When is a writers conference not a conference? When it’s the Ventana Sierra Advanced Writers Workshop, which I was proud to be a part of this past weekend in Carson City, Nevada. All profits from the weekend benefit bestselling YA author Ellen Hopkins’ non-profit charity for at-risk teens, teaching them art, writing and other creative skills to help them deal with every obstacle life throws in their path.
So I was happy to not only donate my time, but engage in wonderful conversations with these amazing teens, with adult writer-attendees, and with my fellow faculty members: Judith Curr, the publisher of Atria (S&S); Emma Dryden, a huge heavyweight in children’s publishing and former VP at S&S; and many more editors, agents, book doctors, and social media experts.
I was blown away by the high quality of the advice given by attendees in critique groups, and equally enthralled by their creativity and writing skills. These attendees were a cut above what I normally experience at writers conferences that cater mostly to new writers. I am excited to read their work, and asked for many more full manuscripts than I ever have before.
It’s not rare that people in the publishing industry are supportive and generous with their time and money. What is rare is a writers conference that so fully embraces the spirit of giving in every aspect of its execution.They contain the expenses by having the event at a local community college and bringing in catered food. All the faculty donate their time. They use volunteers for almost everything. And then there’s Ellen Hopkins, whose positive energy and sense of humor keep everyone smiling.
So, next year, when you’re figuring out your conference schedule, might I suggest a trip to Carson City in June for Ellen Hopkins’ Ventana Sierra Advanced Writing Workshop? Not only will you learn a lot to apply to your writing, you’ll be helping local teens survive their youth and thrive as adults.
Here’s a couple URLs for planning purposes. http://ventanasierra.org/ and http://ventanasierraworkshops.com/.
