The Greater Los Angeles Writers Sociiety not only helped me land an agent (Paul S. Levine), but I also landed a publishing deal with a major publisher for my book. My dream of becoming a full-time author has come true thanks to GLAWS helping me to connect with agents. I went to a WC2 virtual writer's conference and that event changed my life for the better. I highly recommend attending their events as they are amazing and essential to new writers who are looking to get published. - Chloe Panta
THE BEST!
"I’ve been to several very reputable writers’ conferences. But this was the best. Yes, there was a line up of great sessions and speakers. Yes, there were well-known and respected agents and editors for one-on-ones. But--- many conferences have all that. What they don’t have—and this one is unique in offering—is a nurturing and kind conference that really cares about the writers who are attending the and the success they want to achieve. In other conferences there is a whole lot of I’ve-made-it-attitude, and you are lucky to be in my presence. There wasn’t any of the most-of-you-will-never-make-it messages. There wasn’t any slash-and-burn attitude of people’s writing efforts. It was educational, motivating, inspiring and invigorating. A great diverse mix of attendees of all ages. There are writer’s groups to be assigned to after. Organizers, speakers, editors and agents are willing to meet with you again beyond the conference.
"Tony and Lilly, who run the conference want to get to know everyone personally and actually create a community of writers. And there was a drawing at the end and I actually won something—a free entry to the upcoming online conference. (The only problem is that I am tired of online anything.) I’m going to the more expensive in-person again. Doesn’t that say everything? "
Gary Wexler
Former USC-Annenberg professor
Former ad agency copywriter & creative director with clients from Apple to Coke
"The greatest opportunity in Southern California to enhance your writing skills and join your writing community. I’ve been involved with Tony for a number of years and he is absolutely, absolutely the best. Come and join us and see.". --Art Holcomb
"Tony's West Coast Writers Conferences have helped writers along their career paths for many years--perhaps decades. Especially recommended for genre fiction writers." --Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers "
"Tony's a fine writer and an experienced hand at managing writers conferences." William F. Wu, author and editor
Great networking opportunities for local authors. Tony cares about them, and brings people together."-- Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers "
"Great networking opportunities for local authors. Tony cares about them, and brings people together." - Stefan Rudnicki Skyboat Media
"This is a great place to brush up on your writing skills and meet agents." -- Steven LibisSteven Libis & Associates
The online Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference was wonderful. The presentations were excellent. Everyone was supportive and friendly. The speakers were experienced writers and industry professionals who knew their subjects inside and out. I left with sharpened skills and an email list of contacts.
I was surprised to find the legal panels weren't dry at all. They were incredibly informative. Thank you to everyone who presented and organized the event. A special thank you to Tony, Lilly, and Nic for the organization and oversite you put into every day of the conference. -- Patricia Watson
Such a terrific experience, and what a wonderful lineup of professionals and topics (at the Annual Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference 2020 Virtual! Thanks so much, Tony N. Todaro, Lillian Todaro, Nicolas Nelson, and everyone else who helped to make this such a remarkable and edifying conference -- in or out of cyberspace. It was an honor to participate as a speaker and a pleasure to attend! -- Deanna Brady
I just wanted to send a special thanks to both of you for presenting the conference. You did a wonderful job, and – surprisingly – the technology went off with almost no glitches! Thanks for getting some new speakers and rounding up some of the former very good presenters. Personally, I feel as if I just ran a marathon – but a good one. I think that making at least one conference virtual every year – after the pandemic – would be a great idea... Keep up the good work!
-- Dr. Elaine Mura
I just wanted to share some quick positive feedback. I enjoyed Keith Ogorek "Traditional or Self-Publishing:
Which is the best option for you?” webinar. In particular his straighter froward approached in breaking down the steps for each path. -- Marc Revere
What an outstanding, inspirational eight days of loaded information for writers of all genres. Unstinting sharing of great information from so many professionals and experts. Congratulations Tony N. Todaro, Lillian Todaro, and Nicolas Nelson for putting it together so successfully! Memorable!
