Workshops & Retreats…Harriette Austin Writers Conference

This column briefly profiles writers' workshops, retreats, seminars and conferences. Inclusion in this column is not an endorsement.

What is the Harriette Austin Writers Conference?

In its 15 years the Harriette Austin Writers Conference (HAWC) has grown and changed from primarily a mystery/true crime themed conference to one that features all areas of writing, including romance, poetry and writing for children. The dates this year are Friday, July 18 and Saturday July 19 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on the University of Georgia campus.

The HAWC holds two sessions of three-hour Intensive Workshops on Friday. Each session has three topics from which you can choose. Saturday conference is a day of hour-long seminars. Each hour has eight seminars offered. In addition, you may submit a manuscript to be evaluated by one of the agents or editors present. (click here for manuscript guidelines)

Who makes up the faculty? (click here for HAWC faculty bios)


Keynote Speaker - Sharyn McCrumb, author of Once Around the Track
Dinner Speaker - Ralph McInerny - author of the Father Dowling mysteries series.

Doris Booth - Authorlink Literary Group
Andrea Brown - Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Barbara Casey - Barbara Casey Literary Agency
Zoe Fishman - Lowenstein-Yost Agency
Chip MacGregor - MacGregor Literary Agency
Cherry Weiner - Cherry Weiner Literary Agency

Tony Burton - editor/author - Wolfmont Press
Jane Friedman - editor - F+W Publications
Patrick LoBrutto - editor/author
Susan Mary Malone - Malone Editorial
Chris Roerden - editor
Brian Seidman - managing editor - NewSouth Books


Robert Alan Black - creativity expert
Andy Garrison - police procedural expert
Alex Graves - law enforcement expert
Ginny Stibolt -website for writers expert

Evelyn Coleman - children's author - White Socks Only
Susan Dansby - author/television writer - Guiding Light and other daytime dramas
Wally Eberhard - freelance writer/journalist
Darrell Huckaby - author/columnist - Need Two
Judy Iakovou - author - There Lies a Hidden Scorpion
Terry Kay - author - Taking Lottie Home
Tanya Michna - author - Necessary Arrangements
J.L. Miles - author - Roseflower Creek
Bobby Nash - cartoonist - Life in the Faster Lane
David Oates - poet/author
Frederick Smock - poet/author
Robert Vaughn - author - Brandywine's War
Dana Wildsmith - poet/author

How much might this cost you?


If you want to go to two Friday workshops and Saturday's conference it is $385 or $395 late registration after July 1. If you register before May 1, you can get a 10% discount. This two-day package includes lunches both days, Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and the conference dinner Saturday night. One Friday workshop is $80/$90, two is $145/$155. The Saturday Conference alone is $190/$195. Manuscript evaluations are $50.

Lodging at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education runs from $89-$99 plus 7% sales tax. Rooms are standard hotel style rooms with double, queen, king sized beds.

The Details:

HAWC - July 18-19, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia, Athens GA
Tuition - from $80 for single 3-hour workshop to $385 for a two workshops and the conference day. (10% discount if you register before May 1 - add $10 if registering after July 1)
Manuscript evaluations - $50 - deadline - June 1 (received) - click here for details
Lodging at the Georgia Center - hotel style rooms - $89-$99 plus tax