2025 Conferences, Workshops, and Literary Festivals

This list started out mostly focus on Texas (where I am) and Louisiana. However, there are some others listed here for you. Also, keep in mind, many are virtual now, so your own location may not matter. Please let me know if you would like to recommend any others to be added to the list. The list below is what I know of as of today.

First, please let me recommend MASTERCLASS. This is an online set of instructional and motivational videos given by some of the industry's top professionals and gathered together in one location. These are very reasonably priced, and you can read about my personal experiences with it by clicking on the link in the labels below. There are other genres besides just writing that are extremely beneficial and interesting as well. They just added quite a few more options this past month. 

There is also a similar site called SKILLSHARE, but I have no personal experience with it. Let us know in the comments if you have, and what you think of them.

Any Time: More than a dozen authors - https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

Any Time: Skill Share

1/22 - 24 - Writer's Digest University Novel Writing Virtual Conference

1/31 - 2/2 - SCBWI (Children's literature) In-Person Conference in New York - https://www.scbwi.org/events

2/6 - 9 San Francisco Writers Conference

2/21 - 22 - SCBWI (Children's literature) Virtual Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events

2/21 - 23 - Writer's Digest Romance Writing Virtual Conference

February 23 - 26 - American Booksellers Association Winter Institute in Denver, Colorado.

3/7 - 15 - SXSW Film and writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/

3/13 - 16 - Left Coast Crime in Denver, Colorado - https://leftcoastcrime.org/

3/21 - 23 - Writer's Digest Virtual Mystery and Thriller Convention

3/26 - 30 - New Orleans Literary Festival - http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/

3/27 - 29 - New Orleans Book Festival - New Orleans Book Festival

3/29 - The Pre-Quill Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah - The Pre-Quill Conference | League of Utah Writers

March 30 - April 1 - Social Media Marketing Conference in San Diego, California.

5/3 - 4 - TENTATIVE - Austin Writer's and Illustrators Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events/texas-writers-and-illustrators-conference

6/7 - 8 - Lone Star Book Festival - https://www.lonestarfestival.fun/

6/7 - 14 - The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine 

6/7 - 20 - Virtual Inkerscon

6/12 - 14 - Children's Institute in Portland, Oregon.

6/18 - 21 - Reader Author Get Together

6/18 - 22 - Florida - Space Coast Book Lovers and here.

6/26 - 28 - Historical Novel Society in Las Vegas, Nevada - https://hns-conference.com/

8/7 - 10 - Quills Conference in Utah - https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/quills-conference-preview

8/15 - 16 - Love N Book in Seattle - Lovenbooks

9/3 - 7 - World Mystery Convention - New Orleans, Louisiana - http://www.bouchercon.com/

9/17 - 21 - NINC Conference - Novelists Inc.

9/26 - 27 - in Florida - Once Upon a Book Author Signing

10/4 - 5 - Dallas Writer's Conference in Hurst, Texas - http://dfwcon.org/

10/15 - 18 - TENTATIVE In-Person - Houston, Texas - https://romanceauthormastermind.com/

10/23 - 30 - Austin Film Festival -  https://austinfilmfestival.com/

11/3 - 7 - (Tentative) - https://20booksvegas.com/about/

11/6 - 8 - (Tentative) - https://hamptonroadswriters.org/

11/8 - 9 - Austin Book Festival - https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

11/12 - 15 - TENTATIVE - Virtual - Romance Author Mastermind

Year Round - Interested in a more expansive list of national and international options? Checkout this list: Insecure Writer's Support Group: Conferences, Workshops, etc. / Publications (insecurewriterssupportgroup.com)

OR: Writer's Conferences 2025

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

Also, if you are looking for a writer's group in Texas, check out: Writers' Groups | Lone Star Literary Life

HAPPY WRITING! 

IWSG: Someone to Admire

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

JANUARY QUESTION - Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

MY ANSWER - There were many at different times. First, and foremost, would be my mother. The woman is a pillar of strength, patience, and optimism. However, if I focus on authors specifically (since I have always loved to read and write) then in the 80s it would have been Beverly Cleary for her Ramona series and Carolyn Keene for her Nancy Drew series. (I didn't know then that Keene was a pseudonym for a group of authors). As I entered high school, my taste in reading switched to the horror series by Christopher Pike and the Fear Street series of R.L. Stine as well as the Sweet Dreams romance series by a variety of authors. As I entered college, my tastes in author and genres expanded to so many more. I fell in love with new authors and discovered some older ones I had never been exposed to. If I had to sum up what I admired about all of these people aside from just enjoying their work, I would have to point out their persistence. I admire anyone who can keep the woes of the world from interfering with their pursuit of their passions and dreams. For the ones I have actually met that I still admire, or admire even more now, I would add that they are patient and gracious with their time.

