Missouri Writers' Guild 94th Annual Conference

Press Release: 94th Annual Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference
http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/ or http://www.mwgconference.org/
by Margo L. Dill 217-714-8582 or margodll@aol.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU--Writers and editors will be speaking and networking in Cape Girardeau at the beginning of April. If you are a writer at any stage in your career, don’t miss this opportunity to meet with writing professionals right in the Midwest. The Missouri Writers’ Guild is thrilled to be hosting its 94th annual writing conference and inviting writers of every genre to attend for the weekend of a lifetime. From April 3 to April 5, conference attendees will have a chance to meet one-on-one with speakers, have two pages of their work read in front of editors, network with other writers from across the country, perfect their craft, attend lectures and workshops, and enjoy a spring weekend just over 100 miles south of St. Louis.

One of the speakers is Lee Goldberg, television writer for Monk and Diagnosis Murder. “I'll be talking about how to break into television and teaching conference goers how to watch a TV show the way TV writers do,” Goldberg said. “How to recognize the ‘franchise’ and key conflicts that power the narrative engine—essential skills if you hope to succeed in the TV business.”

Two inspirational women in the writing business, Angela Mackintosh and Annette Fix, will speak and meet with attendees. Both Mackintosh and Fix have years of experience as writers and are the editors of the WOW! Women on Writing e-zine. Fix is also the author of The Break-Up Diet. “I'll be doing a session on memoir writing--teaching how writers can mine the unique stories in their lives, find their voices, and shape the material into memoirs that have universal appeal,” Fix said.

Other speakers scheduled are Pulitzer Prize nominated poet, Harvey Stanbrough; Simon and Schuster editor, Kate Angelella; editor of Listen Magazine, Celeste Walker; tween series author, Jessica Burkhart; and Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Marcia Kay Preston. Check the website, http://www.mwgconference.org/, for speaker updates, bios, and classes they are teaching.

For one registration price, attendees will be able to attend a keynote session, break-out workshops, a luncheon, and social-networking periods with snacks. A bookstore and free materials will also be available to conference registrants. Attendees can also bring two pages of their work for an open-mic critique session with the editors on Friday night. The price of attendance for Friday night and all day Saturday is either $139, $149, or $159 until February 6, depending if you are a Missouri Writers’ Guild member or not. After February 6, add $10 to the above prices. You can register on-line or print off a registration sheet at http://www.mwgconference.org/. A Saturday night writing awards’ banquet ticket can be purchased for an additional $25, and Sunday morning master’s classes will be available as of February 1 for an additional $50.

The conference will be held in Cape Girardeau, MO at the Drury Lodge, 104 South Vantage Drive, phone number: 573-334-7151. Drury Lodge is providing a special rate of $85 a night for rooms for the MWG conference attendees. The hotel offers free wireless Internet, a free evening beverage reception, free popcorn, free long distance calls, and a free hot breakfast in the morning.