Join us for a special day of inspiration at the 603 Writers’ Conference on June 8, 2024, from 8:00am – 5:00pm at the Banquet Hall located on the Southern NH University campus in Manchester, NH.
We’re excited to announce Ernest Thompson, an Academy Award-winning writer and filmmaker, as our keynote speaker.
This event is perfect for writers of all levels and anyone passionate about storytelling.
Don’t miss this chance to learn from and connect with one of New Hampshire’s most renowned literary talents.
Register today for an unforgettable experience!
Photo Credit: 3Sixty | Bruce Luetters
Ernest Thompson has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Writers Guild Award and been nominated for a British Academy Award, a Tony and an Emmy.
But he’s most proud of the more than 200 writers he’s worked with one-on-one, in his workshops, and through his Rescind Recidivism prison writing program.
Thompson considers himself a model of all it takes to do it is doing it, he dreams up stories every day, even if it’s while mowing hay or hauling wood.
Currently, Thompson is preparing a sequel to his iconic film On Golden Pond and another Broadway revival of the play.
He’s had 37 plays performed in front of audiences and written dozens of screenplays, 10 made into movies, with six he directed.
A prolific songwriter, Thompson frequently collaborates with wildly talented New Hampshire composers and most recently directed the short film The Constituent, starring himself and Gordon Clapp (NYPD Blue).
His epic novel, The Book of Maps, will be available for purchase and signing at the 603 Writers’ Conference available to purchase. His next book, Out Clause, releases in 2025.
To learn more, visit ernestthompson.us.
In this workshop, we will look at the following (and more):
ABOUT ÁINE GREANEY:
Áine grew up on a small farm in County Mayo, Ireland. In the mid-1980s, she emigrated to the U.S. where her work has been cited in Best American Essays, and her second novel, Dance Lessons was named a “great group read” by the Women’s National Book Association. Her essay, Sanctuary was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
In addition to her four published books (Simon & Schuster, Writers Digest/Penguin Random House), her essays as well as features and stories have appeared in various outlets, including Creative Nonfiction, The Boston Globe Magazine, The New York Times, Books Ireland, Another Chicago Magazine, NPR’s WBUR Radio, Salon, Huffington Post, The Mindful Word, IMAGE Magazine, Generation Emigration (The Irish Times), The Wisdom Daily, The Feminist Wire, Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine and other publications.
In addition to creative writing, she leads writing workshops and presentations at various community and academic locations and conferences.
To learn more, visit ainegreaney.com.
In this workshop, you will learn how to find a good agent, sign with the right agent, and work with that agent effectively, from manuscript to book launch and beyond.
ABOUT PAULA
MUNIER:
Paula is the Senior Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary and the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of the Mercy Carr mysteries.
Over her 20-plus years in the business, she’s conceived, created, produced, and marketed exceptional content in all formats across all markets for such media giants as WGBH, Fidelity, Disney, Gannett, S&S, Quarto, Greenspun Media Group, among others.
Paula represents both fiction and nonfiction; her clients run the gamut from debut authors to New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors who’ve won or been shortlisted for such honors as the Edgar, Thriller, Agatha, and Anthony awards as well as the Pushcart Prize, AWP, and PEN awards. Many of her clients’ works have also been adapted for stage and screen.
Paula is the author of three popular books on writing: The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings That Sell, Writing With Quiet Hands: How to Shape Your Writing to Resonate with Readers, Plot Perfect: How to Build Unforgettable Stories Scene by Scene, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The latest book in her Mercy Carr series, Home at Night, was named Library Journal’s Mystery Pick of the Month. Her next book, The Night Woods, debuts in October 2024.
To learn more, visit: paulamunier.com.
The only real rule in writing is Keep the Reader Reading – but that means mastering the art of story questions, the science of narrative thrust, and the soul of character development.
This workshop will provide you with some tips, tricks, and techniques to help you do just that.
ABOUT PAULA MUNIER:
Paula is the Senior Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary and the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of the Mercy Carr mysteries.
Over her 20-plus years in the business, she’s conceived, created, produced, and marketed exceptional content in all formats across all markets for such media giants as WGBH, Fidelity, Disney, Gannett, S&S, Quarto, Greenspun Media Group, among others.