Ester Benjamin Shifren
This was my first year attending the Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference and it was amazing! I've wanted to come for the last two years and I'm so glad I finally did! It was virtual due to the pandemic and I honestly think that made it better. There were so many great panels I got to take part in that I otherwise wouldn't have and so many friendly professionals willing to share their knowledge with us. The agents and publishers had such great advice for querying them. The editors had great advice for when to seek them out and how to edit our manuscripts and short stories. There were authors there that had amazing advice about the process and the Coffee Klatch was probably my all time favorite part of the conference. Being able to talk with Art Holcomb about the craft of writing was so informative and he's been doing this for so long that he really knows the craft! I recommend everyone go to this conference, if only to learn more about the craft of writing! I learned so much this whole week! I plan on coming back next year for this conference and reaching out for more conferences and bootcamps!
-- Alycia Crane
I really can't thank you and your (team) enough
for deciding to do an on-line event. I'm a caretaker for a disabled
parent who cannot be left alone. Before Covid, that curtailed my
activities with writing groups. The only silver lining to this Covid
situation has been all the writer's reaching out through zoom. This
event is fantastic.
Thank you so much for all your effort to put on such a terrific
learning experience. --Trish Watson
This type of conference (the 2020 Virtual Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference) is a very different experience. So far all the panels I've "sat" in on have been excellent....The CREATING COMPELLING CHARACTERS power point presentation given by W. Craig Reed and George Galdorsisi was a VERY interesting one. I just couldn't write down what was on the screen fast enough. Thank you for this. I do appreciate all the hard effort you, Lillly and everyone else involved has put into it. — Carol Darklighter
I just wanted to reach out and thank you for having me again as a guest at WC2. I have to say that this last appearance on the panel titled, Build a Platform that Agents and Publishers Will Love, I was greatly received and have been able to help some authors since then and it’s only Tuesday!
I stayed after to answer an overwhelming amount of questions and have received many emails from the attendees. It has been great!—
Natalie Obando-Desai
Thanks. It was a splendid conference -- I only wish
I could have spent more time there, but with my book having just coming out, I've never been busier (more's the pity! I miss having
time to breathe :-).
But even with the short time I was there, I was incredibly impressed
with the wonderful, smart, savvy and dedicated group of writers in
attendance, and I feel humbled myself to have been included in the program.
Here's hoping our paths cross again in the near future. Till then,
onward and upward, my friends.
— Lisa Cron
THANK YOU for a wonderful conference. I learned so much more than I expected! My initial goal in attending was just to become a better writer (book 3 is in the process and book 4 in the pipeline). I learned that in some ways I am doing some things right already, but need to greatly improve in other ways. I have been involved in setting up, and providing support, for conferences and concerts so I know and understand how much work, coordination, and effort is involved. I am sure you have heard from many attendees who had positive experiences from the (Greater Los Angeles) Writers Conference. I just thought I would add my voice to theirs. — Frank Gonzales
Thank you for having me to the (California Creative Writers) conference this past weekend February 2020. You do amazing things to bring together the writing community, and I admire you! -- Elise Capron, Sandra Dykstra Literary Agency
Just a note to thank you both (Lilly and Tony) to opening new doors for my writing career. I have been
struggling trying to connect to agents and publishers. Then came you.
WCWC deserves a standing ovation.
Blessings, good health, happiness and success.
– Terri
McFadden-Solomon
I loved all the speakers, the panel, the break-out sessions and the individual consulting. There were so many choices and options that I did not find a topic that I did not like. Surprise me. You are doing great. I am looking forward to the screenplay conference since I write screenplays. The conference exceeded my expectations. I have gotten so many new ideas, direction and groundedness in my writing. My enthusiasm and excitement is great and I am empowered to get to the next level, including protecting my work. – Heidi Mueller
GENRE-LA 2019 was action packed from beginning to end. Many of my current struggles in writing were addressed by multiple classes. The people involved with GLAWS are all selfless writers eager to help new writers along.Looking forward to the next GLAWS conference. – Laurie F.
