Resources to get you started
Launching a writing life happens one step at a time
At the end of every retreat, conference, or class, I always want to give writers concrete suggestions on how to keep the momentum going, how to carve out a writing life, and how to tap into networks of support. This post builds on a handout I have developed for those last days of great work together. Please send me your ideas and additions.
Reading
Want to know my thoughts about launching a writing career? This blog post points you to some helpful resources: http://sinandsyntax.com/my-thoughts-on-breaking-in
A good book on freelancing is The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2003), put together by members of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. The blurb on the cover says it contains “the trade secrets and industry practices every freelance writer needs to know.”
Classes
You can always, always improve your craft. Classes are available at all levels of writing. Many colleges and universities offer MFA programs or masters in journalism or communications. (Bennington, Goucher, Iowa, and Warren Wilson, for starters.) Want something less intensive? Look into continuing education programs like these:
Many local literary organizations and writing schools offer classes in everything from flash fiction to grant writing and yoga for writers:
GrubStreet in Boston
Left Margin LIT in Berkeley, CA
Tin House Summer Writers Workshop in Portland, OR
The Kenyon Review Writers Workshop in Gambier, OH
Sewanee in Sewanee, TN
New York State Summer Writers Institute in Saratoga Springs, NY
Windward Writing Retreat (O‘ahu) meet & write in the company of other writers
Bookstores and Bookstore events:
A great way to find out more about the literary life and to support other writers and meet our greatest supporters—readers—is to attend book events at independent bookstores. The best booksellers are incredible resources for writers, too. Almost every large town has an independent bookstore (a much more valuable one-stop-shop place than the chains), but here are some with national reputations:
The Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA
Books Inc. in San Francisco & Berkeley, CA
Copperfields in Marin and Sonoma, CA
The Tattered Cover in Denver
The Strand Bookstore in NYC
McNally Jackson in NYC
Powell’s Books in Portland, OR
The Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle
City Lights in San Francisco, CA
The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, CA
BookPeople in Austin, TX
Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, SC
Semicolon Bookstore in Chicago, IL
Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN
ALA Conference
AWP (15,000 attendees)
American Society of Journalists and Authors (
ASJA) in New York
BlogHer Creators Summit
Midwest Writers Workshop
Romance Writers of America Annual Conference
San Francisco Writers Conference
Santa Barbara Writers Conference
SelfPubCon
SleuthFest
ThrillerFest
Travel Writers and Photographers Conference at Book Passage
Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway
Willamette Writers Conference
Writer’s Digest conferences (available online!)
Writing Heights Writers Conference
SF Writers Grotto,
The Ruby,
Writers With Drinks,
NYC Writers Circle (local)
Windward Writers Retreat, O‘ahu
Left Coast Writers,
California Writers Club,
PNW,
FSW (regional)
PEN,
ASJA,
MediaBistro (national)
Writer’s Relief (paid service helping writers position and publish work)
Events and gatherings Book readings, literary salons, and literary festival events are great places to get inspired, or to meet other members of the writing tribe. Here’s a short (really!) list:
LA Times Festival of Books
Bay Area Book Festival
LitQuake
Porchlight Storytelling
Quiet Lightning
Odd Salon
Bazaar Writers Salon
Marin Poetry Center
Voz sin Tinta
O, Miami Poetry Festival
Split This Rock Poetry Festival
Bronx Book Festival
NYC Poetry Festival
Southern Festival of Books
Festival of Women Writers
Boston Book Festival
Las Vegas Book Festival
Books by the Banks
Texas Book Festival
Brooklyn Book Festival
Baltimore Book Festival
Portland Book Festival
Miami Book Fair
Rancho Mirage Writers Festival
PEN World Voices Festival
Savannah Book Festival
Amelia Island Book Festival
Dahlonega Literary Festival
Tucson Festival of Books
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Massachusetts Poetry Festival
Get Lit! Festival
Southern Kentucky Book Fest
Nantucket Book Festival
Dodge Poetry Festival
All these lists are intended to be suggestive rather than all-inclusive. Start building your own resources, and send me your best finds.
—Constance Hale
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