by Amy Lutz, MCWC Operations Manager
The 2020 Conference was moved online out of necessity, and we approached our first-ever virtual event with no small amount of anxiety and concern. But after the incredible success of MCWC 2020, we are heading into this year’s online event full of excitement, now well-acquainted with the benefits of the virtual format, which makes it possible for us to bring MCWC to a community of writers stretching across the country and around the world.
We are kicking off MCWC 2021 with the launch of our new online magazine, the Noyo Review. This magazine features writers from MCWC 2020, including Keynote Speaker Elissa Washuta’s incredible essay “Why Though?”, which she delivered as the closing address at MCWC 2020. We are thrilled to offer these great pieces of writing in a new online format and will be celebrating the magazine with a launch party this Sunday, July 25, at 3pm PDT. We hope you all will join us! Register here for the Noyo Review Launch Party.
Flyer credit: Georgina Marie
This month’s blogpost will focus on how you can get the most out of a virtual MCWC, whether you’re attending as a registered participant or joining as a community member for our public events.
If you’re not registered for MCWC:
Our faculty readings on Thursday and Friday evenings are open to the public. These readings have always been popular with Mendocino locals. Now they are available to anyone, anywhere! We hope you will join us for a medley of readings from the MCWC 2021 faculty.
Thursday, August 5, 5:30 PM PDT
Enjoy readings presented by emerging writers’ workshop instructor Sam Krowchenko, novelist Lillian Li, memoirist Krys Malcolm Belc, middle grade/young adult novelist Alex Sanchez, and nonfiction workshop instructor Susan Rivecca.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsce2rrTgsHNcdlRA4iLDKo0VYMNSNHsk5
Friday August 6, 5:30 PM PDT
Enjoy readings presented by speculative fiction novelist Alaya Dawn Johnson, short fiction instructor Chris Dennis, poet Saretta Morgan, novelist Torrey Peters, and keynote speaker Wendy C. Ortiz.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsce2rrTgsHNcdlRA4iLDKo0VYMNSNHsk5
Looking for more? Check out the recordings from our Winter Publishing Series or our Spring Generative Series. Recordings can be purchased for individual events, as well as discounted bundles of three or five events of your choice.
If you’re registered for MCWC 2021:
This year promises to be another weekend packed full of writing craft and community. Here’s some tips for making the most of MCWC offerings:
Sign up for afternoon events. When you receive the program the week before the conference, you’ll receive a link to sign up for the Blind Critique, the Pitch Panel, and the Open Mics. We encourage you to put your name in the hat for any events that interest you. Please keep in mind that writers will be chosen at random, and that not everyone can be chosen for reasons of time limitation. For Blind Critique, please prepare the first 200 words of the piece on which you’d like to receive feedback. For Open Mic, you will have two minutes to read from your work. For the Pitch Panel, you will have two minutes to speak to the panel of agents. Watch your inbox for the signup form for these events!
Don’t forget to take breaks. The program will list which events are recorded, so make a note of the times you can spend some time away from your computer and plan to watch the recording later.
Add a twenty-minute, one-on-one consultation with one of our faculty members to complete your conference experience. We are allowing consultations to be booked during the conference this year, pending faculty availability. If you enjoy a particular speaker or panelists during the conference, see if they have open consultation spots and register here: mcwc.org/2021-consultations
Have fun shopping our virtual bookstore to support our beloved Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino. You can also pick up some MCWC swag through our store on Bonfire, featuring artwork by Mendocino local Deth P. Sun.
We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of support we received throughout the difficulties of the last year. MCWC 2021 would not be possible without the generosity of our donors. We hope we will be able to gather on the Coast next year to thank everyone properly. Keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates on MCWC 2022!