetry
• 11-21-2009, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Elements of Fiction: Dialogue
• 12-5-2009, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Spiritual Essay—Writing into the Questions

As for Elliott’s The Adderall Diaries, it’s popping up all over the place. He was most recently interviewed on Gawker by none other than James Frey — very meta, as we say in the writing business (scroll down to the comments). The Rumpus is keeping a running list of Stephen’s appearances and reviews.

Both books are now available for purchase at WriterHouse and will also be available for signing at the events. We’ve had some awesome author events — if you haven’t already, go to our web site and sign up for email announcements so you don’t miss a thing.

Not a member? Join today and be sure you won’t miss another great member event!

»Sign up for fall classes and seminars now for an early registration discount. Full details…

»An Evening of Student Readings, Monday, Aug. 31, 7-9pm. WriterHouse Summer Session students from all classes will present brief samples of their work.

»Fall Open House and Instructor Reading, Sunday, Sept. 13, 7-9pm. Meet the instructors for the fall session, meet other writers, and listen to readings by the fall instructors.

»The Renegade Form: The Case for the Novella in Contemporary Fiction with Josh Weil, Thursday, Sept. 24, 7-9pm. This award-winning young author’s debut collection of novellas entitled The New Valley is set in the hill country between West Virginia and Virginia and “written in strong, masterful language laced with tenderness.” It received a rave review in The New York Times Sunday Book Review. We have copies of the book for sale–get yours now during open hours.

More Public Events…

»The Online Writer: a Two-Part Workshop on Web site Design, Blogging, and Web-based Work for Writers—Our most requested seminar has just been scheduled, this time in a two-part format. This is a soup-to-nuts picture of what it means to be a writer in the digital world, led by copywriter and communications consultant Kristen King. The first part is an introduction and the second part is a hands-on follow up. Part 1: Saturday, August 15, 9am – 4:30 pm, Part 2: Saturday September 12, 9am-4:30pm. More info…

Community Events

»WordSmith’s 6th Poetry Jam, Wednesday, August 26, 7-10pm, IS Venue, 709 W. Main St.—Expect a wide variety of artistic voices including poets, spoken word performers, open mic enthusiasts, musicians and singers. Proclaim your right to be heard through performance. $5 admission, IS and Si Tapas menu available for purchase. Open mic sign up starts at 7pm.

2. We still need volunteers to work at “Fridays After Five” at the downtown Pavilion on Friday, July 31. We need people to dispense beverages. WriterHouse earns a donation from the Pavilion for your participation. Anyone over the age of 18 welcome. Sign up on our website.

3. The fall class schedule will be available mid-August. In addition to fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, we’re planning a class on mystery writing and a general class on creative writing for those who are just getting their feet wet. There will also be a number of one-day seminars on elements of fiction writing, food writing, and more. Watch these emails and our website for details and registration information.

WRITERHOUSE PUBLIC EVENTS

»NEW—Just added to the calendar—Getting Published: How to Stand Out from the Crowd—Wednesday, June 24, 7pm -Susan Gregg Gilmore, author of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, returns to WriterHouse to discuss the importance of a planned approach to pitching your work and suggestions to help you get noticed. Her book, new in paperback, will be available for sale and signing.

»Summer Session Open House and Instructor reading, Sunday, June 28, 7 pm—Instructors for the summer session will read from their work. Afterward, prospective students will have a chance to ask questions, tour the house, and meet instructors and other writers.

»Summer Session Open House and Instructor reading, Sunday, June 28, 7 pm—Instructors for the summer session will read from their work. Afterward, prospective students will have a chance to ask questions, tour the house, and meet instructors and other writers.