Photos by Mimi Carroll
WE DID IT!
For our 34th Annual Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference, we were grateful to be able to convene again in person!
We had a joyful and inspiring three days of workshops, seminars, open mics, and readings that carried on great MCWC traditions and brought many new writers and friends into our inclusive writing community.
Ariel Gore with Bryan Liu - photo by: Mimi Carroll
We send resounding gratitude for our 2023 faculty: Annie DeWitt, Ariel Gore, Tobi Harper, Rachel Howzell Hall, Q. Terah Jackson, Muriel Leung, Emily Lloyd-Jones, Margaret Malone, Sarah McColl, Nayomi Munaweera, Ploi Pirapokin, Daniel B. Summerhill, and Carvell Wallace.
Michelle Peñaloza at a Faculty Reading - photo by: Mimi Carroll
We can’t forget to mention the incredible food options provided by The Brickery, Pilón Kitchen, Harvest Market, and our Board and dedicated team of volunteers.
Michelle Peñaloza, Eliana Yoneda, Sage Andersen, Laura Welter and Beulah Vega - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
We had the pleasure of hosting 100 participants who came from as far as London, 20% of whom were scholarship recipients.
Scholarship Winners - photo by: Mimi Carroll
Here is what some of our 2023 participants are saying about the conference:
"I find the content, location, and community inspire me as a writer and hope to keep returning and bringing other writer friends of me."
"Excellent conference again this year and a great setting for both experienced and newbie writers to come together."
"I'm grateful for the kindness and care that are expressed from your staff, faculty and volunteers. It really is a feel good event that celebrates writers, and for that I am most grateful! See you next year!"
Emerging Writers Workshop - photo by: Mimi Carroll
We couldn’t have done this without our participants, faculty, volunteers, donors, and sustaining members.
Photo by: Mimi Carroll
Our Executive Director, Lisa Locascio Nighthawk, and Operations Manager, Patty West, planned this year's conference with the dedicated support of the Board of Directors, Georgina Marie Guardado, Laura Welter, Anna Levy, Amy Lutz, Eliana Yoneda, Michelle Peñaloza, and Justine Gomes (not pictured).
Photo by: Mimi Carroll
Save the Date!
Photo by: Mimi Carroll
We are already looking forward to next year when the 2024 Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference will run from August 1-3, 2024. We are delighted to announce that we have already confirmed nine faculty members for 2024.
Stay tuned for more faculty news and updates this fall!
FREE ONLINE SEMINAR!
GETTING PUBLISHED: FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FIRST BOOK!
Saturday, September 16
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. PT
Publishing professional and editor, Tobi Harper, will discuss the landscape of the publishing industry and the process from writing your first draft to the final printed book through editing, acquisitions, contracts, production, design, marketing, and publicity. Building your literary career is a process filled with opportunities to be taken and rejections to be overcome. Learn which opportunities are best for you and understand the industry better so as not to take rejections personally. Everybody can get a book published, it’s just a matter of what you want to accomplish and how you want to get there.
Meet the Contest Winners!
Every year, MCWC hosts a writing contest in which all conference participants are encouraged to submit. The winners had the opportunity to read at this year's conference and will be considered for publication in the The Noyo Review. See this year's winners below:
Short Story Winner Phannarai Inkun - photo by: Mimi Carroll
MEMOIR
First Place - Anniqua Rana
Second Place - Monica Olsen-Stein
Third Place - Laura Guidry
Honorable Mention - Jade Sanchez-Ventura
MG/YA
First Place - Doug Henderson
Second Place - Melanie Jones
Third Place - Edie Lau
NONFICTION
First Place - Kira Witkin
NOVEL
First Place - Pete Peterson
Second Place - Amy Berkowitz
Third Place - Isabel Auerbach
Honorable Mention - Russell Silver
POETRY
First Place - antmen pimentel mendoza
Second Place - Lauren Oertel
Third Place - Alia Ayer
Honorable Mention - Shelby May
SHORT STORY
First Place - Phannarai Inkun
Second Place - Meghana Mysore
Third Place - K.X. Song
Honorable Mention - Agatha Hinman
SPECULATIVE FICTION
First Place - Tian Yi
Second Place - Tom Adams
Third Place - Ron Morita
Poetry Winner antmen pimentel mendoza and Memoir Winner Anniqua Rana - photo by: Mimi Carroll