Best AWP Conference 2023 Sessions for Fantasy Writers
With only two days until the start of the 2023 AWP Conference & Bookfair, you (like me) might be trying to decide which of the hundreds of sessions you want to attend. The options are a bit overwhelming! (In a good way.) I’ve been poring over the conference schedule for days to create my schedule. Here, I want to highlight the sessions fantasy writers and YA writers don’t want to miss. As an added bonus, I also compiled a list of conference sessions about the publishing process at the end, which are always great to attend as you look to a future in writing. All descriptions courtesy of the official AWP website and app.
But first, let’s talk about what the AWP Conference is.
About this Year’s AWP Conference
#AWP23 is taking place in Seattle, WA from March 8 to 11, with a variety of events for writers, editors, and others involved in the world of creative writing. Events are both in-person and virtual, on-site and off-site, official and loosely affiliated.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Association of Writers & Writing Programs and their annual national conference, you can learn more on their official website. AWP has an incredible collection of opportunities for creative writers to learn, grow, and connect.
Best AWP Conference Sessions for Fantasy Writers
Calling all fantasy writers, editors, and lovers! These are the conference sessions you don’t want to miss at #AWP23.
“Writing about Culture and Place: Techniques for Vibrant and Ethical Worldbuilding”
Presenters: Hannah Bae, Krys Lee, Jung Yun, Michael David Lukas, Chet’la Sebree)
Time: Thursday, 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Description: “This multigenre panel of writers, who have set their work across three continents, will discuss techniques for writing about culture and place, with an emphasis on bringing worlds to life on the page in imaginative and ethical ways. Among some of the questions that we will address: how can we authentically set our work in a culture, particularly if it isn’t our own? And what liberties can we take when representing real places and people, or creating entirely fictional cultures and landscapes?”
“Family Trees in the Enchanted Forest: How Fairy and Folk Tales Help Us Rewrite In”
Presenters: Gregory Howard, Lily Hoang, Porochista Khakpour, Richard Mirabella, Danielle Pafunda
Time: Thursday, 12:10 – 1:25 p.m.
Description: “Fairy and folk tales always belong to the next generation, while preserving the imprint of previous iterations. Told and retold across eras, these stories of kinship and metamorphosis—birth, death, marriage—make ideal sites for revisiting family legends, traumas that predate our arrival, the limitations of memory, false legacy, and the ever-evolving morals of snow child, bear father, sister and brother lost in the wood.”
“Divine Writing: Connections between Writing Practice, Craft, and Divination”
Presenters: Michele Battiste, Megan Kaminski, Selah Saterstrom, Kristen Nelson, Teresa Carmody
Time: Thursday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: “What are divination poetics and how do they manifest in writing practice? Can divination tools such as the Tarot, I Ching, and Throwing the Bones influence modes of creation and assemblage? Does the written word have the same generative agency as a reading? When we read the spread or the signs are we also writing the story? Four writers and divination practitioners share the ways in which divination, intuition, and embodied knowledge influence, guide, and disrupt their writing.”
“Writing the Monster”
Presenters: Rebecca Lehmann, Oliver de la Paz, aureleo sans, A. Rafael Johnson, K.C. Mead-Brewer
Time: Saturday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: “Five authors discuss writing monsters across multiple genres, considering ways monsters can be used to explore queerness and transness, disability, domestic abuse, cultural traditions, patriarchy, colonialism, white supremacy, and other concerns. Looking at monstrous figures like La Llorona, the minotaur, witches, ghouls, internet demons, and sea hags, panelists will discuss ways monsters can subvert narrative expectations, reveal socio-historical concerns and moral panics, and ensorcell readers.”
AWP Conference Sessions for YA Writers
YA writers, assemble! Here are your must-go events at this year’s AWP Conference.
“Crafting Voice in YA Fiction”
Presenters: Patricia Park, Jennifer De Leon, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Erika Sanchez
Time: Thursday, 10:35 – 11:50 a.m.
Description: “What is YA literature and how is the voice different from an adult novel? Or from a children’s or middle-grade novel? In this session, four diverse YA novelists will discuss how they constructed the voice of their stories. We will discuss characterization, POV, language, and other craft considerations in constructing the voice of the YA novel. We’ll talk about pitfalls to avoid. We will also address how a YA audience is different from other genres.”
“Publishing Choices for Inclusive YA/MG Fiction”
Presenters: Craig Leener, Desiree Calderon de Fawaz, Jay Hartlove, Liv Kyle, Jiordan Castle
Time: Saturday, 10:35 – 11:50 a.m.
