2020 may not lend it self to in person gatherings, but that isn't going to stop us from hosting our Fall Conference. And this year it will be even easier to attend because you can do it from the comfort of your own living room. So come join us for some great panels and workshops with amazing writers from all over the state. 

Virtual Conference at a glance: 

8:45AM - Welcome from WWA President Barry Wightman
9:00AM - Why We Write - Dasha Kelly Hamilton
9:50AM - Break
10:00AM - First Five Pages - Jennifer Lee Goloboy
10:50AM - Break
11:00AM - Writing Scenes that Work - Erin Celello & Ann Garvin
12:00PM - Lunch
1:00PM - Jade Ring Winners Announced 
1:15PM - Panel Discussion - Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Jennifer Lee Goloboy, Erin Celello & Ann Garvin.                      Moderated by Barry Wightman

Why We Write with Dasha Kelly Hamilton

Dasha will remind us why we are writers and give hope and inspiration to help us through these turbulent times. Her energy and positive vibes are exactly what we need right now!

The First Five Pages with Jennifer Goloboy

In this session, you'll have the chance to hear directly from an experienced literary agent. Jennifer will tell us what agents look for in submissions, zeroing in on exactly what she looks for in the first five pages.

Writing Scenes That Work with Erin Celello and Ann Garvin

erin and Ann will deconstruct scenes to show you what they are, how they work, and how you can use them to draw your reader in and propel the story forward.

Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a writer, performance artist and creative change agent, applying the creative process to facilitate dialogues around human and social wellness. She is the author of two novels, three poetry collections and four spoken word albums. She has taught at colleges, conferences and classrooms and curated fellowships for emerging leaders. An Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy, Dasha has facilitated community building initiatives in Botswana, Toronto, Mauritius and Beirut. Her touring production, Makin’ Cake, uniquely engages communities in a forward dialogue on race, class and equity. Dasha is a former Artist of the Year and current Poet Laureate for the City of Milwaukee

Erin Celello (Miracle Beach and Learning to Stay) and Ann Garvin (On Maggie's Watch, The Dog Year, and I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around) are novelists, educators, and members of the Tall Poppy Writers, an international consortium of women writers founded by Ann. They teach for Drexel University's MFA program and run The 5th Semester book development program, helping anyone take their project from inspiration to publication.

Jennie Goloboy joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2017. Before that, she was an agent at Red Sofa Literary for six years. She has a PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard, and published a book based on her dissertation, Charleston and the Emergence of Middle-Class Culture in the Revolutionary Era, in 2016.