Santa Barbara Writers Conference
About SBWC
The 37-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 several hundred writers gather for six 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 — our Weekend of Poetry — featuring a major U.S. poet, and throughout the year there are weekend workshops on specialized topics designed for small groups.
In 2010, both conferences move to the beautiful Hotel Mar Monte on the beach in Santa Barbara. Our Weekend of Poetry conference is March 12-14, 2010, featuring award-winning poet Dorianne Laux. Our six-day summer conference is June 17-23, 2010, and will feature, once again, Ray Bradbury, plus literary novelist Luis Alberto Urrea; Ron McLarty, author of The Memory of Running and two other bestselling novels; and travel writer and essayist Pico Iyer in conversation with SBWC Executive Director Marcia Meier.
Save the dates and watch this space for more information.
How to Get Published
The Weekend Workshops program has added a new class: How to get Published, presented by Kate Gale, managing editor of Red Hen Press and editor of The Los Angeles Review. Learn more about this workshop along with workshops on poetry, memoir, creativity, and social networking on the new Weekend Workshops page.
First National Writing Contest Winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of our First Annual SBWC Writing Contest in Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry!
Our Grand Prize winner is Thomas M. Atkinson of Anderson Township, OH, for his short story, “Dancing Turtle.” Thomas receives a full-tuition scholarship to the June conference in 2010, plus will have lunch with a major literary agent from New York during the conference.
In the Fiction category, our overall winner is Tracy DeBrincat of Los Angeles, for an excerpt from her novel entitled, “Buckaroo Proper.”
In Nonfiction, the winner is Judith Groudine Finkel of Houston, TX, for her piece entitled, “Lost Again,” with an Honorable Mention going to “Wolfhunt,” by Jo Ann Barefoot of Westerville, Ohio.
And in Poetry, the winner is Ximena T. Ames, of Nipomo, CA, for her poems entitled, “Mamma,” “Our Daughter,” “Dreams,” “Aging” and “Wild Poppies.”
The three winners in the fiction, nonfiction and poetry categories will receive full-tuition scholarships to the 2010 June conference. To see the list of finalists and read what the judges had to say about the winning entries, click here. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all who sent in submissions.
UPDATE: All the winning entries have been posted!
Keep in touch online!
SBWC now has a Facebook Group! It's a great way to stay connected with your friends from the conference and to get the latest news about SBWC events. Our online community is open to everyone. Twitter users can follow both Marcia Meier and SBWC.
Find Out More
Feel free 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.
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.
