Why Attend a Writers Conference?

I’ll admit it, I’ve always been a literary nerd. I earned a master’s degree in Latin American literature back in the ’80s, but way back in the late ’60s, when other kids were spending their allowances on Matchbox toys, I spent mine on books by the New York beat poets—ten cents each in the Bowery for collections by Ginsberg or Ferlinghetti—oh what pleasure to stride the boardwalks in A Coney Island of the Mind.

Then I Grew Up …

After 20 years of teaching advanced Spanish language and literature, I moved to Florida: The land of luminescent lakes and Ponce de Leon’s fountain of eternal youth, and I began to write, and write, and write … until I stumbled upon the Florida Writers Association’s (FWA) website and their Royal Palm Literary Awards contest. With encouragement from my Manatee writers group, I entered a short story into the competition. When I learned I was a finalist in the RPLA, I registered for the 2017 FWA conference. At that conference, I was awestruck when I attended a workshop offered by David Morrell, creator of the Rambo franchise. I was even more gobsmacked at the RPLA banquet when I won a silver medal for my short story. But above all else, the sense of camaraderie I garnered from three days spent with like-minded writers was exhilarating.

Then I Was Hooked …

It might have been endorphins, or a really bad hangover, but the minute I got home from the FWA conference, I registered for the 2018 Key West Literary Seminar to be held in January of that year. It was a long shot, since I was six months late for their limited registration, but I managed to book a spot in their post-conference seminar series, and what a series that was—filled with lectures from all the luminaries of the literary world: like a lineup of my childhood books of poetry. After that rush of adrenalin, I was determined to go back again and enjoy the full experience.

As circumstances would have it, I had to wait another year, and even then, I only got to attend the tail end of the 2019 event . . . but I did get to meet Luis Alberto Urrea, Lauren Groff, and Billy Collins who shook my hand—BILLY COLLINS SHOOK MY HAND—when I told him I’d just published my first poem in a mainstream magazine. “That’s your first sheet [of poetry] cast into the wind,” he said, “there’ll be many more, I’m sure.” Those words of encouragement have stayed with me through the years, and, yes, there have been more.

Then There Was Covid …

The pandemic ended my jovial ride with the literati illuminati, but at least there was Zoom. The 2020 FWA conference and 2021virtual RPLA offered a reprieve from my writerly isolation. Then finally, this past January, the flood gates opened and I was able to register for the full Key West Literary Seminar. The experience let me reconnect one on one with Billy Collins and Lauren Groff, both of who remembered me from 2019. That recognition from two of my literary idols was a sensation I wanted to share with my fellow writers.

Then There’s the 2022 Florida WritersCon …

This year, both Alison Nissen and I have planned three days of events that are sure to provide valuable takeaways for all our members. My goal, as co-chair, is to recreate that heady sense of excitement I first experienced in 2017.

The big kickoff is on Friday evening with a meet-and-greet cocktail party, which includes two free drink tickets, where attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with authors, agents, and publishers; later, all that’s followed by an open-mic event where you—the writer—will have the opportunity to read your work to an audience of your peers, agents, publishers, and just good friends.

Saturday morning begins with workshops that deal with diversity, poetry, screenplay writing, and other topics. In the afternoon, Sarah Penner, our 2022 national author of honor, will give a lecture and answer questions about her experience publishing The Lost Apothecary—a 2021 top-ten New York Times bestseller.

We’ve saved the best for Sunday morning with a panel of publishing experts who will discuss the dos and don’ts of querying your writing, followed by Q&A.

Join us, October 28–30, and find out why you should attend a writers conference.

Our Guest Faculty Includes:

For a full description of events and faculty bios, go to floridawriters.org/florida-writerscon