Paula represents both fiction and nonfiction; her clients run the gamut from debut authors to New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors who’ve won or been shortlisted for such honors as the Edgar, Thriller, Agatha, and Anthony awards as well as the Pushcart Prize, AWP, and PEN awards. Many of her clients’ works have also been adapted for stage and screen.
Paula is the author of three popular books on writing: The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings That Sell, Writing With Quiet Hands: How to Shape Your Writing to Resonate with Readers, Plot Perfect: How to Build Unforgettable Stories Scene by Scene, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The latest book in her Mercy Carr series, Home at Night, was named Library Journal’s Mystery Pick of the Month. Her next book, The Night Woods, debuts in October 2024.
To learn more, visit: paulamunier.com.
This workshop focuses on the joys and challenges of independent publishing.
ABOUT DEIDRE
RANDALL:
Deidre is the CEO of Peter E. Randall Publisher, a 53-year-old, independent publisher located in Portsmouth, NH. Deidre provides project management and marketing consultation for all titles, including both print and ebook editions.
The firm publishes primarily nonfiction, illustrated titles, focused on history, memoir, cooking, nature, photography, guidebooks, and children’s fiction and nonfiction.
The firm specializes in hardcover, and full color volumes. Audiobook production, video book trailers, author websites, and publicity packages are also offered.
Deidre received a M.Ed. in Business Administration from Antioch New England Graduate School in 1999, following 13 years of direct service to literacy programs; grant preparation, teaching, college instruction and project coordination. She worked closely with her father, Peter Randall, from 1998 to 2008, learning publishing from the ground up.
Deidre has consulted with and published over 300 authors, promoting more than 450 titles since 1998. She is an award-winning songwriter, and a poet who received nominations for Poet Laureate of Portsmouth in 2003 and 2007.
Deidre has been an avid reader and book lover for as long as she can remember. She is a mother of three wonderful children, and she is raising a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf milk goats in southern Maine.
To learn more, visit: perpublisher.com.
ABOUT SARAH
BAUHAN:
Sarah grew up in a publishing company, literally. Her father bought the Richard R. Smith Company in 1959, and housed it in the family home, Noone House, in Peterborough, NH. Called after the house, it then became William L Bauhan, Inc., when the family moved to Dublin.
After the death of Sarah’s father, Bill, Sarah took over the reins in late 2009. In the meantime, she had led a life as a musician and as a graphic artist, while also designing her dad’s books later in the game.
Fourteen years on, Bauhan Publishing has produced more than a 100 titles. Known for their elegant design, love of poetry, history, art, memoirs, and essays, Bauhan has amongst their authors, Howard Mansfield, Christian McEwen, Sy Montgomery, Paul Hertneky, and myriad poets from their very successful May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry Prize.
Sarah lives with her wife, Jane, in Hancock.
For more information, visit: bauhanpublishing.com.
What does a nature poem look like? How do poets write when they write about the natural world?
In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to read and talk about some examples of the ‘nature poem’ and to write their own nature poems by following a series of prompts provided during the class.
ABOUT JENNIFER
MILITELLO:
Jennifer is the Poet Laureate of NH. She is the author of Identifying the Pathogen (forthcoming, 2025), The Pact (Tupelo Press/Shearsman Books, 2021) and the memoir Knock Wood, winner of the Dzanc Nonfiction Prize (Dzanc Books, 2019), as well as four previous books of poetry.
Her work has appeared in American Poetry Review, The Nation, The New Republic, The Paris Review, POETRY, Poetry London, The Poetry Review, and Tin House, as well as in Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poems for Every Occasion, and 100 Poems to Save the Earth. Her poem “Mansplaining” is recited by high school students across the nation each year as part of the Poetry Out Loud national arts education program.
Jennifer has taught at Brown University, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Rhode Island School of Design, and is currently a faculty member in the MFA program at New England College.
To learn more, visit jennifermilitello.com.
Bring your own poems of heart, humor, hope, and family to this workshop to have them discussed before the group.
Participants will have the opportunity to receive feedback on a single poem of their choice that relates to the theme of heart, humor, hope, and family.
Workshop members should bring two printed copies of their in-progress poem with them to the workshop.
