We are often asked which conferences we will attend and where. Below is a list for each of us with a link to each event. We all hope to see you in person some time this year. Someone from the agency will be in nine different states and Canada and in all four time zones at some time this year.
Steve Laube:
Feb 4-7 – Hershey, PA – Writer to Writer Conference
March 18-22 – Mt. Hermon, CA – Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference
May 22-26 – Ridgecrest, NC – Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
June 8-11 – Wheaton, IL – Write-to-Publish Conference
June 27-29 – Cincinnati, OH – ICRS (International Christian Retailing Show – an industry event, not a conference)
July 28-30 – Philadelphia, PA (Villanova University) – RealmMakers (for writers of speculative fiction)
August 25-28 – Nashville, TN – ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference
Tamela Hancock Murray:
February 24-28 – Leesburg, FL – Florida Christian Writers Conference
March 18-22 – Mt. Hermon, CA – Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference
May 22-26 – Ridgecrest, NC – Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
June 23-25 – Toronto, Canada – Write Canada
August 25-28 – Nashville, TN – ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference
Karen Ball:
January 30 – Phoenix, AZ – CWOW (Christian Writers of the West) one-day mini conference
August 15-18 – Portland, OR – Oregon Christian Writers’ Summer Conference
Dan Balow:
June 8-11 – Wheaton, IL – Write-to-Publish Conference
June 27-29 – Cincinnati, OH – ICRS (International Christian Retailing Show – an industry event, not a conference)
July 7-9 – Grand Rapids, MI – Speak Up Conference
Christian writers’ conferences are the best! So informative and energizing — full of amazing people (aka new friends). We’ve been overseas for the past two years, and I’ve missed them.
I’ll be at Mt. Hermon and the ICRS. Looking forward to meeting you!
Our list above is only the ones where our agency will have someone in attendance.
A more comprehensive list of conferences available is elsewhere on our site: https://stevelaube2.wpengine.com/resources/writers-conferences/
Do you take appointments at the ICRS if it’s a show?
Thanks for sharing your plans.
ICRS is a trade show and is not open to the public. We do meet with clients who are attending (usually they get an entry badge from their publisher). But we go to meet with editors and executives from publishing companies. There are other events that we try to attend as well (i.e. the AWSA Golden Scroll banquet).
I’ll be at Mount Hermon.
You all have some great conferences to be at this year. I had hoped to make it to Mount Hermon, but this isn’t the year . . . I do plan to be at ACFW, though. 🙂 I’m already looking forward to that.
Steve, there is a small but mighty group down in Colorado called the Southwest Christian Writers. They are all from Durango, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, and Hesperus, CO, and Farmington, NM and other nearby communities. They hold a two conferences, their 11th annual all day conference May 21 and their 37th writers’ conference the weekend of September 17th. Last year Jeff Gerke spoke. southwestchristianwriters.org
I’d really love to be at a conference this year, but for geographical distance. Would be overwhelmed when I finally do go for a conference.
Excited to have you back at Realm Makers again this year, Steve! The session you taught about the Fabric of the Cosmos last year was probably my favorite session!
What conferences are known for their attention and focus toward YA writers?
Beth,
YA “attention and focus” depends on the faculty and editors in attendance. Some years a conference has the perfect match for the category, other years, not so much.
Of them all you would have the best representation at ACFW since it is a conference focused entirely on fiction of all stripes. RealmMakers would also have a good representation, but only if the content is science fiction or fantasy.
Thanks, Steve.
I’ve often wondered why Christian writer’s conferences are not held in West Virginia. We have what I consider excellent facilities and writers. Many famous writers have hailed or do hail from West Virginia. We have a small secular conference at Cedar Lakes, but the editors are rarely Christian oriented. One out-of-state workshop leader there told attendees that he came expecting a bunch of illiterate hillbillys, but was surprised to find excellent writers. Is that a reason for our lack of conferences? In past years, I attended Sandy Cove and Saint David’s and other writers conferences in Maryland and Pennsylvania, where writing and publishing opportunities abounded. I took full opportunity and did well. But at this point in my life, with a retired husband, older vehicles and less funds, I would really like to see one closer home.
The key is a group of motivated people in a region who create a conference. See the above comment from Kathy Gibson describing a group that meets and draws from others within driving distance.
Thanks for the information and encouragement. I’ve committed to going to a full conference for the first time this year, but choosing which one is hard! Knowing where you each plans to attend is helpful.
where you each PLAN to attend.
Grrr.
Hi Steve, Thank you for all you publish on your website! It has been both helpful and motivating. I was wondering about the importance of attending a conference in terms of having my ideas heard? I would love to attend one, but as a mom of two little ones, it is tough to get away at this stage in life! Thank you!