CONFERENCE SCENE
1 San Diego State University Writers’ Conference
Hone your literary skills at this long-running university-sponsored event in the Golden State.
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, 2019. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego–Mission Valley. $579. Early bird registration is $529 through Jan. 2. readers can enjoy a special rate of $479 through Dec. 14; enter discount code WD2019 at The event has a strong focus on educating tomorrow’s literary voices, connecting them with publishing professionals who can help them reach the next stage in their careers. “We cap attendance at 500 in order to maintain a good ratio between attendees and faculty,” Conference Director Erin Quinn says. 300–500. Novelists Cory Doctorow () and Jonathan Maberry (the Joe Ledger series); writing coach William Kenower (); creativity coach Julia Roberts (); agents Andrea Somberg (Harvey Klinger Literary Agency), Jill Corcoran (Transatlantic Agency) and Paula Munier (Talcott Notch Literary Services); editors Jenny Bak (Jimmy Patterson Books), Jen Gunnels (Tor), Emily Graff (Simon & Schuster) and Tamar Brazis (Viking Children’s Books); and many others. Forty concurrent sessions—including keynotes, agent panels and instructional craft sessions—promise to keep attendees busy. Sessions cover such topics as Crime, Cops and Convicts: Criminal Justice for Authors; Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success; Pitch Perfect: Shark-Free Swim Lessons; Navigating the Nonfiction Waters and more. Established in 1896, Warwick’s on Girard Avenue in La Jolla—a short, pleasant 20-minute drive from San Diego—is the nation’s oldest continuously family owned and operated book store in the U.S. In addition to a broad selection of bestsellers, the store hosts frequent appearances by top authors.
