from Brain to Bookshelf Annual Conference

Join us for our Annual Maryland Writer’s Conference
helping writers—no matter where you are in your writing journey—
to develop the craft and community network that will help you
take your vision From Brain to Bookshelf.

Every year the Maryland Writers' Association holds a writers' conference in Baltimore, MD for members and non-members to come together, learn, grow, and network. The conference is a full Saturday and full Sunday in October with an open mic night held on Saturday night. Every year in June registration opens for the conference, agent lists are added, and workshops are selected from a pool of submissions. Information is also provided for special room rates that are offered for conference attendees on the main conference landing page.

Workshops

Workshop submissions open April 1, and they stay open until May 15th. What we look for varies every year, but we always provide information on our social media channels and here on our website. We select up to 25 presenters, depending on the schedule each year. Interested in presenting at the conference? Send an email to [email protected] to provide your information to receive a reminder that submissions are open. 

Agents

We seek out agents to attend our conference and provide attendees the opportunity to pitch their book or idea. Attendees sign up at registration and choose their agent at that time. We have different agents on both days, but we provide information to help you make a decision about who the best agent fit could be for you. Agents also provide critiques which attendees can also sign up for during registration. 

Open Mic Night

Saturday night after the conference, we meet in the restaurant area near the lobby of the hotel to hold our open mic night. Readers can sign up in advance and at the conference to read a piece for up to 5 minutes. Our keynote speakers have even read works in progress! This also gives attendees an extra space to network and socialize with other writers from the conference. 

Bookstore

We also have a bookstore on both Friday and Saturday. The Last Word Book Store will be operating the Conference Bookstore at from Brain to Bookshelf. In order to sell books at the conference, the books must be consigned to the conference bookstore. Only attendees and presenters may consign their titles in the bookstore. More information becomes available as the conference date gets closer and is provided by a link accessible from the main conference page.

Sponsorships

Every year the conference provides attendees with a program booklet that includes the schedule in it. In our program we offer space for advertisements and sponsorships by anyone who wants to purchase one. Details are provided regarding specifications and can be accessed directly from a link on the main conference page. We provide the sizes available and the dimensions the ad/sponsorship needs to be. If you are interested in being in our program book to advertise, or be a sponsor, keep a look out for our updated conference page around April every year to find the most current information on how to submit your request.

Questions? 

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