Sanibel Islands Writers Conference

Participants at all stages of development—from notebook scribblers to published novelists—are invited to attend a variety of workshops in fiction, poetry, songwriting, children’s literature, journalism, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction; panels on publishing & editing; and readings, keynote addresses, & concerts. All scheduled events are presented by celebrated and experienced writers and teachers, and open to full-time registrants. The conference welcomes any aspiring writer who wants to create new work or refine a project already in progress.

On the first morning of the conference, you should visit the registration table at BIG ARTS to check in and receive your name tag & schedule.

Because classes will begin on the morning of Thursday the 8th, we recommend that out-of-town attendees arrive on Wednesday the 7th.

The full-time registration cost is:

$550 for standard registration.
$440 for Big Arts members.
$300 for full-time students, with current ID (this includes ANY university, high school, or middle school student).

Full-time registration covers the following:

Continental breakfast (coffee, pastries, fruit)
General craft workshops
Readings and panels
Evening cocktail hour (beer, wine, soft drinks, hors d'oeuvres)
Nighttime events (concerts, readings, keynote address)
Workshops: All general craft workshops are open enrollment, which means anyone registered for the conference can attend them on a first-come, first-served basis. Workshops will focus on craft, skills, and sensibility. Curriculum could include writing exercises, open discussions, close readings of writing samples, group work, and anything else the workshop leader comes up with.

Readings and panels: Presenters will read their own work and/or sit on panels, the latter of which will focus on a variety of topics, including but not limited to: submitting, editing, and publishing; narrative performance; self-publishing; marketing, networking and promoting.

Evening cocktail hours: Scheduled in BIG ARTS courtyard at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres provided. Nonalcoholic drink options, too.

Nighttime events: All nighttime events—readings, keynote address, concerts, signings—will take place in Schein Performance Hall, BIG ARTS.

For an additional fee, full-time registrants have two options to receive feedback on a pre-submitted manuscript:

Meet individually with a presenter for a Manuscript Consultation, or join a Small-Group Manuscript Workshop.

There are 175 openings for the conference itself; however, space for individual Manuscript Consultations and Small-Group Manuscript Workshops is very limited, so act fast.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact them.