Black Writers Reunion & Conference is now accepting proposals for workshops and seminars on the craft and business of writing to be presented at the 5th BWRC in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 18-20, 2009. We invite presentations that demonstrate insight and expertise on the craft and business of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, entertainment, technical, proposal, play, screen, new media, travel, inspirational, and business writing as well as self-publishing, publishing, marketing, journaling, blogging, and related themes. We are especially interested in interactive workshops which will allow participants to engage in hands-on writing or related activities wherever possible and to receive feedback on their work, whether during or immediately following the conference. For more information, visit http://www.blackwriters.org/cfsp/.

Bonita Penn blogs about her experiences on each day of the BWRC. An excerpt is posted below; see the full post at The Soul Pitt/Writers Block.

The Writers Workshop has come to a successful close. Outside, the sky was covered with an unfriendly darkness; its companions clamoring of kettle drums and pellets of cold water hitting the windows. It might have been that way outside, but inside the Sheraton Hotel was hot with hundreds of creative minds churning out new stories. I was appreciative to be abe to spend one-on-one time with Jewell Parker Rhodes reviewing and discussing my untitled romance novel. After our lengthy discussion I came away with renewed emotion of accomplishment and that I was indeed on the right track and my manuscript is a worthy story fit to be shared with the reading public. I’m glad I decided to attend the Black Writers Reunion & Conference. I came away with a renewed inspiration and a goal to achieve in my professional writing.

Lily Ratliff discusses her first BWRC 2008 in her blog, A Lily’s Life:

“Last weekend, I was afforded the opportunity to be a part of the Black Writers Reunion & Conference. And what a conference it was!” Read more

by Lauren Brown Jarvis

Black Writers Reunion & Conference has changed my life.

At present there is no information out about next year’s conference which is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, however, I plan to be super-involved. I went to the conference after finding out about it from my longtime friend Detra Hicks. Her friend Tia Ross was the event coordinator, and it was more than I could have ever expected.

When Detra told me about the conference, I went online and looked at the classes being offered and got excited about the information I would receive and how it could possibly be an asset to my budding writing career. I did not even consider the people I would meet and what effect they would have on me. What everyone’s dream is–to do exactly what they love for a living–I’m beyond ready to make that transition. Especially when I review all of my personal talents and gifts and see I’m not even using them. That’s the only and most ultimate sin: not using your personal talents–whatever it is you are good at–for your own good.

So many of us are doing things we hate to get by. And that’s bullshit. I know a lot of it is fear, a lot of it is fear, and a lot of it is fear. Fear of failure, fear of being broke, fear of rejection. But fear is exactly what it is. An inhibitor. So if you think that you could possibly be doing more with your life, you are probably right, but if you have one reason, or another why you are not doing what it is you truly love, it’s only because of you, and the fear you are allowing to hold you not even back, but in the same place, which is where you will always be. Continue Reading »