Conference Day Details

The Baltimore Writers' Conference will be held on Nov. 15, 2025 at Towson University.

Register for the 2025 Baltimore Writers' Conference.

Agenda

8 a.m. - Registration Opens
9 a.m. - Keynote Speech, featuring Sonia Shah | LA4310
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. - Session 1
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Session 2
12:30 p.m. - Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - Session 3
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. - Session 4
4:00 p.m. - Wine and Cheese Reception

Session Details

Session 1: 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Writing When the World Is on Fire | Grady Chambers, Jung Yun
Generative Poetry Writing Session: The (eco)poetics of place and displacement | Lindsay Bernal
Finding and Building Your Writing Community | Athena Dixon, Hyeseung Song, Annie Marhefka
Refining Your Nonfiction Book Concept | Michelle Orange, Sarah Perry

Session 2: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Bending Genre in Horror and Thriller Writing | Eman Quotah, Kate Reed Petty
Poetry Quick Critiques | Staff
Craft Talk: To Tell the Truth in Memoir, Study Poetry | Jeannie Vanasco
Craft Talk: Fiction: Writing What You Know . . .and Don’t | Geoff Becker

Session 3: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

THE BASICS AND THE BOLD: How to Know When Your Manuscript is Ready for an Agent | Barb Jones
Fiction Quick Critiques | Staff
Craft Talk: Poetry Lyric Layers: Finding Your Poem’s Fitting Form
| Dora Malech
Writing Your Memoir: Whose Story Is It | Hyeseung Song, Sarah Perry

Session 4: 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Ratchet Up The Tension: Writing Suspense in Any Genre | Kate Reed Petty
Nonfiction Quick Critiques | Staff
Writing for Children: The Secret for Getting Published is…You | Wallace West
Working With an Editor | Elizabeth DeMeo

Directions and Parking

We are located in the Liberal Arts Building, 251 University Avenue, on the campus of Towson University. Free parking is available in the Towsontown Parking Garage. Please enter the building through the door by the Towsontown Garage bridge. All other doors will be locked for security.

View TU's campus map Google Directions

FAQ

Do I have to sign-up for the sessions I wish to attend?

Nope. Once you have registered for the conference, you are welcome to attend any session.

What are Quick Critiques and how do they work?

Quick Critiques provide an opportunity for you to talk about your work one-to-one with a professional writer. There are sessions for fiction, poetry and non-fiction. The meetings are first-come, first-served; there is no sign-up process, no additional fee and you don't send the work in in advance. Depending on time constraints, you'll get between five and ten minutes of attention, so don't bring too much with you -- a poem or two, a couple of pages of prose, etc.

Is there an extra charge for the critiques?

There is no extra charge for the critiques.

I'm a vegetarian. Do I have to order a special meal?

No. Lunch is provided by Towson's Tiger Hospitality Catering. There is always some sort of pasta offering, as well as vegetables and salad.

Is financial aid available? Housing?

We are unable to provide financial aid. We do not make any arrangements for housing.

I have self-published a book. May I sell it at the conference?

The conference has arranged for an official bookseller to handle the titles of the scheduled authors. Please contact us if you are interested in registering as an exhibitor.

For any further questions about the conference, send us an email, prwr AT_TOWSON.