Description: “Five authors of books for the YA/MG audience who seek inclusivity in their work discuss their various paths towards publication: self-publishing, small, and larger presses. They’ll contrast pros and cons of different choices, what worked for them and what they’d do differently. They will address unique issues writers face when presenting nuanced portrayals of neurodiverse, LGBT, POC, or other characters from marginalized communities and the ethics and dynamics of a writer’s serving as an ally.”
“Breaking Up with Shame: Writing Romance for Young Adults”
Presenters: Brianna Jett, Amy Noelle Parks, Christie Cognevich, Kathryn Amato, Hannah Morgan Teachout
Time: Saturday, 12:10 – 1:25 p.m.
Description: This panel critically examines the toxic connection between romance and shame in YA novels. Join expert panelists, including MFAs, published authors, and educators, as they discuss sex, victim-blaming, gender and heteronormativity, bodies—and why writers of romance must confront shame. Learn how to identify and subvert hidden shame, break the cycle, and overcome shame in the writing process.
“Challenging, Revisioning, and Revising What Counts for Good Craft in KidLit”
Presenters: Jenny Ferguson, Maya Prasad, Elisa A. Bonnin, Aaron H. Aceves, Vanessa L. Torres
Time: Saturday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: We all aim for good craft, but what happens when writers actively challenge, re-see, and revise concepts of so-called “good craft” taught in schools and writing programs? What happens when writers don’t accept that Western storytelling is the only or best way to tell a story? Five diverse debut YA and MG writers are here to talk about their experiences with thinking about how to best tell a story and what makes really good craft. We’ll talk character, setting, conflict, plot, dialogue, and more.
AWP Conference Sessions About Publishing
If your novel is written, these are the panels that can help you with the next steps.
“Becoming a Debut Novelist: The Journey From Agent Queries to Book Launch”
Presenters: Laura Spence-Ash, Vanessa Chan, Jinwoo Chong, Jamila Minnicks, John Manuel Arias
Time: Thursday, 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Description: “The path from finishing a book draft to launching a debut novel into the world is thrilling and exciting, but it is also long and full of twists and turns. This panel of debut novelists—with publication dates in 2023 and 2024—will discuss all aspects of this journey, including finding an agent, selling the book, working with an editor, and navigating marketing and publicity. The aim of the panel is to be transparent and to provide helpful advice for all debut novelists to come.”
“Book Promotion by the Numbers: A Transparent Discussion of Costs and Benefits”
Presenters: Rachel King, Emilly Prado, EJ Levy, Cassandra Lane
Time: Thursday, 10:35 – 11:50 a.m.
Description: “This panel of authors who have published with small and large traditional publishers and one hybrid press discuss their own publicity efforts and costs transparently, including which investments paid off and which were a waste, what kind of support you can realistically expect from small and large press publicity departments, which gaps to prioritize if you can’t afford to do it all, and how to leverage book promotion into paid opportunities to earn back at least some of what you spend.”
“Out of the Boneyard: Keeping Dead Manuscripts Alive”
Presenters: Zoe Zolbrod, Anne Liu Kellor, Gina Frangello, Donna Miscolta
Time: Thursday, 12:10 – 1:25 p.m.
Description: “It can feel like a death when the book you’ve labored over has been widely rejected, orphaned, or stalled in publishing. This panel explores the choices writers face when the universe seems to have said a resounding no. Should you retool based on feedback or trust your vision? Should you wait for the zeitgeist to turn or consider alternative routes to publication? Or is it time to start something new? The writers gathered here have found various ways to bring moribund projects back to life.”
“From Novel to Screen”
Presenters: Shawn wong, tammy lynne stoner, Carter Sickels, Johanna Stoberock
Time: Thursday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: “It’s the dream of most writers to see their work on the screen—be it silver or plasma. Luckily, as streaming expands, there’s a growing need for content, especially when connected to intellectual property like, you got it, a book! This panel includes novelists at all stages of bringing their book to the screen—from filming a “proof of concept” to optioning a novel to seeing it become a film. Join us to chat about agents vs. managers, approaches to adaptation, options, production, and premieres.”
