I attended the 2025 James River Writers Conference in Richmond, Virginia.

Along with Angie Kim’s keynote address regarding writing later in life, there were many notable panels, including the art of revision (Kris Spisak, Kate McKean, Heather Osborn, Leslye Penelope), publishing paths (Bill Blume, Leslye Penelope, Vanessa Riley, R.R. Virdi), the art of the pitch (Julie Valerie, Elizabeth Becker, Jessica Felleman), agents & authors (Patty Smith, Angie Kim, Kate McKean, Jade Wong-Baxter), and finding a literary community (Dae Newman, Rosa Castellano, Brynn Markham, Tony Keith Jr). With respect to the latter panel, I found the luncheon on Sunday to be quite conducive to making new friends.

I attended the 2024 James River Writers Conference in my hometown.

There were many notable panels, including the state of publishing (Melanie Figueroa, Rachel Kahan, Rebecca Schinsky), the author/agent relationship (Rachel Beck, Lyn Liao Butler, Rachel Kahan), and finding a literary community (Courtney LeBlanc, DaNika Neblett Robinson, Zachary Steele).

With respect to the latter panel, I found the luncheons on Saturday and Sunday to be very conducive to making new friends.