James River Writers Conference

The 22nd annual James River Writers Conference was held online and in person from October 4 to October 6 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond. The conference started with online master classes on October 4; the following two days of programming included in-person pitch sessions with literary agents, first page and query letter critiques, workshops, panels, networking opportunities, and a poetry showcase for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Participating writers included poets Courtney LeBlanc, Joanna S. Lee, and Junious “Jay” Ward; fiction writers Cheryl A. Head, Amber McBride, Alex Segura, and Kris Spisak; and memoirists Nancy Agabian, Nadia Owusu, and Kiki Petrosino. Publishing professionals included literary agents Rachel Beck (Liza Dawson Associates), Amy Bishop-Wycisk (Trellis Literary Management), Melanie Figueroa (Root Literary), Jordan Hill (New Leaf Literary and Media), Iwalani Kim (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates), Kate McKean (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency), and Jennifer Udden (Donald Maass Agency). The keynote address was given by young adult novelist Meg Medina and graphic novelist Jarrett J. Krosoczka. The cost of the in-person conference, which included breakfast, lunch, and a one-on-one meeting with an agent, was $135 for students; $389 for James River Writers members; and $449 for nonmembers. Single-day tickets were also available starting at $195 for members and $225 for nonmembers. The cost of a master class was $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. The deadline for registration was September 30; query letter and first page critiques were submitted by September 20. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations include elevator access to all multilevel event spaces; accessible sidewalks, pathways, and doorways; accessible bathrooms; accessible parking; closed captioning for online programming; and signage in Braille. Contact the director of programs and communications via phone or e-mail for additional accessibility details.