James River Writers conference to help aspiring writers realize their goal through workshops and more

Have you always dreamed of writing a book? The James River Writers Conference could help you to take the leap as you learn about writing and publishing from local and national experts.

Online registration is open for the annual event, scheduled for October 14th through the 15th at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Now in its 15th year, the event is one of Virginia’s largest writing conferences. It connects Central Virginia’s growing literary community with nationally recognized authors, editors, agents, bloggers, and others in the publishing world.

More than 300 people attended in 2016, organizers say.

Since 2003, the James River Writers Conference has attracted prize-winning authors and highly regarded editors and agents from around the country to share their wisdom about writing and publishing. More than 30 national and local authors, including Virginia-based writer, Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures, and bestselling novelist David Baldacci, will speak to attendees this year.

“The conference is our signature event and the networking is invaluable,” said Katharine Herndon, Executive Director of James River Writers. “Authors have met their agents, and attendees have found the inspiration to finish their books or pursue other projects. I see exciting connections made each year.”

The two-day conference offers 24 breakout sessions to select from, as well as a character consultation with a real therapist. Session topics include Pitching to an Agent, Writing Authentically, Critiques of First Pages, Self-Publishing 101, Heroes vs. Villains, Editing, Creative Non-fiction, Queer Literature, Poetry and Inspiration, and more.

“Our conference is unique because each attendee can receive one individual session with an agent or editor and one consultation session with a published author,” said Herndon. “We’re one of the few conferences in the country that offers this opportunity at no additional cost.”

Conference tickets start at $185 with discount tickets available for students and options for one-day or two-day tickets. Two-hour workshops are also available on Friday, October 13th, the day before the conference, for $65 each. Registration is open online here.