Attendees enrolling in a three-day workshop may choose to study fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, poetry, and screenwriting. The workshops meet for two hours each day of the conference: Thursday afternoon, Friday morning, and Saturday morning. These small, intimate workshops are a great place to get feedback from fellow writers as well as a conference faculty member in a comfortable and supportive environment. Attendees choose one workshop to attend for the entire conference and enrollment is capped at 12.

Our 2016 featured speakers are Margo Jefferson, Rigoberto González, and Julianna Baggott. All featured speakers’ talks are free and open to the public.

In addition to the talks and readings by our keynote speakers, there are readings scheduled throughout the conference by conference faculty members.

Our master classes allow you to study with our featured keynote speakers. This class has limited enrollment to ensure that you have a chance to engage with the instructor and fellow classmates

Craft Seminars will allow you to study with one of our featured presenters. These classes have limited enrollment to ensure that you have a chance to engage with the instructor and fellow classmates. Intensives are available to those who do not enroll in a three-day workshop.

Our 60-minute craft sessions are designed around a particular aspect of, or approach to, writing. Participants will read and discuss examples of writing, then get a chance to complete a short in-class writing assignment. Craft sessions are a chance for you to consider a particular aspect of writing, respond to a prompt on-site, and see how other attendees respond to your work.

“The real writer is one who really writes,” wrote Marge Piercy. Writers make writing a priority in their lives. And to feed their writing selves, they also read and attend readings, enroll in classes, join groups, enter contests, apply for grants/fellowships, explore markets, and learn new technologies to enhance their success once they’re ready to publish. Throughout the conference, we offer moderated conversations with writers about the work of writing.

Consultations are a wonderful way for you to learn from some of our most accomplished conference faculty in a personalized, unique way. Prior to the start of the conference you can choose to submit a short manuscript (no more than 10 pages or 5 poems) and sign up for a 30 minute consultation.

During the consultation, the faculty member will discuss your manuscript, offer suggestions for improvement, develop a strategy for getting the most out of your writing, and brainstorm ways to get you to the next level. You can also come to the consultation with specific questions about roadblocks or trouble spots. There is an additional cost for each consultation session. Limited space available.

Community is one of the best things the Ocean State Summer Writing Conference can offer a writer. We not only want to help develop your talent, we also want to give you the chance to meet other writers and form supportive relationships that you can build on after the conference is over. We have scheduled specific times for our participants to meet and greet one another in between classes and readings. So whether you have come to Ocean State Summer Writing Conference alone or with a group of friends, you can reap the rewards of being part of a large group of motivated writers and learners. Being a writer is tough and you don’t have to go it alone.

Our Friday night dinner offers you the opportunity to talk with our presenters and other attendees in a relaxed and informal environment. Dinner is followed by readings from conference faculty, which are open to everyone. Here’s your chance to ask that question you have always wanted to ask your favorite writer and get to know other writers in your community! Seating for dinner is limited.

On Friday and Saturday afternoon, conference faculty will be available to sign their books at the Author Table, but you can buy books throughout the conference!