ABOUT JENNIFER MILITELLO:
Jennifer is the Poet Laureate of NH. She is the author of Identifying the Pathogen (forthcoming, 2025), The Pact (Tupelo Press/Shearsman Books, 2021) and the memoir Knock Wood, winner of the Dzanc Nonfiction Prize (Dzanc Books, 2019), as well as four previous books of poetry.
Her work has appeared in American Poetry Review, The Nation, The New Republic, The Paris Review, POETRY, Poetry London, The Poetry Review, and Tin House, as well as in Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poems for Every Occasion, and 100 Poems to Save the Earth. Her poem “Mansplaining” is recited by high school students across the nation each year as part of the Poetry Out Loud national arts education program.
Jennifer has taught at Brown University, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Rhode Island School of Design, and is currently a faculty member in the MFA program at New England College.
To learn more, visit jennifermilitello.com.
Join Curtis Key, Publisher at Global Collective Publishers, and Ernest Thompson, Academy Award-winning author of On Golden Pond, and author of recently published The Book of Maps, as they discuss what key literary elements stand out to publishers during the submissions review process.
In this workshop, we will discuss various elements that writers can use to elevate their stories to not only get noticed by publishers, but most importantly, create a deep and meaningful experience for the reader.
ABOUT CURTIS KEY:
Curtis is president of Global Collective Publishers outside of Philadelphia, PA. As an independent publisher, Curtis strives to provide a platform for voices from around the world, and to create a space where diverse communities can share and exchange stories that express their individual and shared sense of humanity through a variety of literary genres.
To learn more, visit: globalcollectivepublishers.com.
ABOUT ERNEST THOMPSON:
Ernest has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Writers Guild Award and been nominated for a British Academy Award, a Tony and an Emmy.
However, what Ernest is most proud of is the more than 200 writers he’s worked with one-on-one, in his workshops, and in his Rescind Recidivism prison writing program.
Considering himself a model of all it takes to do it is doing it, he dreams up stories every day, even if it’s while mowing hay or hauling wood.
Currently, Ernest is preparing a sequel to his iconic film On Golden Pond and another Broadway revival of the play. He’s had 37 plays performed in front of audiences and written dozens of screenplays, 10 made into movies, six he directed.
A prolific songwriter, he frequently collaborates with wildly talented NH composers and most recently directed the short film The Constituent, starring himself and Gordon Clapp (NYPD Blue).
His epic novel, The Book of Maps, is available to purchase and have signed. His next, Out Clause, will be released in 2025.
To learn more, visit: ernestthompson.us.
Photo Credit: 3Sixty | Bruce Luetters
Fictional families are a cross-genre phenomenon. They exist in sci-fi, historical fiction, mystery, and suspense. They’re in romance novels and even violent thrillers. What do these families have in common? How are they different? In what ways do their problems resonate with readers?
In this workshop, we’ll consider these questions and more as we examine some popular novels that feature families and their relationships.
We’ll also cover:
Join us for a lively discussion, and leave with an understanding of how to make your fictional families more memorable and unique.
ABOUT URSULA
WONG:
Ursula’s strong women battle impossible odds to achieve their goals. Her Amber War series of historical thrillers explores the relationship between Russia and her neighbors since the Soviet occupation of Lithuania during WWII.
Ursula is a former board member of the Seven Bridge Writers’ Collaborative and Sisters in Crime New England.
In her spare time, Ursula creates stories inspired by the trips she and her husband Steve have taken to the corners of the world.
To learn more, visit: ursulawong.wordpress.com.
An ad from 2015 can feel woefully outdated, while we still find sustenance in The Illiad and The Odyssey thousands of years after they were conceived. This is one paradox of writing – it must speak to the current moment in which it is written, but we do not wish it to be confined to that moment. How can we make our writing both contemporary and universal?
In this session, we’ll explore strategies for stitching together these modes seemingly at odds with one another, and consider how time itself can be a tool that shapes the writing that both packs a punch and endures.
ABOUT TIM
HORVATH:
Tim is the author of Understories (Bellevue Literary Press), which won the NH Literary Award, and Circulation (sunnyoutside). His stories appear in or are forthcoming in Conjunctions, Ploughshares, AGNI, Sleepingfish, and elsewhere.
Tim teaches English at Phillips Exeter, and Creative Writing in the Stony Brook MFA in Writing and Literature, as well as LIU-Brooklyn’s MFA in Writing and Publishing. He is a senior editor at Conjunctions, and is currently at work on a novel and a follow-up collection.