This was my 12th (writers) conference with WC2 ... I always come away learning new things and jazzed to get back to my own writing. The staff and volunteers do an outstanding job making everything flow smoothly. The professionals are easy to speak with and there is always an opportunity to pitch one's story to a pro. No matter how many WC2 conferences I attend I never think of the cost. Each one is worth the attendance fee - even if it's only for a day. I can't thank Tony Todaro and his staff enough for an outstanding conference. Looking forward to attending another one. – Carol Ann Alves
Just a brief note to tell you how much I enjoyed the Annual Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference (2019). I learned a great deal from the lectures and workshops, and the opportunity to meet hi-class agents and editors was extremely valuable. I received much helpful feedback on my screenplay, and I made valuable contacts with people you suggested (Art Holcomb, Ken Sherman, and Joel Eisenberg). You and Tony did a fabulous job organizing an especially rich experience for all of us who attended. It was definitely worth my trip to Los Angeles. Thanks! - Nick Kanas
Please accept our gratitude for the enlightening GLAWS Conference... We picked up so many different perspectives on publishing, writing, social media, promotion and much more. And now, the energy of the weekend is forming words, sentences and paragraphs all over our laptop screens. Genette Rondeau
Many many thanks for a wonderful conference event. Appreciated all your efforts and took away so much information i am still chewing it over.
Thank you, Patricia Sonsini
It was nice to meet you and be in one of your workshops (the one where we all agreed that writer’s block is a misnomer).
I want to thank you for bringing together such wonderful speakers. Every one of the workshops I attended were rich in information and things that I either didn’t know or that were welcome refreshers.
Good job, Cristina Alvarado
I enjoyed the panels and discussion topics. I dare say everyone had important helpful information to offer. Maxwell Alexander Drake had some great, well-organized information. I also liked Lisa Cron, and all the panelists for building a platform. Meghan Pinson was very astute as well. I got the most out of the panels with fewer panelists, because they were able to get to the nitty-gritty of the discussion topic better than if there were 4+ panelists plus a moderator. With that many people, by the time everyone finished introducing themselves and pushing their platforms, half of the discussion hour was over before even broaching the topic. Then sadly, no one got to say more than a couple of things on topic with the remaining time, especially if the audience was chatty.
Thanks for all the hard organizational work!!! Catherine Cruzan
"The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference provides a solid introduction to the business and art of writing, be it a screenplay, memoir, novel or short story." Thanks again for doing this for writers. -- Gayle Bartos-Pool
Thank you also for the opportunity to network and become associated with GLAWS. We definitely had a positive experience and hope to participate in further activities with the organization.
Regards, Murdock Malone
The conference was fabulous, and I hope all involved are basking in the energy of a job very well done.
I found every workshop and Ironside presentation to be useful in my journey towards becoming a published writer. On the top of my best workshop list is Sherwood Smith's "Why the first three pages/chapters of you story are crucial, but so many presenters contributed to my growing sense of myself as a writer. I loved the differing points of view about publishing from Poynter to Vorhaus to Kuckuck. Maralys Wills and Matt Pallamary were great in their workshop on memoir writing. Leonard Sczymczak was probably the most dynamic workshop leader. While these were standout presenters to me, every presenter brought his/her unique perspective to workshop attendees, and there were no strike-outs.
As I said, it was a fabulous conference. I'm deeply grateful to GLAWS for organizing it, and I look forward to many more wonderful writing experiences as a new member.
Joy Wassel
The conference was wonderful - a "total immersion" in writing and book marketing, thanks to a schedule filled with so many speakers and topics.
I especially enjoyed Sherwood Smith, Leonard Szymeszek and Marlys Wills. I appreciated when a speaker (Gayle Bartos-Pool) was well-prepared with handouts and/or outlines. Deborah Pratt was delightful to listen to. I'd rather see her do her own talk rather than as a panelist.
