Hello and welcome to the Winchester Writers' Conference website

'mind-opening, refreshing, fun, friendly, inspiring, simply the best'
Dame Beryl Bainbridge, Honorary Patron

Colin Dexter OBE will lead a star-studded line-up of internationally renowned authors, novelists, playwrights, poets, producers, literary agents, commissioning editors and industry specialists who will welcome you to this international festival of writing.

We welcome you to come for a day or to stay for a week to continue with the Week-long Writing Workshops, 30 June-4 July, an opportunity to work in small friendly groups to structure and edit your novel, to write marketable children’s fiction and non-fiction and to develop radio, television and film scripts. This unmissible conference is packed with information, one-to-one appointments, informal networking opportunities and fun for new and established writers of all ages and cultures. The Winchester Writers’ Conference offers you the opportunity to harness your creative ideas and to develop your technical and marketing skills under the guidance and instruction of 65 professional writers during mini courses, workshops, seminars, lectures and one-to-one appointments. Participate by entering the 5 writing competitions, even if you cannot attend. Please see pages 48-58 for details. The first place winning entries will be published in The Best of 2008 anthology.

New this year is a double Saturday session for creative writing teachers, sponsored by the UK Literacy Association and led by specialist Jacqueline Harrett. You will also enjoy speakers as diverse as actress Barbara Ewing, author of best-selling novel, The Mesmerist; Patrick Gale, whose latest book, Notes from an Exhibition is nominated for the Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year Galaxy British Book Awards; and Jack Sheffield whose three book deal with Transworld Publishers, including Teacher, Teacher resulted from an appointment with commissioning editor, Katie Espiner at the 005 conference. Like all of our speakers, they are united by the orginality of their thinking, by their expertise and their gifts of communication.

Many previous delegates have praised the excellence of the lectures, workshops and one-to-one appointments as well as the comfortable facilities, adding how enjoyable it is to meet and exchange ideas with others who have the same compelling interests.

Eighty-four writers have now reported major publishing successes as a direct result of their attendance at past conferences. Five of them will be invited to talk briefly about their publishing successes during the Plenary Session. This leading literary event offers a magnificent souce of information and a network of support from tutors who are published writers and industry specialists, a support that continues throughout the year for keen writers like you.

To apply, use the centre-fold application form. Select your mini courses, workshops, lectures and one-to-one appointments. Apply early to secure a place. Enter the writing competitions listed in the back of the programme, noting that the deadline for all entries is 6 June except for the First Three Pages of the Novel, The Shorter Short Story and The Short Story competitions which is Friday, 3 May.

Whether you choose to immerse yourself in one aspect of writing or select mini courses, lectures and workshops across the programme, I wish you a pleasurable experience. I know that you will return home empowered, with valuable work in progress, with queries answered and some new books chosen from the Bookfair, tucked under your arm. You will be exhilarated, enriched with new friendships and ready to embark on many happy hours of writing.

Barbara Large MBE FRSA HFUW
barbara.large@writers-conference.com

Founder-Director Winchester Writers' Conference
To read more about Barbara Large, please click here

The 2008 Conference Programme is available here

For enquiries call Christian Francis on 01962 827107

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