How about you? Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

Happy New Year!

This year I hope to continue to be braver, stronger, kinder, and happier. 

I wish you the best year ever as well. May we all realize our fondest dreams and take time to recognize and enjoy each and every blessing. I pray we all have love, hope, health, happiness, peace, and a fierce determination for accomplishing good. Stay safe. Be good to each other.

I'll be back on January 8th for the next IWSG post. Until then...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Boxing Day!

 

Happy Boxing Day! If you are not familiar with this celebration, it is usually observed the day after Christmas. Originally, it was a day to donate gifts to those in need, or those who worked for you, depending on where you were from and how you were raised - mostly started in the United Kingdom.

Even if you have never heard of or celebrated this day before, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas yesterday and that you are able to count your blessings. Please remember to check in on those less fortunate than you - there is always someone worse off. We can all serve as a blessing to someone, and I pray we never forget this fact. As the old adage goes, "the quickest way to forget your problems is to help someone else with theirs" - even if it's just being there for them and listening. Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas!

This picture was taken in the front yard of my old house some years ago. The figures were inherited from my grandmother. The manger was built by my husband and oldest daughter.

So far this year, we haven't had any freezes or snow. I'm sure we are due some.

Wherever you are, whatever your situation, I pray you all enjoy a beautiful holiday season full of your favorite traditions. May your best wishes come true.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Freebies and Traditions

There are only two weeks left until Christmas. Have you already finished your shopping, or do you wait until the last minute? If you tend to procrastinate, and you find yourself scrambling to find that perfect gift for someone - or even if you just want to treat yourself - this list of 25 ideas might help.

Whether you're shopping for yourself, a loved one, or just for some basic holiday ideas - this list has a little something for everyone!

1) FOR KIDS - If you have the Amazon app, you can download some children's Christmas books for FREE. While this link in specific to Christmas reads, there are some out there for non-holiday themed reads as well. To learn more: http://www.amazon.com/iMarvel-Christmas-Story-Books-Free/dp/B0062NFLBM

2) FOR KIDS - Interested in more free books for kids? This site offers both holiday and other popular reads for free: http://www.kcedventures.com/blog/free-kids-holiday-and-christmas-books-online

3) FOR MUSIC LOVERS - iHeartChristmas Classics offers a free variety of traditional and contemprary tunes to get you in the holiday spirit: https://www.iheart.com/live/iheartchristmas-classics-6137/

4) MOVIES FOR ALL AGES - 28 of the best Christmas movies on Youtube in time for the 2018 season:  https://www.lifewire.com/watch-christmas-movies-on-youtube-3486071

5) 10 SHORT CLASSICS - some of my favorites are in this list: https://ebookfriendly.com/christmas-stories-free-download/

6) 31 BEST CHRISTMAS READS - Classics most everyone will recognize and love:  https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2017/11/21/classic-christmas-books-to-read

7) CHRISTMAS RECIPES - nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit faster than some of my favorite holiday foods. Check out these free recipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/187/holidays-and-events/christmas/

8) Free, Printable Christmas Gift Tags

9) Free Christmas Card Templates

10)  Free Letter From Santa

11) Printable Christmas Coloring Pages

12) Free Christmas Party Invitations

13) Christmas Party Games That Won't Cost You a Cent

14) Christmas Word Search Puzzles

15) Free Christmas Sheet Music

16) Free Christmas Clip Art

17) Printable Christmas Tree Templates

18) Free Christmas Fonts

19) Printable Christmas Stationery

20) Printable Christmas Wish Lists

21) Letter to Santa Templates

22) Christmas Newsletter Templates

23)  Gifts Needs: 13 Can't-Miss Christmas Freebies You Didn't Know - The Krazy Coupon Lady

24) MORE MISCELLANEOUS - https://www.thefreesite.com/Seasonal_Freebies/Christmas/

25) 121 Christmas Freebies: Amazing Free Stuff to Celebrate the Season With - MoneyPantry

Are there any freebies out there that you want to recommend? What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? 

IWSG: Cliffhangers

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

DECEMBER QUESTION - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

MY ANSWER - I'm not a fan of cliffhangers at the end of a story. I think they are fine for the end of a chapter, but not for a book - not even if that book is part of a series. Life is uncertain enough. I want closure at the end of my story. Even if it's not a "happily ever after".

How about you? Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?