Recommendations: Some of the presentations would definitely have benefited from power points to focus their talks. Panelists may want to touch base with each other ahead of time to better organize their presentations.
Hope this helps.
Thanks again for all your work and preparation.
Janine Lehrer
It was a splendid conference -- I only wish
I could have spent more time there, but with my book having just
coming out, I've never been busier (more's the pity! I miss having
time to breathe :-).
But even with the short time I was there, I was incredibly impressed
with the wonderful, smart, savvy and dedicated group of writers in
attendance, and I feel humbled myself to have been included in the
program.
Here's hoping our paths cross again in the near future. Till then,
onward and upward, my friends.
Cheers, Lisa Cron
Thanks so much for such an interesting, successful day—I really enjoyed wrangling and hearing great speakers. The last panel was really excellent. It struck me while driving home that these events really make us feel like real writers, and not just people indulging ourselves in a hobby, trying to fulfill childhood dreams.
I thought you would like to see the email that awaited me when I returned. This gracious lady didn't waste any time contacting me. I've met wonderful people at every event.
Ester Benjamin Shifren
I thought it was a great conference! Congrats. Idelle Davidson
Thank you for another fantastic conference. I kept wishing I had a clone so I could meet with writers and attend panels at at the same time. :-) I thoroughly enjoyed offering my tips on the panels and was impressed with the level of talent and sophistication in the writers you attracted. I have scheduled complementary follow-up sessions with several of them and hope I can help them to find an agent who will champion their manuscripts. All my best!
Toni Robino, Windword Literary Services
The conference was fabulous, and I hope all involved are basking in the energy of a job very well done. I found every workshop and Ironside presentation to be useful in my journey towards becoming a published writer. On the top of my best workshop list is Sherwood Smith's "Why the first three pages/chapters of you story are crucial, but so many presenters contributed to my growing sense of myself as a writer. I loved the differing points of view about publishing from Poynter to Vorhaus to Kuckuck. Maralys Wills and Matt Pallamary were great in their workshop on memoir writing. Leonard Sczymczak was probably the most dynamic workshop leader. While these were standout presenters to me, every presenter brought his/her unique perspective to workshop attendees, and there were no strike-outs. As I said, it was a fabulous conference. I'm deeply grateful to GLAWS for organizing it, and I look forward to many more wonderful writing experiences as a new member. —
Joy Wassel
I have attended two of your conferences at LA Valley College and those were the only two conferences I had ever attended until ... I went to Author 101. Tony, I have to tell you, even though I loved your conference in the past, after having attended the Author 101 - I REALLY LOVE YOUR CONFERENCE! You make it so comfortable for everyone attending - you personalize it - it is informative and "real". I can not wait until the next one and the next one and the ... well, you get my point. Thank you so much for hosting these events! - Channon Miller
Many thanks to you and your staff for all the work in putting together the recent conference. It was most informative and helpful. I learned a great deal and made some useful connections. I look forward to seeing you again. - Stephen A. Geller
I want to thank you again for the (Annual Greater Los Angeles Writers) conference in June. To say I learned so much from the conference – is an understatement. I found myself often overwhelmed and excited at the same time. All the speakers and agents were just wonderful and so accessible, which was a pleasant surprise. The attendees were so nice, I made many friends. Andy Ross was so much fun and informative to talk to, it was like talking to an old friend. I thoroughly enjoyed his company. Thank you again for the full access to the conference. I will never forget it. - Devon Gupta
I wanted to thank Tony and Lilly for all the work you two have done with the Writers Conference this year. Even though I only attended for one day, I learned a great deal. Also, I was ... in the late afternoon session about getting a publishing deal with Gemini Adams and, in our group, we had a person who was rather opinionated, to say the least. Please let her know that, while dispensing valuable information to the rest of the group, she handled this individual with a graciousness and decorum that I could not have mustered (and I deal with unruly high schoolers in my day job). Since I did not have a chance to thank her directly, I was hoping you could do so on my behalf.
