Last year I attended the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop which was hosted by BYU. This year it will take place on a different venue, the Waterford School in Sandy. There are several sessions offered in the mornings, and the presenters will be:

Picture Book with Bonny Becker
Picture Book with Kristyn Crow
Chapter Book with Mike Knudson
Novel for Intermediate/Advanced Writers* with Sara Zarr
Novel for Intermediate/Advanced Writers* with Alane Ferguson
Contemporary Novel with Ann Dee Ellis
Beginning Novel—for those working on their first novels—with Emily Wing Smith
Fantasy/Sci Fi Novel with Brandon Mull
Fantasy/Sci Fi Novel with Dave Wolverton, aka David Farland
Beginning Class in Writing for Young Readers** with Cheri Pray Earl and Rick Walton

The afternoon sessions are bound to be incredible too. Last year I signed up a couple of weeks before the conference. All the spots for the full day workshops were filled and I only attended the afternoon sessions which were very informative and helpful too. Registration just opened for this year’s conference, and I’m planning on signing up this weekend so I can reserve my spot.

I’m also attending the LDS Storymakers Conference which will take place at the Marriot Hotel in Provo. One of my talented critique group partners, Jaime Theler, is responsible for organizing this conference. She will also be presenting a workshop.

If you’re in this area in April for the LDS Storymakers conference or in June for the Writing and Illustring for Young Readers Workshop sign up now. You won’t regret it! And let me know if you do. It would be a lot of fun to meet virtual friends in real life. Last year when I attended my first conference, I felt I belonged to a group of very talented people who shared a passion with me: the love of words and stories. Writing doesn’t have to be such a lonely affair after all.