Is there a rainbow at the pandemic's end?

 While some spent the pandemic binging Netflix, I binged on-line writing conferences. After logging two virtual conferences this summer and finding a new critique group through one of them, I happily signed up for what I expected to be in-person conferences this fall. Then, COVID struck again. And though there's still a lot to report from the virtual Historical Novel and Thrillerfest gatherings, updates on the coming season take precedent.

Readers may have already heard that Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, has been cancelled for 2021. I had been surprised enough to learn, as I reported two months ago, that Bouchercon's organizers were determined to meet in person this August, after going virtual in 2020. But with the conference's scheduled site of New Orleans, Louisiana, experiencing some of the country's highest infection rates, and the cost of going virtual at such a late date proved prohibitive, even murder and mayhem fans called it quits.

If you registered for Bouchercon, you should have received a notice about the refund of your registration fee. Bouchercon is scheduled to return to New Orleans in 2025, the convention's first open date. Meanwhile, we can all hope 2022's version, scheduled for Minneapolis, will go forward.

So, were do literary conferences go from here? A number of conferences normally held during the summer have moved to autumn dates, leading to an unusually crowded late-year calendar. Some are still in-person, some virtual, others -- a mix!

Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

September 17-19: The Writers League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference in Austin, Texas, had already planned a move to fall. Then, even before the Bouchercon cancellation, I received an email from the Writers League announcing new protocols. As of this writing, the September conference is still an in-person event but with more limited registration. And there's an option for a virtual format.

Both in-person and virtual registrations include a complimentary consultation with an agent or editor. Attendees registering in-person may opt for a face to face consultation or a virtual one. In-person attendees are required to mask, and those opting for in-person consultations must present proof of full vaccination. See the site for registration and additional information.

October 15-17: ArmadilloCon, the Austin, Texas, science fiction/fantasy convention, opted for a virtual format last year but returns in-person in 2021 at the Omni Southpark hotel. Its writing workshop, with critiques, craft and business-style panels, is scheduled for October 15. Registration and submission deadline for the workshop is September 3. See the site for details.

October 15-16: The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference returns in hybrid form. Events Friday (October 15) will be in-person at Interabang Books in Dallas. The all-day Saturday (October 16) programs will be conducted virtually. As always, Mayborn will include writing contests, with entries due September 15. See the site for details and registration.

October 23-24: DFWCon, the writing conference sponsored by the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Workshop, also normally a summer event, has moved to the fall. Although the group considered the possibility of a virtual conference, they decided to remain in-person, at the Hurst Convention Center, Hurst, Texas. This conference includes consultations with literary agents and editors. See the site for details.

October 25-28, 30-31: The Texas Book Festival opted for a hybrid format. October 25-28 events will be virtual, those for October 30-31 in-person at outdoor venues. Free, as always, for check the site for specifics.

November 4-7: The World Fantasy Convention bravely goes completely live, in Montreal, Canada. See the site for details and remember to check COVID-19 protocols( for international travel.

November 18-20: The RWA (Romance Writers of America) opted for a fully virtual conference. Check the site for details when registration opens September 1.

December 15-17: Finally, on my list of major literary conferences, is WorldCon, the international science fiction event. At this point, WorldCon plans an in-person conference in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned to the site for details.

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An email for the organization Writing Day Workshops Online also hit my in-box. I have not attended any of these conferences, but they include writing workshops and plentiful lineups of literary agents. Check out Online Chesapeake Writing Workshop September 10-11, Online Writing Workshop of San Francisco October 8-9, and Online North Carolina Writing Workshop November 13.

And as always, I recommend Erica Verrillo's Publishing. . . and Other Forms of Insanity blog for lists of conferences and much, much more!