Invitation to Present

The WCoNA Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia® invites proposals for presentations at the 2023 live conference on March 10-11th, 2023 at Robert Morris University. Participants will explore opportunities, challenges, and trends specific to writers of northern Appalachia through presentations, readings, craft sessions, and panel discussions. The event will offer writers a place to gather for inspiration, further their craft, find support, and network.

Our audience

Conference attendees will include authors ranging from novice poets to multi-published novelists; educators representing the humanities, literature, Appalachian studies, and more; librarians; and individuals with an interest in the literature and culture of northern Appalachian.

WCoNA continues building relationships with publishers and agents, encouraging houses to distinguish and print our region’s literature. Consider how your presentation speaks to the exceptional nature of the literature of northern Appalachia.

General Information

Sessions will run for 50 minutes. Presenters may submit ideas in several formats:

• One presenter to many

• Two to Four presenters to many--A panel of two to four presenters provides group lectures, round table discussion, or readings and discussion of their own work. (Note that only one of the panel presenters may submit the proposal on behalf of the group. Please include bios and a headshot for EACH presenter. When presenting your work, please remember this is more than just a reading of your research, proposal, or personal work.)

• Workshops--WCoNA will consider workshops where the presenter leads writing exercises, and attendees share work orally. The submitters must remember that the session may have up to 30 attendees.

Only one proposal submission is allowed per person. Participants can present only once during the conference. Conference presenters and attendees must register for the full conference. Submissions open on Monday, Sept. 12th. To submit a proposal, please use the Proposal Submission Form.

Considerations for Preparing your Proposal

The goal of the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia is to advance all genres of the writing of northern Appalachia. To serve the many authors of our region, we are committed to focusing on craft.

Please see our mission statement at WCoNA.com to understand our goals. Also, see the map that explains the geographic bounds of what we consider northern Appalachia.

• Presentations can be offered by individuals with expertise in, but not limited to, the craft of writing; research techniques; any of the elements of literature; sustaining a writing life; publishing options; the business of authorship; selling books; or a particular trait of our region's literature.

• Panels and Readings allow a variety of perspectives on a particular topic or selections of literature. They should consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of four persons, including the panel's moderating member. Proposals should identify the moderator, and all panelists must be listed on the proposal.

• Roundtables are hosted by two to four leaders with the expertise to lead open, interactive discussions on a specific subject.

• Workshops should be interactive and allow participants to engage with a specific topic or skill.

Tips for Submitting

Be sure to include on the submission form:

• Your name

• Occupation (optional)

• Affiliation

• A 150-200 word bio. Note that a panel submission must include a bio for each panel participant at the time of submission.

• Abstract of up to 500 words

• Present a concise yet descriptive program title with a helpful subtitle.

• ***A headshot. Note that panel submissions must include a headshot for each panel participant at the time of submission. Email to Generalinquiries@WCoNA.com using your name or presentation title as the subject.***

PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL OCTOBER 28TH, 2023

Proposal Submission Form