2019 Washington Writers Conference
WHEN
Friday, May 10 (beginning at 6 p.m.), and Saturday, May 11 (all day).
WHERE
NEW location! The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Steps from the White Flint Metro station.
WHY
Agents. Authors. Publishing pros. The centerpiece of our conference is one-on-one pitch sessions (six minutes apiece) with literary agents from New York, Boston, and the DC area. Registrants are guaranteed three of these sessions! (The full schedule of events is available here.)
Our conference, now in its 7th year, will be bigger than ever! For the first time, the event will feature expert sessions with publishing pros, including editors and publicists, and up-close author talks, in addition to our pitch sessions. Whatever stage you’re in with your writing — just starting, in the middle, or ready with a manuscript — this year’s conference will offer you a chance to move forward.
Pitch sessions, expert sessions, author talks, and a luncheon (featuring keynote speaker Jeffery Deaver), plus panels on how to query, how to pitch, and more publishing pros’ insights, are just some of the highlights. Past speakers have included Bob Woodward, Bob Schieffer, Kitty Kelley, Judith Viorst, Alice McDermott, Ron Charles, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Susan Coll, and E.J. Dionne.
Set your writing goals for the school year and sign up now for the 2019 Washington Writers Conference.
NEW TO THE WRITING LIFE?
Do you want practical publishing advice but aren’t ready to pitch to agents or meet with experts? This year, the Washington Writers Conference is also for you! Consider the WIROB (Washington Independent Review of Books) special rate. You’ll still be able to participate in all our panels and author talks, and join us for our boxed luncheon.
So register now if you simply want to learn more about writing and publishing. Everything that the DC area’s premier writing conference has to offer is available to you (except agent/expert sessions, but we hope you’ll be back in 2020 for those!).
LITERARY AGENTS
A list of participating agents is available here.
PUBLISHING PROS
Drum roll, please! New this year, we’re offering a Publishing Pros Track. Attendees can sit down with editors for roundtable discussions and/or one-on-one meetings. Learn where, when, and how to pull a ticket for Editor One-on-Ones here. A Public Relations pro and Writing Coach will also lead roundtable discussions. See the Publishing Pros track options on the schedule of events here, and learn more here about the developmental editors who are participating.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
See the complete schedule of events here.
REFUND POLICY
Refunds of a flat $150 are available through April 10, 2019. No refunds will be given after that date.
STAY IN TOUCH
Follow the Washington Writers Conference on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a great way to keep up with conference-related news!
LEARN MORE
The Washington Writers Conference is sponsored by the Washington Independent Review of Books and organized by volunteers. Meet our team members here.
Meet this year's participating agents by clicking here.
Meet this year's participating editors by clicking here.
Learn where, when, and how to pull a one-on-one editor ticket here.
Meet this year's panelists by clicking here.
Meet this year's sponsors by clicking here.
Want to see the scope and impact of the conference? Watch this video.
Nervous about preparing for your agent pitch sessions? Learn the basics here!
Still have questions? Contact us at [email protected].
We can’t wait to see you on May 10th and 11th at the Washington Writers Conference!