Top 4 Reasons to Attend IUWC

Once you have decided to attend a writers’ conference, the next logical question is: Which one? There are hundreds of conferences across the world and a cursory search online, such as browsing the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Directory of Conferences or the Poets & Writers Conference and Residencies Database, will yield a number of results that may feel overwhelming.

So, what makes the Indiana University Writers’ Conference a stand-out among all the choices? We’ve outlined a few key features that make our conference a great value.

A Proven Track Record

The Indiana University Writers’ Conference is the second oldest, continually-operating writers’ conference in the United States. Since our founding in 1940, the conference has stood for literary excellence. Our past faculty has included lauded writers of the post-WWII years, such as Katherine Anne Porter, Lillian Hellman and Stephen Spender, as well as 20th century icons Gwendolyn Brooks, Raymond Carver, and Kurt Vonnegut. In more recent years, we have hosted award-winning writers, including Héctor Tobar, Tyehimba Jess, and Terrance Hayes. Many of our faculty members have served as Poets Laureate, or won major literary awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. Conference participants have the rare opportunity to work alongside these notable authors and learn from them.

Levels of Participation

Tailor your conference experience to what you hope to gain, by choosing either a workshop track or a classes-only track. Workshop participants submit manuscripts (10 pages of poems or 20 pages of prose) in advance of the conference. These manuscripts are distributed to your workshop faculty leader as well as other workshop colleagues to read and offer written feedback on. This option appeals mostly to writers who are seeking new readers of their work as they continue to revise it. Workshops meet four times, for three hours each meeting, during the mornings of the conference. All workshop participants have access to all classes in their workshop registration fee.

If you’d rather not have eyes on your work just yet, you may opt for the classes-only track. This will allow you to gain writing craft skills from expert writers and generate new work across poetry, fiction and nonfiction genres. You may choose to take all of the classes—across genres—or just a few classes that are of interest, such as writing through trauma or a learning how to pitch agents and editors your work. Classes-only participants don’t have to submit their writing in advance of the conference. Classes are held in fifty-minute sessions, three times each day.

Best of all, every conference participant has access to our lunchtime panel discussions with faculty members and evening readings and Q&As! The evening readings are free and open to the public, so share the Zoom registration links (on our home page) with your friends and make a night of it!

Diverse Literary Community

Our conference draws writers at every stage of their writing journey. There are no requirements of publication or academic degrees to join us—only a kind and eager spirit willing to be in community with other writers!

Some attendees are new to writing, while others are emerging writers or mid-career authors who have published individual poems, essays, short stories, or books. Our attendees have a range of day jobs, from current college or university graduate students and teachers to retirees, baristas, editors, restaurant workers and full-time parents.

Our staff has worked to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all participants. We value diverse identities, cultures, and perspectives. We believe a wide range of voices and experiences are integral in building and sustaining robust literary and learning communities. We seek to create a space that is not only safe, but welcoming to attendees of all races, sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities, and religious identities. It is a vulnerable act to share personal experiences, dreams, and questions with new people. Such dialogues are pivotal in building literary community and furthering the understanding of creative writing craft.

Tremendous Value

We offer a great value for both workshop and classes-only attendees. For workshops, you get the opportunity to learn from and receive written comments from renowned faculty for just $475 (a savings of $225 off the cost of previous, in-person conferences). Many similar workshops with accomplished faculty cost twice, and sometimes three times as much, or charge a separate “manuscript consultation” fee.

For classes, the cost is $125 (a savings of $275 off the cost of previous, in-person classes). This gives you access to all classes across all genres, Q&A panel discussions with faculty who you may speak to directly in a relaxed setting, as well as evening readings. You’ll also leave the conference with handouts from some of our faculty, which will expose you to new reading materials and help inspire new writing!

But, beyond the value of our programming, attendees also will gain new writing community. You’ll have the chance to meet new people, set up virtual meet-ups, share writing advice and reading recommendations on community boards.

With just under a week left until the 2021 Indiana University Writers’ Conference, there’s still time to join us. Unfortunately, workshops are full, but register now for the classes-only option, which includes panel discussions and evening readings. And return next year to take a workshop!