- Dave Milbrandt
To Tony and Lilly and all the silent helpers: what a challenging weekend. I’ve a lot to live up to and received precise, evaluation of my first meager efforts from a couple of pros (Christine and Jennifer) plus the bonus of meeting a few like minded authors and agents. The irrepressible Steve Barnes generates so much enthusiasm and energy he’s a conference by himself. Thank you for all your selfless efforts. - Barry "BJ" Schweiger
"My first time at the West Coast Writers Conference was fantastic! I met so many helpful people, it was easy to register and the panels were very informative. I also met two agents who requested that I send a synopsis and a book chapter to them - thrilling! Thanks Tony and Lily, for putting on this event." - Lisa Carroll
Thank you for the learning experience at the Digital Author’s conference. It presented me and my daughter with valued information that will help us launch my e-book, Encounter One, Static. We made valuable contacts that we intend to keep and utilize for our growth as publishers. As well, we wish to keep in contact by joining future workshops, and look into the possibility of joining the GLAWS organization. - Carlotta Ward (C. R. Swainward)
Your organization just keeps getting better and better. - Cindy Tanasin, attendee
Thank YOU, Tony. It was another terrific experience! As always, due to you and your excellent staff! Helga Schier, PhD
On Monday, I start working with a client who heard me speak 2 years ago at one of your conferences! I can't believe she kept my information all this time. It's a huge project and will be quite lucrative. Thank you!
I have participated as a faculty member at several WC2 writers and self-publishing conferences. It has been a very positive experience, in terms of networking, gaining new clients, and learning from other speakers. —Marla Markman, owner of Markman Editorial Services
I started writing my novel a little over ten years ago. Being a full-time teacher and mother left me only weekends to write, but I kept at it. I had a lot of support and encouragement from writers' groups, my writing coach, classes at UCLA and writers' conferences I attended. I became a GLAWS member at the Festival of Books a few years ago. When I finally finished my novel, I started looking for an agent. One rejection letter after another came and I started to consider something I hadn't previously thought was the road to take: self-publishing. I attended the (Digital Author and Indie Publishing) Writer's Conference last fall on self-publishing and what I heard made me realize I needed to get my book out there myself. Then I stopped by... Gliterary Girl Media who offered help with social media and getting connected to a world I knew very little about navigating. A few months later Gliterary Girl Media introduced me to the publisher at a new small publishing company called 4Word Press. The next thing I knew, I was signing a contract and planning book signings. My novel, The Three Graces is a story of discovery, of admitting to truths that have been buried, and of letting go of a past that hinders the present. It is a story about choices: life or death, fear or desire, dreams or drudgery.- Michele Wolfe
The AGLAWC 2013 conference was friendly, informative, fun, inspiring -- all that. I came away with countless ideas for improving my manuscript. Many thanks to Tony and Lilly. I look forward to seeing you both at another event. Sincerely, Diana Mathur www.TheLindenTree.info
The climate of WC conferences is intimate as compared to some of the mega conferences I've attended. I enjoyed the more casual, friendly atmosphere and the smaller groups of the Genre LA conference. It all seemed more personal and the presenters were engaged with their audience. Both speakers were a powerhouse of inspiration and information. I also sat in on Dan Watanabe’s Renegade group on Sunday. He’s quite a storyteller. Fun to pick his brain that’s packed with an incredible amount of knowledge about the movie business. I’m now quite motivated to continue on with my screenplay so looking forward to the June conference and the screenwriting track. Will be working towards that end. Thanks for a great conference! – Rita Turner
The Conference was awesome. I learned a great deal of important thing yesterday that well help my writing. Also, I spoke with an agent, and that went well. I have great expectation for today's conference. My objective is to learn as much as I can and to meet as many people as I can. thanks, John Johnson, Pastor, RAS, CSC Author of, Wrongly Diagnosed: The Addiction and Recovery Conspiracy in High Places
