2014 Writing Conferences In and Around Arkansas
As you look ahead to the events you’d like to attend this year, here are a few writing conferences in and around Arkansas (where I live). If you want to find writing conference in another state, check out Shaw Guides.
March 8, 2014 – Northwest Arkansas Writers Conference
This writing conference will be held at the Ozarks Electric building on Wedington Road in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The conference has no cost to attend. Check their website as the date approaches for further details.
April 24-27, 2014 – Arkansas Literary Festival
This festival held in Little Rock, Arkansas is a celebration of literacy. The event is primarily for readers, but there are usually a few sessions on writing and plenty of opportunities to meet good writers.
April 25-27, 2014 – Missouri SCBWI Advance Writers Retreat with Mary Kate Castellani
The Missouri SCBWI holds this writing retreat at the Elfindale Mansion in Springfield, Missouri. According to their website, they have already filled all of the slots for the retreat, but they have a waiting list.
May 1-3, 2014 – Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference (OWFI)
Eloisa James is the keynote speaker this year. The Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc’s annual conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Contest entries must be postmarked by February 1, 2014, but you can still register for the conference after that date.
May 3, 2014 – Dr. Lily Peter Celebration of Poetry, sponsored by the Poets’ Northwest Branch of the Poets Roundtable of Arkansas
This poetry conference/workshop will be held at the Shiloh Museum in Springdale, Arkansas. Contest entries are due by April 1, 2014. Cat Donnelly and Geoff Oelsner will be speaking. For more information, you can contact the event coordinator, Kate Lacy, at 479-442-8028.
May 16-17, 2014 – Arkansas Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
The annual Arkansas SCBWI conference will feature a Karen Akins – children’s book author, Rachel Orr – an agent with Prospect Agency, Emellia Zamani – an editor with Scholastic, and Giuseppe Castellano – an Art Director at Penguin Young Readers Group. March 24, 2014 is the deadline to register if you wish to participate in a manuscript or illustration pitch or critique. It will be held at the William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
May 18, 2014 – Books in Bloom Festival
This festival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas celebrates writers and readers.
June 6-7, 2014 – Arkansas Writers Conference
The 70th annual Arkansas Writers Conference will be held at the Pulaski Technical College South Campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. Carla McClafferty is the keynote speaker. The contest deadline and early registration deadline are April 18, 2014. You can sign up for a pitch or a critique at various publishers.
September 6, 2014 – White County Creative Writers Conference
This conference held in Searcy, Arkansas on Labor Day weekend usually has contests you can submit writing for in advance. Check the group’s website as the conference approaches for more information.
September 6-7, 2014 – Missouri SCBWI Fall Conference
It will be held at Lindenwood University in St Charles, Missouri. Conference Faculty have not been announced yet. Check the Missouri SCBWI website closer to the event for details.
October 9-11, 2014 – Ozark Creative Writers Conference
This conference is held in the beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas and often has pitch sessions with editors or agents. Topics encompass all genres of creative writing, including poetry. They also sponsor a number of writing contests with deadlines prior to the conference date. Check the OCW website for more details.
October 24-26, 2014 – Arkansas SCBWI Retreat
The retreat will be held at the St. Scholastica Retreat Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Check the Arkansas SCBWI website in coming months for more details on the writing retreat. Typically it includes an agent or editor who specializes in children’s books, and writers in attendance can register for a one-on-one critique with the editor or agent.
October 2014 – Poets Roundtable of Arkansas 2014 Poetry Day
This fall poetry conference is in a different location around the state each time. This fall it will be held in Mountain Home, Arkansas and sponsored by the Free Verse Poetry Group of Mountain Home. Contest categories and deadlines will be posted on the PRA website as those deadlines approach.
November 15, 2014 – Ozark Writers League Fall Conference
The Ozarks Writers League meets in Branson, Missouri four times a year on the 3rd Saturday of February, May, August, and November, but the big contests and award banquet is at the November meeting. Contests entries are due by September 1, 2014.
This is just a small sampling of conferences in my tri-state area. If you would like to find writing conferences in another area, try searching Shaw Guides or Google for conferences near you.
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