Post-pandemic writing conferences and contests revive

Are we experiencing a break in the pandemic clouds? So many literary events have restarted since my last posting, I'm in a hurry to catch up. Here's a rundown of Texas-centric in-person events for late summer into fall as well as virtual events and contests open no matter where you live:

July 23: Writers loved last year's virtual conference of the Historical Novel Society North America so much, the society announces a one-day virtual event this Saturday (July 23). Registration is $49, closing July 22. See the site for details.

Now-July 31: DL Hammons' reader-favorite WRiTE CLUB contest has had suffered from a decline in entries during the last two years of the COVID pandemic, and numbers this year were not sufficient to support the contest as envisioned. Here's hoping for a return for 2023!

August 5-7: ArmadilloCon, a science fiction/fantasy convention, will be in-person at Austin Southpark Hotel, Austin, Texas. Registration $65. Entries for the writing workshop are closed but still plenty of chances to meet and hear some of the best science fiction and fantasy writers in the business.

Now - September 30: L. Ron Hubbard's season Writers of the Future Contest for new writers of science fiction and fantasy. No entry fee, cash prizes. See the site for details.

September 16-18: FenCon, the Dallas-area science fiction/fantasy convention returns in-person at the Sheraton DFW Airport hotel, In Irving Texas. Early bird memberships for adults are $45 through September 1. FenCon will not hold its usual writing workshop this year (2022) but holds out hope for 2023.

October 8-9: Also returning in-person (for the first time in three years) is the DFW Writers Conference at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas. Three-day registration through September 15 is $399 which includes one free pitch session to an agent or editor. Details about agents/editors and classes still to come.

Upcoming:

October 1-mid-November: Dallas-based Carve Magazine's Prose & Poetry Contest offers winners cash prizes and publication. I'll update as more information comes available.

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Some of my favorite contests and events bit the dust for reasons pandemic or otherwise. Pitch Wars and Twitter-fav PitMad are no more. The Writers Guild of Texas has yet to post its annual fall flash fiction contest, although I still have hopes of seeing it now that the Guild is meeting in-person. Writers Organzations 'Round Dallas WordFest event also seems to be on hiatus, although it managed a virtual event earlier in the pandemic.

I'll be back closer to fall to see what goodies cooler weather may bring to life. In the meantime, a number of sites are always available online and always free to search for contests and other writing events:

Reedsy offers a pick of 2022's best writing contests, searchable by genre.

Arthur Klepchukov's seasonal listings, now of Fiction Writing Contests Worth Your Time in Summer 2022 are always worthwhile.

Erica Verrillo's continues her monthly gathering of conferences, contests, publishers and agents at Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.

Ralan.com also offers searchable listings of writing outlets, including contests.

(Updated to show cancellation of WRiTE CLUB contest.)