I want to thank you for all the hard work you put in to create a wonderful conference. Ingrid, Rondi, Kathleen, and Heather all told me they learned a lot and were grateful for the experience of the conference. I personally found the seminars and presenters were of a higher caliber this year. Thanks again for providing such a valuable opportunity for writers in the community. -- Leonard Szymczak www.theroadmaphome.com
Thanks very much for giving me the opportunity of participating in the WC Writers Conference. It's a terrific event and I congratulate you on the planning it takes to bring it off well! I've heard good things in the past, and I'm glad to have been a part of it this time. It was obvious that the presenters as well as the attendees found it valuable. Thanks again. Flo Selfman President, IWOSC, PR Consultant, Copy editor
I would like to express my appreciation for the scholarship I received (as an employee of the County of Los Angeles Public Library) to attend the Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference this past weekend... it was a great opportunity to meet so many people passionate about writing and improving their craft. You did an excellent job of finding quality speakers as well as arranging such a diverse selection of panels. I liked the diversity of writers on the panels. Fascinating to hear about a subject from so many different points of view. It was hard to decide which lecture I wanted to listen to most. -The intimate, interactive atmosphere. Smaller sessions induced lots of Q & A; appreciated the handouts that some panelist distributed. -The lack of pressure to buy authors' products or services. -Detailed maps and e-mails leading up to the event. Favorite speakers: Michael Fleeman, Marcia Meier, Claire Gerus, Randy Kuckuck
For the price, depth, and diversity of the conference, it's a great value... the Digital Author and Self-Publishing Conference in October! Thanks, Sandy Pierce
Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of the conference. I had a great time ... and hope that the attendees in my workshops walked away feeling that they benefited from my sessions. I see this as a wonderful opportunity to help other writers in their quest for knowledge. Best, Terry Ambrose
I want to thank you so much for bringing me aboard the faculty for the Greater LA Writers Conference. I had a fantastic time, thoroughly enjoyed both the format and quality of the panels, and most of all, met a lot of new friends. It's always interesting to work at a specific conference for the first time, but I felt so welcomed by you, your team, and the others who are regulars. Have a good restful next few days, and again, my deepest thanks. Warmly, Bob Yehling
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Conference provides a solid introduction to the business and art of writing, be it a screenplay, memoir, novel or short story.
– Gayle Bartos-Pool
Tony, thanks for putting this conference on. It was extremely informative and interesting, and it made going back to my mundane work week really tough come Monday morning ... The three speakers I was most impressed with were Leonard Szymczak and also took the time to have a few in-depth one-on-one discussions with me; Matt Pallamary, who was a panelist on three of the sessions I sat in on and always made excellent points in a very pithy way; and Toni Lopopolo, who provided very useful resources, recommendations and pointers. I am sure all three of these speakers will influence my writing. I’ll be attending more of these. Thanks again. – Jeff Pollak
Tony, It was nice to meet you and be in one of your workshops (the one where we all agreed that writer’s block is a misnomer). I want to thank you for bringing together such wonderful speakers. Every one of the workshops I attended were rich in information and things that I either didn’t know or that were welcome refreshers. Good job, – Cristina Alvarado
Thank YOU, Tony, and your staff. I had a great time and only wish I could have attended multiple days. Something to look forward to next year! – Brian McGovney
I thought it was a great conference! ... the sessions I attended were terrific. Congrats. – Idelle Davidson
The conference was fabulous, and I hope all involved are basking in the energy of a job very well done. I found every workshop and Ironside presentation to be useful in my journey towards becoming a published writer. On the top of my best workshop list is Sherwood Smith's "Why the first three pages/chapters of you story are crucial, but so many presenters contributed to my growing sense of myself as a writer. I loved the differing points of view about publishing from Poynter to Vorhaus to Kuckuck. Maralys Wills and Matt Pallamary were great in their workshop on memoir writing. Leonard Sczymczak was probably the most dynamic workshop leader. While these were standout presenters to me, every presenter brought his/her unique perspective to workshop attendees, and there were no strike-outs. As I said, it was a fabulous conference. I'm deeply grateful to GLAWS for (sponsoring) it, and I look forward to many more wonderful writing experiences as a new member. – Joy Wassel