To learn more, visit: timhorvath.com.
Photo credit: Sarah Anderson
How often do you hear that agents and publishers are not interested in story collections?
Writers are commonly advised that their creative energies would be best spent on a novel. While writers seeking publication for a story collection might face particular challenges, a great many short story collections are, year after year, published, many to acclaim, some successfully launching the author’s career.
In this workshop, we’ll demystify the path from finishing a collection to securing publication. Via lecture, discussion of resources provided, and Q & A, we’ll outline the options available to writers of collections.
Topics will include:
You’ll leave the session with a deeper understanding of the publishing landscape, a packet of resources, and a plan for how to proceed with your own collection.
ABOUT DARIEL
SUAREZ:
Dariel is the Cuban-born author of the novel The Playwright’s House and the award-winning story collection A Kind of Solitude. His work has received the First Lady Cecile de Jongh Literary Prize and has appeared in Best American Essays, The Threepenny Review, The Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, The Gettysburg Review, and LitHub, among others. Dariel is the Artistic Director at GrubStreet and resides in the Boston area with his wife and daughter.
To learn more, visit darielsuarez.com.
Writers come to developmental editors with uncertainty: Is the manuscript finished? Is it any good? Could it be better?
My role as a developmental editor is not to sit in judgment and point out “failings.” Instead, I’ve learned to recognize how far along the narrative is in the writing process. That is, many “mistakes” are signals that a passage is simply in an early stage of its development.
My job then is to offer specific suggestions about how that passage could be revised to better serve the work as a whole, making the reader eager to keep on reading. My goal and joy in serving as an editor is helping writers become not just hopeful about their works in progress but actually excited to revise their work.
In this workshop, we’ll discuss several examples of “early draft” and “late draft” issues. Early-draft issues may include info dumping or sudden shifts into overly formal or flowery language. Later-draft issues often involve the effectiveness of the language on the level of the sentence. All these “problems” are opportunities for the writer to dig deeper into the narrative.
As time allows, we will also discuss the difference between an editor and a beta reader and the role each can play in the writing process.
ABOUT MARTHA
CARLSON:
Martha is a professional developmental editor of literary and upmarket fiction, with over 20 years of experience. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College and a PhD in 20th Century British and American Literature from UNC-Chapel Hill.
To learn more, visit: marthacarlsoneditor.com.
Legacy letters can strengthen the ties between generations. They can translate your personal, family stories, and values into life lessons offering an opportunity to reflect on your important life experiences to your children, grandchildren and other loved ones. Legacy Letters can also be the seeds for a memoir or other nonfiction project.
In this 90-minute workshop, we will touch on the history of legacy letters, how they are structured, and the top reasons for writing one. We will do short writing exercises to stimulate ideas with guidance on craft elements that make legacy letters not just compelling, but great sources for longer material.
You can expect to leave the session inspired to turn your own legacy into concrete ideas for further writing.
ABOUT LISA
BRAXTON:
Lisa is the author of the memoir, Dancing Between the Raindrops: A Daughter’s Reflections on Love and Loss, published by Sea Crow Press. Her novel, The Talking Drum, published by Inanna Publications, is the winner of an Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards Gold Medal and an Outstanding Literary Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.
Lisa serves on the executive board of the Writers Room of Boston, and she is also a writing instructor at Grub Street Boston.
To learn more, visit: lisabraxton.com.
Ernest Thompson has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Writers Guild Award and been nominated for a British Academy Award, a Tony and an Emmy.
However, what Ernest is most proud of is the more than 200 writers he’s worked with one-on-one, in his workshops, and in his Rescind Recidivism prison writing program.
Considering himself a model of all it takes to do it is doing it, he dreams up stories every day, even if it’s while mowing hay or hauling wood.
Currently, Ernest is preparing a sequel to his iconic film On Golden Pond and another Broadway revival of the play. He’s had 37 plays performed in front of audiences and written dozens of screenplays, 10 made into movies, six he directed.
A prolific songwriter, he frequently collaborates with wildly talented NH composers and most recently directed the short film The Constituent, starring himself and Gordon Clapp (NYPD Blue).
His epic novel, The Book of Maps, is available to purchase and have signed. His next, Out Clause, will be released in 2025.
