Santa Barbara Writers Conference
About the Conference
The 35-year-old Santa Barbara Writers Conference is the nation’s preeminent conference for writers interested in improving their craft, primarily through workshops that focus on the reading and critiquing of each writer’s work. Our largest and most comprehensive gathering is in June, when more than 400 writers gather for five days to learn from each other, hear from other successful authors, and interact with publishing world professionals. Every March, SBWC also offers a national poetry conference featuring a major U.S. poet, and throughout the year there are weekend intensives designed for small groups to ensure individual attention.
Our summer conference this year is June 21-26, 2008, at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort, on the beach in beautiful Santa Barbara.
Our next Weekend of Poetry is March 13-15, 2009, which will feature poet Cornelius Eady in a stunning retreat setting in the foothills above the city.
We invite you to peruse our Web site and find out more about SBWC programs. You can also sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter, so you’ll have the latest news. If you have any questions, see our Frequently Asked Questions, but if you can’t find what you need, please contact us.
We’ll look forward to having you join us!
Cafe, Critique and Camaraderie
Announcing the new Santa Barbara Writers Conference Café, coordinated by Linda Branch, Ph.D.! Come for lunch, share your work, critique works of others, and share camaraderie with other writers as they, too, are struggling to get the "best seller" out to the public. This group is based on the "World Cafe Model" where every writer gets to read work for a set time and everyone supports through positive feedback. Writers of all genres are welcome, but tables will be grouped only as fiction and non-fiction.
The second monthly Santa Barbara Writers Conference Café will be on Friday, May 16, 2008 from 11:30—2:30 p.m. at a local restaurant. Only 20 places are available, so reserve your space for this collaborative afternoon by contacting Linda. Reservations are required. Checks are payable to SBWC.
Keep in touch with the Café on my.sbwriters
Writer Magazine
SBWC is proud to have an exclusive partnership with The Writer magazine [subscribe]. Since 1887 The Writer has provided inspiration for beginning and professional writers alike as well as practical, step-by-step solutions from experienced writing professionals.
New and Noteworthy
Central Coast Magazine talks to Perie Longo and Marcia Meier about harvesting your dreams [pdf]
Sally Franz from babyboomertalkradio.com interviews SBWC Executive Director Marcia Meier [listen]
Video: Gayle Lynds interview from our friends at Authorlink.com. The video, shot during the June Writers Conference, is part of Authorlink’s new Bookflix series.
Jerry O'Brian from the Orange County Writers Club attended the conference in June and had a great time. You can read about it on page four of this pdf from the July issue of Orange Ink.
An innovative new publisher, Lunch Hour Stories, has selected one of Susan Chiavelli's stories for publication! Susan talks about her story, “Slow Dancing with Joey D,” and her writing in this wide-ranging interview.
