25 Writers’ Conferences, Retreats & Festivals to Attend in Summer and Fall 2025

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25 Writers’ Conferences, Retreats & Festivals to Attend in Summer and Fall 2025

Looking to hone your craft and network with other writers? Here is a list of 25 writing conferences, retreats, and festivals to consider attending this summer and fall. You’ll notice that most events listed below are geared toward fiction writers interested in trade publication (my specialization), but many of them are open to writers of all literary forms, regardless of their publication path. Some are being held in-person, while others are accessible online, and a number of them touch on the business side of writing.

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The Women’s Fiction Dilemma: A Contested Label Continues to Sell Books

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The Women’s Fiction Dilemma: A Contested Label Continues to Sell Books

Image: Painting by Berthe Morisot, “La Lecture” (“Reading”), 1888

When Publishers Marketplace retired women’s fiction from its deal and dealmaker categories, it was an “overdue change,” according to founder Michael Cader. But as Publishers Marketplace acknowledged, the term women’s fiction remains a BISAC subject code, and it continues to be used widely (though not overtly) by retailers and publishers. This article explores how women’s fiction differs from romance and book club fiction. It also delves into publishers’ current attitudes toward the term and how writers of women’s fiction should pitch their work.

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Twelve Writing Conferences & Other Events to Attend in Spring 2025

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Twelve Writing Conferences & Other Events to Attend in Spring 2025

Spring is a season that’s all about renewal and growth. For writers, it’s the perfect time to hone your craft, pitch your work to a literary agent, or simply find inspiration from other writers, ideally at a writing event. Here is a list of 12 writing conferences, festivals, and/or workshops being held from early March to late May. Some are being held in-person (making it easy to network), while others are accessible online (ideal for those who are unable to travel).

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26 Independent & University Presses Offering Contests for Fiction Writers with Book Publication as the Prize

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26 Independent & University Presses Offering Contests for Fiction Writers with Book Publication as the Prize

Not all publishers are open only to agented submissions. In fact, several independent and university presses welcome submissions directly from authors, whether through open reading periods or through contests. Here is a list of publishers that don’t just accept unsolicited submissions; they also offer what I think is the best prize of all: publication of your work in book form.

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Fractured Publicity: Navigating Book Promotion in the Influencer Age

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Fractured Publicity: Navigating Book Promotion in the Influencer Age

Questions have perhaps always existed about the value of hiring an outside publicist. Novelists in particular—including those who have signed with major publishers—may wonder what this financial investment can tangibly and realistically deliver, especially since book review outlets have disappeared, and the remaining professional reviews have declined in importance.

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