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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