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2020 Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference

Writing can be very solitary. Most often it's a very solitary endeavor and a writing conference can give you community and a sense of being in a community, being among people who are endeavoring on the same path as you are... you get those nuts and bolts, craft things, those little things you didn't understand about the craft of writing... and then there's that organism that is the workshop and then there's the greater organism of the conference...you learn things with everyone. - Sean Hill, Poet and MN Northwoods Writers Conference Director

Since 2003, the Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference has attracted hundreds of writers from across the country who converge on the shores of Lake Bemidji to hone their skills and craft of writing. Poets, novelists, and essayists of a wide range of experience levels work with professional, award winning authors and poets to take their work to the next level.  

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the yearly pilgrimage will transpire.  Attendees will meet remotely June 22nd thru June 27th for writing workshops, craft talks, discussions, critiques, nightly readings, and much more.  This year's curated faculty share a collective passion of environmental consciousness.  Robin Wall KimmererElizabeth BradfieldBrenda ShaughnessyScott Russell Sanders,  Alison Hawthorne Deming, and Meera Subramanian  will guide workshops for people fine tuning their  poetry, fiction, and non-fiction writing skills. 

Awared winning poetSean Hill has been integral in organizing the event for nearly 15 years.  He spoke on the morning show about the event, this year's faculty, the benefits of attending a writers conference, and how the 2020 session is moving online this year.  

For more information about registering for the conference and attending the nightly readings go to northwoodswriters.org

Katie Carter started at Northern Community Radio in 2008 as Managing Editor of the station's grant-funded, online news experiment Northern Community Internet. She returned for a second stint in 2016-23. She produced Area Voices showcasing the arts, culture, and history stories of northern Minnesota.