“Winning Words: Best Practices for Submitting to Book Prizes”
Presenters: Katie Cortese, Jonathan Johnson, Kristen Miller, Beth Snead, Whitney Koo
Time: Thursday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: “Contests offered by independent, small, and university presses have become one of the most common ways for authors of story, essay, and poetry collections to publish their books. Five editors of literary prizes will describe the contests offered by their presses, highlight the traits of successful submissions, and offer practical advice for authors. Presses represented include Willow Springs Books, Sarabande Books, University of Georgia Press, Gasher Press, and Texas Tech University Press.”
“A Winning Team: The Author-Publisher Relationship, Sponsored by CLMP”
Presenters: Chelsea Kern, Sunyoung Lee, Truong Tran, Stephen Motika, Allison Cobb
Time: Thursday, 3:20 – 4:35 p.m.
Description: “No book enters the world on its own. Instead, authors and publishers work together to bring out the best in what ultimately becomes the published work. Join us for a conversation with the 2022 Firecracker Award winners in poetry and creative nonfiction to learn about what goes into forging an award-winning relationship between author and publisher.”
“I Wish I’d Known: Advice for Navigating the Publishing World”
Presenters: Jean Kwok , Angie Kim, Rebecca Makkai, Mitchell S. Jackson, Danielle Trussoni
Time: Friday, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Description: “From getting an agent to working with an editor to doing publicity, the life of a writer is filled with potential pitfalls. What are things you should do before you ever sign with an agent? What are definite no-nos while trying to get an agent? How many of your editor’s changes do you accept? What are tips for a great reading? How can you best do publicity? These seasoned writers talk about their own experiences with different agencies and publishing houses and share their hard-earned advice.”
“Is an Independent Editor Right for You?”
Presenters: Will Allison, Jaimee Garbacik, Liz Van Hoose, Alexis Washam
Time: Friday, 1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Description: “Writers seeking feedback face a lot of options: Join a writers group? Enroll in a workshop? Attend a conference? Apply to MFA programs? This panel is for writers at any career stage who are curious about another option: working one-on-one with an independent editor. You’ll meet four veteran editors with diverse backgrounds in writing, lit mags, and book publishing. They’ll discuss the services editors provide, finding the right editor for your work, making the most of the relationship, and more.”
“Before You Sign: What Authors Should Know about Contracts, Sponsored by the Authors Guild”
Presenters: Umair Kazi, Caitlin DiMotta, Michael Gross, Fiona Kenshole
Time: Friday, 3:20 – 4:35 p.m.
Description: “Writers aren’t often trained in negotiation skills. You may be tempted to sign on the dotted line immediately when you land a book contract, option a story for film, or score a coveted freelance gig. It’s worth taking a moment to negotiate, because you might be leaving money on the table—or worse, giving away precious rights to your own creative work. Attorneys from the Authors Guild will offer negotiating tips and explain the common pitfalls to watch for in publishing contracts, film options, and freelancer agreements.”
“The Indie Experience: Working with an Editor from Acquisition to Finished Book”
Presenters: Kevin Chong, Alyssa Ogi, Dan Lopez, Shirarose Wilensky, Jennifer Croll
Time: Saturday, 10:35 – 11:50 a.m.
Description: “What’s it like to be an author at an independent press? Are there benefits to working with an indie press, or ways they differ from corporate publishers? This panel, with four editors from independent presses in the US and Canada and moderated by an author, will answer questions about acquisition, the author-editor relationship, and the steps in the production process. This event is ideal for both debut writers and more experienced writers who are interested in the independent press model.”
“Your Book Is Signed, Now What?: Tips for Authors from the Publicists”
Presenters: Joanna Englert, Alyson Sinclair, Ryo Yamaguchi, Marisa Vito, Danika Isdahl
Time: Saturday, 3:20 – 4:35 p.m.
Description: “The most successful publicity campaigns are structured around coordinated efforts between both the publicist and the author. This panel of literary publicists will share their tips and best practices for how to work together and maximize the reach of a book within a bustling global market. From blurbs to social media to book tours, this panel of publicists from Sarabande Books, Copper Canyon Press, and Nectar Literary aims to demystify the publicity game for authors.”
Closing Remarks
That’s my list. Of course, there are so many other wonderful events at the AWP Conference to choose from, and many others you’ll want to check out based on your own personal interests, career aspirations, and identity. I know I, for one, will have a really hard time choosing between 4-5 events in the same time slot. But that seems like a pretty good problem to have.
Let me know if I missed any great panels for Fantasy or YA in my lists. And of course, don’t forget to visit the book fair. (Who doesn’t need more books in their life? Couldn’t be me.)
Here’s to a wonderful AWP23, everyone!
Hope to see you there,
