Dear 2024 SBWC Attendees,
The Santa Barbara Writers Conference begins Sunday, June 9. We look forward to meeting you and hope you have an exciting week at SBWC.
Sunday, June 9, 11:00 AM – Check in will begin in the Fireside Room at the Mar Monte Hotel on the first floor…you may check in anytime during the week as well.
If you are signed up for one day or a partial week, this is also where you sign in when you arrive.
You’ll receive:
Your name badge and lanyard, which will be your pass to all conference events
A program booklet for the week, including a map to help you navigate
This program/schedule is available on the home page at sbwriters.com.
We’ll have volunteers available to help you navigate the conference and answer any questions you might have.
Appointments with manuscript consultants:
We’ll have 7 manuscript consultants available throughout the conference week. You’ll be able to make appointments directly with them in the Fireside Room, the same room where you check in with the conference, and where we have the SBWC bookstore. We will also have 5 consultants on the business side of writing, publishing and promotions.
Sunday, June 9
2:00 -3:30 PM – Welcome and orientation in the Pacific Ballroom
Hear bestselling author of 20 books and SBWC alum, Kimberley Troutte, speak about her writing journey.
Meet some of the workshop leaders and get tips on navigating the conference. If you can make this free session, it’ll give you a leg up on getting the most out of the week. If you cannot be at the orientation, our staff of volunteers will be around in the Fireside Room every day throughout the conference to answer your questions.
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Poets Laureate Panel
All 8 living Santa Barbara Poets Laureate will be onstage to talk about the relationship between poetry and other forms of writing. This event is free, and you may attend even if your registration does not include Sunday.
Opening Night Dinner in The Terraces
5:00 PM – No-host bar
5:30 PM – Dinner
If you aren’t registered for Sunday banquet tickets are available for $85.
7:00 PM Keynote Address in Pacific Ballroom– Author Zohreh Gharemani will open followed by keynote speaker Antoine Wilson. Book signing follows in the Fireside Room.
9:00 PM – The Pirate Workshops begin Sunday night –These late-night, read & critique sessions are great fun for night owls, and there are two to choose from every night, Sunday - Friday.
Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14
There are many daytime workshops and seminars to choose from each morning and afternoon. You’re free to attend those that best suit your interests. There’s no signup ahead of time…you just show up and see if a workshop works for you. You’ll design your own program.
If you present writing in workshops, remember to bring printed copies of your manuscript to read. Length allowed varies, but approximately 3-5 pages of your beginning is typical. An extra copy to share with the workshop leader is appreciated. If you’re headed to poetry workshops, bring about 12 copies of your poem for crafting.
There’ll be a printer available in the Fireside Room for use by conference attendees.
Panels and Speakers in the Pacific Ballroom
4 - 5 PM, Sunday – Friday afternoons – author, agent & marketing panels
5 - 6 PM, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday – book signing and book fair in the Fireside Room
7 PM, Monday-Thursday we’ll begin the evening program with poetry and then have a keynote speech by a noted author. Following the presentation the keynote author will sign books in the Fireside Room.
These events are included in the conference package for those with conference badges for the day of the event. Tickets are also available to the public for $15 each.
5:15 - 7:00 PM, Tuesday, June 11 – Poolside Reception - Conference attendees with badges are invited to a cocktail party around the pool. Extra tickets to this event are available for $45.
6:00 – 8:00 PM, Friday, June 14 – Awards Banquet – Friday evening we’ll have our closing night dinner in the Pacific Ballroom with appreciations and a few awards. If you wish to bring a guest, extra banquet tickets are available for $85.
Tuesday, June 11 - Agent Appointments Your Tuesday appointment times with agents and editors will be given to you when you check in. The appointments are all on Tuesday, June 11 between 9 AM and 3 PM. If you still need to know your appointment time ahead of checking in, please email info@sbwriters.com and tell us your name and the agents you signed up with.
Agent appointments are all sold out, however sometimes a few appointments open, so check in at info@sbwriters.com if you’d like to be on the wait list.
If you haven’t written your query letter, do that now. Writing a query is a great way to organize your thoughts for your pitch session. Be prepared to listen as much as speak during your time with the agent. They are there to answer your questions as well as to hear about your project. If you will be at the conference on Monday, consider attending Trey Dowell’s seminar on The Art of the Query.
How to Dress –In June, Santa Barbara often experiences morning fog, which burns off later in the day. Dress in layers, so you can peel off a sweatshirt or sweater as the day warms up. The “fashion sense” at the conference is decidedly casual. Many students wear shorts or jeans to workshops. The opening and closing night banquets and poolside reception are also casual events, but it is a great time for something a little dressier if you want.
SBWC Information Desk – All week long during daytime conference hours, there’ll be someone to help you in the Fireside Room, whether you’re checking in late or you can’t find your workshop or need advice on just about anything having to do with the conference or writing.
Bookstore in the Fireside Room – Books by all the speakers, panelists, many of the workshop leaders and general books of interest to writers. Author signings will also take place in this room. If you have a book in print and wish to bring it to sell on consignment, you may.
Dining at the Hotel – The Mar Monte has a small restaurant and a smaller café in the bar where you can order from a similar menu. The Reunion Kitchen is across the street on the beach, another great place to eat. From there, Santa Barbara is full of choices. Note: the hotel service can seem slow as they are serving a big crowd while we are there that is not typical for them.
Parking – The Mar Monte Hotel offers valet parking only, for a fee. There’s plenty of convenient street parking, but pay attention to “street sweeping” signs. There’s reasonably priced parking in the city lot across the street for the day. Don’t forget to put enough money in the self-serve collection boxes to avoid a ticket. Yes, they do check!
If you can walk a bit, there’s plenty free parking in the lot at the far corner of Ninos Drive and Por La Mar that serves Dwight Murphy Park. There is more street parking all around the park.
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SBWC Talent Show
If you have a talent besides writing, you might want to participate in the SBWC talent show in the Fireside Room after the Friday Awards Banquet. Or this is a great way to unwind after an intense conference week by being an appreciative audience.
If you still want another read and critique workshop on Friday night, the pirates will continue into the wee hours.
We hope you’ll have a fantastic week at the 51st Annual SBWC. See you there.
Write On!
Grace Rachow, SBWC Director
Questions? You may respond to this email or email info@sbwriters.com.
