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Following in the footsteps of past conference directors, CCWC 2025 Director Meagan Friberg is pleased to welcome writers from all backgrounds to a transformative gathering of storytelling, creativity, and community. With an emphasis on the power of words to connect, challenge, and inspire, she will offer practical advice on how attendees can get the most out of the conference鈥攆rom fully engaging in workshops and panels, to actively networking with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Attendees are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, embrace the diverse voices around them, pace themselves, stay open to new ideas, and take advantage of every opportunity. Most importantly, Meagan wants attendees to know whether they are seasoned authors or emerging voices, they made the right choice to be at the conference because, as the 2025 theme states, It鈥檚 Time!

Writing is a solitary pursuit, but coming out of the shadows to find your writing community is worthwhile. It offers social, health, and career benefits. Having a group of writer friends in your corner is more crucial to your success than you might think, especially as the burden of marketing shifts more and more to the writers themselves. They say it鈥檚 who you know, and the relationships you build by networking, joining writing organizations, and volunteering can result in better bylines, bigger opportunities, camaraderie, and lifelong friendships with other writers. Join us for this conversation by a panel of writers about how we found our writing families, how putting ourselves out there has improved our writing careers and our lives, and what we mean when we talk about literary citizenship.

No story is ever written in a vacuum! In this session, we鈥檒l define what a critique partner is, how they differ from beta readers, and how they can contribute to your success. We鈥檒l also cover how to find a good critique partner and what it takes to be one yourself. Participants will exchange the first page of their work with other writers to receive feedback and make lasting connections with other writers.

This is your chance to mix & mingle with CCWC presenters and fellow writers, enjoy a large variety of savory appetizers from DMQ Catering, and sip local wines and other beverages on the patio before moving indoors for our Opening Keynote. Local authors Mira and Kirk Honeycutt will give a short presentation about how they collaborated for their book: Sideways Uncorked: The Perfect Pairing of Film & Wine.