Writer's Conferences, Workshops, and Festivals in 2016

Last week I shared a detailed list of my local (Texas and Louisiana) opportunities which can still be found here.

I promised to return this week with a more detailed list and information about nation wide options. However, I found this great list on Jodie Renner's blog and thought I'd pass it along as it's more detailed than the one I have.

I still haven't done any research on international opportunities for this year. If you know of any, or would like for me to add some to the other two lists, please let us know by leaving a comment.

HAPPY WRITING!

3 Lifetimes in 1

Hey guys! A friend of mine is releasing his new book. If you have a moment, check it out and show him some support. Thanks all, and have a great weekend!

3 Lifetimes In 1: A True Story About Change And Redemption

by Mark Wayne Allen

A lifetime of memories filled with happiness and terrible tragedies. This book is Mark Wayne Allen's memoirs about his life. Coming from a normal background of a fun-loving, active kid, he has withstood many trials of life and has had to begin his life again, not once, but twice. A tragic car wreck would force him to leave the innocence of childhood behind at just 12 years of age. His survival was only by Miracles. Physical healing would take months, but the traumatic events would force him to rethink his life. Some years later, he would suffer a major head injury, but the loving God that had protected him with Miracles through the first disaster would protect him again. See these Miracles through Mark's eyes and the full revelation of his change and redemption.

—"You chose to go ahead and tell the truth in order to perhaps help others get past those dreadful seasons of coping... Your story is proof that life is not over for the quadriplegic, it is a new season to adjust to and keeping moving forward."  Sudie Landry, Writers' Guild of Acadiana President 

Available in paperback: :http://www.amazon.com/Lifetimes-True-Story-Change-Redemption/dp/0989349020/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452275932&sr=8-2&keywords=3+lifetimes+in+1

Also available on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Lifetimes-Story-About-Change-Redemption-ebook/dp/B018YIPWUW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452275932&sr=8-1&keywords=3+lifetimes+in+1

You can learn more about Mark Wayne Allen (Author of Star Siege) at:

http://www.markwayneallen.com

http://www.facebook.com/authormwa

http://authormwa.blogspot.com

2016 Conferences, Workshops, and Festivals: Texas and Louisiana List

2016 Conferences, Workshops, and Festivals: This list is specific to Texas and Louisiana. 

I will try to provide a broader national list in a few days. Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list or the national one I am working to complete. 

Anyone know of any in other countries besides the US? Please feel free to comment with those as well. You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

 

2/13/16 - "Write Your Heart Out" with Laurie Kolp and Sylvia Ney - http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/2016/01/write-your-heart-out.html

3/10 through 4/3/16 - New Orleans Literary Festival -  http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/

3/11-20/16 - SXSW Film and writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/

4/2/16 - Jambalaya Writers Conference - http://mytpl.org/jwc/

?- Houston Children's Writers and Illustrators Conference - could not find this years date but it's usually in April

4/23 - 4/24 - Dallas Writer's Conference - http://dfwcon.org/

4/29, 30, and May 1- Houston Writer's Guild Annual Spring Conference - http://www.houstonwritersguild.org/april-2016-conference/

5/14-15 - Austin Writer's and Illustrators  https://austin.scbwi.org/events/austin-2016-writers-illustrators-working-conference/

6/24-26 - Austin Agents and Editors Conference - http://www.writersleague.org/38/Conference

9/15-18/16 - New Orleans MysteryConvention  http://www.bouchercon.info/

9/30-10/3 -  http://nolastorycon.com/

10/13-20 - Austin Film Festival https://austinfilmfestival.com/

11/5-6/16 - Austin Book Festival - https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

11/16 - New Orleans book festival https://www.everfest.com/e/new-orleans-book-festival-new-orleans-la

11/12/16- Bayou Writers: A Bridge to Publication  - http://bayouwritersgroup.com/

Lost and Found: The Valentine's Edition

From Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out and Guilie Castilol-Oriard at A Quiet Laughter, and co-hosted by Elizabeth Seckman, Yolanda Renee, Denise Covey. and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Do you remember that special feeling of love found? And who hasn't experienced the emotional experience of love lost? Some of you might have even lost a love only to find that person later for another go around. 

Tell your story about love lost or found in our special Valentine's blogfest. Your post can be a short fiction, an essay, poetry, or even a song--let your imagination run free. Any genre is fair game, be it romance, historical fiction, memoir, or even science fiction. After all there are no limitations when it comes to love.

The Lost and Found: Valentine’s Edition blogfest takes place February 1. For details and to sign up, go HERE.

Writing

IWSG: Reborn

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.

Hello all! I hope you were able to enjoy a wonderful holiday season doing things you enjoy. It's our first post of the year, and a time of rebirth. As many people tend to do, I decided to make a few New Year's resolutions. However, I decided to limit myself to just TWO this year. That's doable right? I can handle two tasks. Easier said than done.

Resolution #1 - Complete tasks - this didn't become a problem for me until I had kids. In fact, I have OCD tendencies that demanded I finish things just so. However, anyone with kids knows that when you have two infants, or multiple toddlers, or anyone else living in your house, everything can quickly become about them and not you. At first, it was necessary for me to learn to let things slide, but after a while it became a habit. Then, it became an excuse. This leads me to:

Resolution #2 - Trust myself - confidence has never been my strongest trait. i.e. sometimes it's hard to find any at all. This applies to many areas of my life, but especially in my writing. No matter how many articles, short stories, poems, pictures, blog posts, whatever, that I publish I'm always questioning my abilities. When I finally do complete a work and submit it, I anxiously wait. I'm so excited about the piece I've submitted that I can't wait to hear back. This problem always leads to one of two outcomes. One: they rejected it, and I'm left wondering what made me think it was okay to submit. Or two: they accept it with congratulations, and I'm left wondering what's wrong that they are willing to publish my work. Is there something wrong with the publisher? Did they not receive enough entries? Why are they publishing me? Super neurotic, right?

So, those are my two resolutions. Thankfully, I recently found a book that has made me feel so much better - The Shy Writer - Reborn: An Introverted Writer's Wake-Up Call. It's opened my eyes to some of the things that cause me to feel the way I do, how so many others are similar, and what I might do to help myself.

I highly recommend this book. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner, or a multiple award-winning author. We all struggle with our confidence from time to time. Whether you dread marketing, public speaking, and/or sharing your creations this book can help. The author, C. Hope Clark, helps you to embrace your strengths and weakness, and to move forward with renewed confidence. This book is a true comfort that has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf. I hope you will give it a try.

Happy New Year, and Happy Rebirth!

What kind of resolutions are you making?

Write Your Heart Out

WRITE YOUR HEART OUT: A day of instruction, inspiration, and expression

February 13, 2016 from 10 am – 6 pm at Howell’s  - 6095 Folsom Dr. Beaumont, Texas

Facilitators Laurie Kolp and Sylvia Ney will help you complete at least one submission ready piece of 1500 words or less.

This workshop is for fans of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

2016 “Write Your Heart Out” Workshop Registration Form

NAME:_________________________________________________

ADDRESS:______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

PHONE ________________________________________________

EMAIL ________________________________________________

FEES:

_________ $10 for BWG and TGCW Members (Must be mailed by Feb. 5)

_________ $20 for Non-Members (Must be mailed by Feb. 5)

_________$25 At the Door on Feb. 13


You can mail this page with your payment to: 

Sylvia Ney

PO BOX 252

Bridge City, TX 77611