2020 Washington Writers Conference
It’s with sadness that we announce the 2020 Washington Writers Conference is canceled. Please read the full announcement here. Contact us at [email protected] with questions.
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The DC area’s Premier Writing Conference
REGISTER NOW AT THE EARLY-BIRD RATE!
(Last year sold out, so don't wait!)
WHEN
Friday, May 8th (beginning at 6 p.m.), and all day Saturday, May 9th.
WHERE
The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Steps from the White Flint Metro station. This is the same location as our sold-out 2019 conference; however, in 2020, we will be upstairs with more space for panels and networking. (Click here for info on traveling to the DC area from out of town; parking is free with the voucher provided upon registration. And click HERE to access Marriott's discounted room rate — use access code ATTENDEEWWCA — for conference-goers staying overnight!)
WHY
Agents. Authors. Publishing Pros. The centerpiece of our 8th annual conference is one-on-one pitch sessions with literary agents from New York, Boston, and the DC area. Sign up at the Early-Bird rate for a guarantee of three pitch sessions.
Please note: Literary agents will be added on an ongoing basis; the full roster will be confirmed in early 2020. At that time, you will be notified by email of the agents scheduled to attend and will be able to select four agents for your pitch sessions. (If you’ve attended in the past, please note that we are working hard at having more agents join us in 2020.)
Back by popular demand! The conference will feature expert sessions with publishing pros, including developmental editors. So wherever you are with your writing — just starting, in the middle, or ready with a manuscript — this year’s conference will offer you a chance to move it forward. In 2020, we are adding more formal and informal networking opportunities with industry pros, too!
Pitch Sessions, Expert Sessions, a Keynote Luncheon, plus panels on how to query, how to pitch, and more publishing pros’ insights are just some of the highlights. Speakers include keynoter Laura Lippman, Elliot Ackerman, Angie Kim, Rion Amilcar Scott, Louis Bayard, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, Grace Cavalieri, Marita Golden, and Eliza Nellums. Register NOW before we sell out!
LITERARY AGENTS
A partial list of participating agents is available here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
A preliminary rundown of panels and topics is available here.
PANELISTS
A preliminary rundown of panelists and other speakers is available here.
PUBLISHING PROS
Meet the publishing pros attending our 2020 conference here.
COOKBOOK AUTHORS ONE-ON-ONE
New this year, an optional add-on! Meet privately with a successful cookbook author! Find info here (under the "Recipes for Success" panel).
Early-Bird rate:
Through March 31, 2020
$295 (includes three pitch sessions with literary agents)
Standard rate:
April 1, 2020, through conference day
$325 (includes three pitch sessions with literary agents)
Not Ready to Pitch Your Manuscript? The Washington Writers Conference 2020 is still right for you! Join us for panels, networking, and the keynote luncheon (but no agent sessions) for the special PENCIL BOX rate of $269 (valid through conference day).
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR?
Find all the details here.
REFUND POLICY
Partial refunds (minus a $30 handling fee) will be available through April 30, 2020: three-quarter refund until Feb. 29th; a half refund until March 31st; and a quarter refund until April 30th. No refunds after April 30, 2020.
STAY IN TOUCH
Stay connected with the Washington Writers Conference! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to receive regular updates on conference-related happenings! (Still have questions? Contact us at [email protected].)
LEARN MORE
The Washington Writers Conference is sponsored by the nonprofit Washington Independent Review of Books and organized by writer-volunteers. Our conference chair reviewed your comments about the last conference — read her wrap-up HERE — and we’re committed to making 2020 our most exciting event yet.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Meet our 2020 conference committee team HERE.
NERVOUS ABOUT PITCHING?
Read this article and calm your pitch-session nerves! (And watch this video to see past conference highlights.)
PAST CONFERENCES
Read about past conferences (including keynote speakers, panelists, and agents) by year: 2019 and 2018.
We can’t wait to see you in May! And remember: We sold out last time. So don’t wait: REGISTER NOW!