To learn more, visit: ernestthompson.us.
Photo Credit: 3Sixty | Bruce Luetters
Professionally, Robert Wheeler is the author of Hemingway’s Paris: A Writer’s City in Words and Images (2015), Hemingway’s Havana: A Reflection of the Writer’s Life in Cuba (2018), and The Boston Freedom Trail in Words and Pictures (2019).
Robert also completed a foreword for the 2022 re-release of Hemingway’s first novel, The Sun Also Rises.
Robert’s agent is Peter Riva of International Transactions and his work is published by Skyhorse Publishing in New York City, distributed in the U.S. and internationally by Simon & Schuster.
Robert has led academic groups to Paris and to Havana and has spoken at numerous bookstores, libraries, and at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
Personally, Robert lives in New Castle, NH, near the sea with his wife, Meme, the Director of the Chase Home for Children; girls, Emma and Helen, both graduates of Sarah Lawrence College; and his dog, Thadeus.
To learn more, visit: facebook.com/robertwheelerauthor.
Masheri Chappelle is a Smith Scholar graduate of Smith College, where she received her B.A. for Theater and Writing.
Masheri is a Data Analyst by day and a novelist, playwright, and intuitive consultant by night. She utilizes her profound spiritual experiences in the telling of her stories and plays.
She is also the owner of Portalstar Publishing, which publishes inspirational and uplifting fictional and nonfiction stories.
PortalStar Publishing develops and publishes fiction and nonfiction meta-human stories. The books in its catalog provide intuitive and authentic supernatural events that serve to evolve the soul.
The company’s mission is to enlighten each reader to successfully transcend their meta-human experience and share it with everyone they encounter.
To learn more, visit: portalstarpublishing.com.
Is your book ready to be published? Would you like to get feedback on your pitch before you send it out?
Submit your pitch by May 20th to a panel of judges for a chance to win a prize!
Your pitch must not be longer than one paragraph (maximum of 125 words). It should have all the elements that tell an agent or publisher what the story is about. It should have “GMC”: goal, motivation, and conflict.
In addition to your one-paragraph pitch, you need to include your logline, the one sentence that sells your book.
All genres are welcome to participate. It doesn’t matter if your book is fiction or non-fiction — you just need to have a great pitch. NH Writers’ Project (NHWP) premiered this fun event at the 2020 603 Writers’ Conference with great success.
The Process:
This is a fun exercise where everyone gets to learn what makes a great pitch. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners selected by the judges.
Robert Wheeler, Moderator
Robert is the author of Hemingway’s Paris: A Writer’s City in Words and Images (2015), Hemingway’s Havana: A Reflection of the Writer’s Life in Cuba (2018), and The Boston Freedom Trail in Words and Pictures (2019). Learn more here>>
Ernest Thompson, Guest Judge
Ernest has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Writers Guild Award and been nominated for a British Academy Award, a Tony and an Emmy. Learn more at ernestthompson.us.
Michael Charney
Michael is the owner and principal editor of Riddle Brook Publishing, a Peterborough, NH-based boutique publisher specializing in narrative nonfiction. Learn more at riddlebrookpublishing.com.
Paula Munier
Paula is the Senior Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary and the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of the Mercy Carr mysteries. Learn more at paulamunier.com.
Dariel Suarez
Dariel is the Cuban-born author of the novel The Playwright’s House and the award-winning story collection A Kind of Solitude. Learn more at darielsuarez.com.
James Patrick Kelly
James is an American science fiction author who has won both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. Learn more at jimkelly.net.
Curtis Key
Curtis is president of Global Collective Publishers outside of Philadelphia, PA and strives to provide a platform for voices from around the world. Learn more at globalcollectivepublishers.com.
Invest in your future as a writer and join us for a jampacked day filled with tips, ideas, and resources to help you reach your literary goals and dreams. Have a question? Contact Us for more information.
Members, register for the 603 Writers’ Conference before the early bird deadline of April 26th for an additional savings. Not yet a member? Join the membership and enjoy all the benefits offered, including a discounted rate for the 603 Writers’ Conference.
The New Hampshire Writers’ Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary arts organization funded by its members, as well as organizations and businesses, who support our region’s writers and literary heritage. The organization is run by a dedicated board of passionate volunteers.
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