CONFERENCE SCENE
1 HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers
This event is for writers of all skill levels and backgrounds, offering opportunities to hone your craft, explore publishing options, and find work/life balance.
August 14–16, 2020. Lancaster Marriott/Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, Penn. $399 early bird; $489 regular rate; $529 at door. Add a pre-conference workshop or master class for $59–79, including Writing the Memoir Proposal; Speaking for Writers: Readings, Pitches, Slams & More; or a Scene-Building Intensive workshop. Scholarships are available. “This conference is for anyone interested in writing true stories at any level in their writing process or career. It goes beyond essay and memoir—covering journalism, audio, and other types of storytelling,” says conference chair Donna Talarico, who strives to make this event motivational. “Something engaging 250–300. The keynote speaker is Carmen Maria Machado. Other sessions include Sam Chiarelli, Athena Dixon, Suzanne Farrell Smith, Amy Fish, Rebecca Fish Ewan, Joey Garcia, Timothy Hillegonds, Lara Lillibridge, Brendan O’Meara, Donna Talarico, Rachel Thompson, Allison K. Williams, and more than 30 others. More than 40 breakout sessions—four to choose from in each time slot—with a wide range of topics. Attendees can learn about creating chapter summaries, querying agents, using journalism skills (and true crime writing) to enhance CNF, pitching to media outlets, writing the family memoir, the science of memory, promoting your book after year one, writing with a day job, writing transgender characters, how to write what you don’t know, writing about religion, and more. Visit Amish County to appreciate their slower, more peaceful lifestyle. Tour the countryside, shop for handmade crafts, and enjoy authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. You can take Amish family recipes home from the Lancaster Central Market.
