James River Writers Conference

The 21st annual James River Writers Conference was held online and in person from October 6 to October 8 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia. The conference began with online and in-person master classes on October 6; the following two days of programming included in-person pitch sessions with literary agents, first page and query letter workshops, panels, and a poetry showcase. The keynote address was given by publicist Dawn Michelle Hardy (Literary Lobbyist) and fiction writer Sadeqa Johnson. Speakers and instructors included poets Taylor Byas and Diamond Forde; fiction writers Alma Katsu and Mark Oshiro; and literary agents Christopher Combemale (Sterling Lord Literistic), Reiko Davis (DeFiore and Company), Sam Hiyate (The Rights Factory), Michelle Z. Jackson (LCS Literary Services), Marie Lamba (Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency), Chad Luibl (Janklow & Nesbit Associates), and Michaela Whatnall (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret). The cost of the in-person conference, which included breakfast, lunch, and a one-on-one meeting with an agent, was $135 for full-time high school, undergraduate, and graduate students; $375 for James River Writers members; and $429 for nonmembers. Single-day tickets were also available starting at $190 for members and $210 for nonmembers. The cost of a master class was $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. The deadline for registration was October 2; query letter and first page critiques had to be submitted by September 20. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations included elevator access to all multilevel event spaces; accessible sidewalks, pathways, and doorways; wheelchair-accessible public restrooms; accessible parking; closed captioning for online programming; and signage in Braille indicating conference room numbers on the doors of all event spaces. Contact the director of programs and communications via phone or e-mail for additional accessibility details.