Thank you so much for including me in your program for your writers conference ... I thought you folks did a tremendous job. Will write again if I think of any advice on how to make the conference better. I thought the volunteers were so nice, friendly and helpful. Ciao for now! Robin Quinn
Great event Tony! You should be very proud. It will just get better and bigger every year! Deborah Pratt
Thank you ... for making us feel so included in such a new experience for us. We loved it all and we found it very exciting. Best wishes on your next conference and may it be even more successful. Love and light, Amber Silverstar
Thanks to you both for making the conference so enjoyable. The rest of your crew kept things running smoothly, and I heard many of the attendees say how much they were learning. I did have many attendees say they enjoyed particular presentations, so I think overall they came away with some helpful pointers. Thanks for inviting me. I wish you all well in the future. Gayle Bartos-Pool
Thank you so much for the wonderful conference. It was enlightening and entertaining, and it exceeded my expectations in all respects. I am looking forward to more events organized by you. – Hans Zimmermann :-)
Many many thanks for a wonderful conference event. Appreciated all your efforts and took away so much information i am still chewing it over. Thank you, Patricia Sonsini
As usual, you put on an excellent event. You're awesome at that!– Elaine Wilkes
I had a fantastic time. I really enjoyed the (short story) panel I was on and the two authors that I was with. The audience was attentive and really enjoyed it. I'd love to be a part of it again. Best, Joni Labaqui
The conference was wonderful - a "total immersion" in writing and book marketing, thanks to a schedule filled with so many speakers and topics. I especially enjoy1wwwwed Sherwood Smith, Leonard Szymeszek and Marlys Wills. I appreciated when a speaker (Gayle Bartos-Pool) was well-prepared with handouts and/or outlines. Deborah Pratt was delightful to listen to. I'd rather see her do her own talk rather than as a panelist. Thanks again for all your work and preparation. Janine Lehrer
Thanks so much for such an interesting, successful day—I really enjoyed wrangling and hearing great speakers. The last panel was really excellent. It struck me while ... that these events really make us feel like real writers, and not just people indulging ourselves in a hobby, trying to fulfill childhood dreams ... I've met wonderful people at every event. – Ester Shifren
Just a brief note to say thank you for the opportunity to speak and attend the Writers Conference this past weekend. I had an excellent time. I attend a number of conferences every years and it was a delight to find a group of people as dedicated to both doing excellent work AND have a good time in the process. I learned a great deal and met some fascinating people. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can help your great organization, and I look forward to talking with you again soon. – Art Holcomb
It was a splendid conference ... even with the short time I was there, I was incredibly impressed with the wonderful, smart, savvy and dedicated group of writers in attendance, and I feel humbled myself to have been included in the program. Cheers, Lisa Cron
I want to tell you one more time just how proud I am to have been a part of that conference. It was totally professional in every way, thanks in no small part to your leadership. Bravo!!
– Leslie Ann Moore
Masters Workshop
"Steven (Hutson's) Master Workshop was fantastic. Lots of in1fo and lots of note taking. Well, except for the self publishing bits. I already decided from the start that's not for me - for pretty much the reasons Steven stated." - Dennis Amador Cherry
Thank you for the outstanding writing workshop you offered at the Los Angeles Valley College. Those who are hungry about crafting memoir need only to sit at your table. They will be fed! I especially liked the small group structure, because it allowed a close working relationship with instructor and attendees. I liked how you critiqued each participant's submission and offered praise and suggestions to help further their writing. I learned something important from each story shared, such as how to deal with description, pacing, or character development. Plus lots more. Finally, thank you for that dash of humor sprinkled throughout the workshop. I felt relaxed and comfortable while I learned the do's and don'ts from a true industry expert! -- Katherine Manley