Dear 2026 SBWC Attendees,
The Santa Barbara Writers Conference begins Sunday, June 21. We look forward to meeting you and hope you have an exciting week at SBWC at the Mar Monte Hotel,
Sunday, June 21
Check in begins at 10 AM
Check in will be in the Fireside Room at the Mar Monte Hotel on the first floor…you may check in anytime during the conference week as well. Allow plenty of time to park, find the Fireside, pick up your badge. Allow even more time if you are getting an in-person registration at the SBWC bookstore.
If you are signed up for one day or a partial week, this is also where you sign in when you arrive.
You’ll receive:
Your name badge and lanyard, which will be your pass to all conference events
A program booklet for the week, including a map to help you navigate
This full program/schedule is available on the home page at sbwriters.com.
We’ll have volunteers available to help you navigate the conference and answer any questions you might have.
Appointments with manuscript and writing career consultants
We’ll have manuscript consultants available throughout the conference week. You’ll be able to make appointments directly with them in the Fireside Room, the same room where you check in with the conference, and where we have the SBWC bookstore. We will also have consultants on the business side of writing, publishing and promotions.
2:00 -3:30 PM – Welcome and orientation in the Pacific Ballroom
Hear bestselling author of 20 books and SBWC alum, Kimberley Troutte, speak about her writing journey.
We will have more presentations on the conference week and a chance to ask your questions. If you can make this session, it’ll give you a leg up on getting the most out of the week. If you cannot be at the orientation, our staff of volunteers will be around in the Fireside Room every day throughout the conference to answer your questions.
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Poets Laureate Panel
Seven of Santa Barbara’s Poets Laureate will be onstage to talk about the place of poetry in a world of prose. This event is free, and you may attend even if your registration does not include Sunday.
Opening Night Dinner in The Terraces
5:00 PM – No-host bar
5:30 PM – Dinner
If you aren’t registered for Sunday banquet tickets are available online for $85.
7:00 PM Keynote Address in Pacific Ballroom
Author Fannie Flagg will with a book signing follows in the Fireside Room.
9:00 PM – The Pirate Workshops begin Sunday night
These late-night, read & critique sessions are great fun for night owls, and there are two to choose from every night, Sunday - Friday. This is for registered attendees, but you may purchase individual workshops and seminars online registration
Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26
There are many workshops and seminars to choose from each morning and afternoon and late night. You’re free to attend those that best suit your interests. There’s no specific workshop signup ahead of time…you just show up and see if a workshop works for you. You’ll design your own program. The number of workshops we have matches the number of attendees we have, making each workshop have 8-18 attendees.
If you present writing in workshops, remember to bring printed copies of your manuscript to read. Length allowed varies, but approximately 3-5 pages of your beginning is typical. An extra copy to share with the workshop leader is appreciated. If you’re headed to poetry workshops, bring about 12 copies of your poem for crafting.
There’ll be a copier available in the Fireside Room for use by conference attendees.
Panels and Speakers in the Pacific Ballroom
4 - 5 PM, Sunday – Friday – author, agent & marketing panels.
5 - 6 PM, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday – book signing and bookstore in the Fireside Room.
7 PM, Monday-Thursday we’ll begin the evening program with poetry and then have a keynote speech by a noted author. Following the presentation the keynote author will sign books in the Fireside Room.
These book panels and evening speakers are open both to conference attendees and the public at no charge.
Tuesday, June 23
In addition to the workshop program, we will have agent appointments in the fireside room. If you are signed up for an agent, expect an email very soon with your times and general instructions.
Poolside Reception, June 23
Conference attendees with badges or tickets are invited to a cocktail party around the pool (Casual Cocktail Party with Food). Extra tickets to this event are available for $55 for those not registered.
Awards Banquet
6:00 – 8:00 PM, Friday, June 26 – Friday evening we’ll have our closing night dinner in the Pacific Ballroom with appreciations and a few awards. If you wish to bring a guest, extra banquet tickets are available for $85 online and in the Fireside Room.
Agent Appointments
Tuesday, June 23 – we’ll have agent appointments in the fireside room. If you are signed up for an agent, expect an email very soon with your times and general instructions.
Your Tuesday appointment times with agents and editors will be given to you when you check in. The appointments are all on Tuesday, June 11, between 9 AM and 3 PM.
Agent appointments are all sold out, however sometimes a few appointments open, so write to info@sbwriters.com if you’d like to be on the wait list.
If you haven’t written your query letter, do that now. Writing a query is a great way to organize your thoughts for your pitch session. Be prepared to listen as much as speak during your time with the agent. They are there to answer your questions as well as to hear about your project. If you will be at the conference on Monday, consider attending Trey Dowell’s seminar on The Art of the Query.
How to Dress
In June, Santa Barbara often experiences morning fog, which burns off later in the day. Dress in layers, so you can peel off a sweatshirt or sweater as the day warms up. The “fashion sense” at the conference is decidedly casual. Many students wear shorts or jeans to workshops. The opening and closing night banquets and poolside reception are also casual events, but it is a great time for something a little dressier if you want.
SBWC Information Desk
All week long during daytime conference hours, there’ll be someone to help you in the Fireside Room, whether you’re checking in late or you can’t find your workshop or need advice on just about anything having to do with the conference or writing.
Bookstore in the Fireside Room
Books by all the speakers, panelists, many of the workshop leaders and general books of interest to writers. Author signings will also take place in this room. If you have a book in print and wish to bring it to sell on consignment, you may.
You may also purchase all the registration options in person at the SBWC Bookstore in Fireside. If you prefer online: registration page
Dining at the Hotel
The Mar Monte has a small restaurant and a smaller café in the bar where you can order from a similar menu. The Reunion Kitchen is across the street on the beach, another great place to eat. From there, Santa Barbara is full of choices. Note: the hotel service can seem slow as they are serving a big crowd while we are there and that is not typical for them. Have patience and ask for your 20% SBWC discount. Remember to ask, because the staff does not necessarily know you are attending SBWC.
Parking
The Mar Monte Hotel offers valet to SBWC attendees parking for $10 a day, 8:00 AM to Midnight. If your parking goes after midnight the amount goes to $40, so remember to move your car if you are at a late-night pirate workshop.
There’s a limited amount of free street parking, but plan to walk 1-4 blocks and pay attention to “street sweeping” signs. More information on our HOME PAGE.
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/santabarbarawriters/
If you have not signed up for our monthly e-newsletter, you may do so at sbwriters.com at the bottom of any page. This is an opt-in list, and you may unsubscribe at any time. You will receive an email immediately after signing up and you must respond to it to get the newsletter. If you do not get it check your SPAM. Move the email to your inbox and reply but saying yes, you did sign up.
If you still want another workshop on Friday night, the pirates will continue into the wee hours.
We hope you’ll have a fantastic week at the 52nd SBWC. See you there.
