Some fast & furious updates: contests and conferences

 Sometime ago, I promised an update on the Writer's League of Texas manuscript contest. It's finally arrived! The contest is open now through July 10. This means winners will not be able to meet in-person with a literary agent during the WLT's 2026 Agents & Editors Conference June 26-28. More on this later.

First, though, this Saturday, April 4 is a chance to meet -- free! -- agent Sandy Lu of Book Wyrm Literary Agency. And, for writers in North Central Texas, without hours long travel.

Sandy Lu is the guest speaker at the Dallas Mystery Writers meeting, 10:15 a.m. to noon, at Olive Garden, 4240 Belt Line (at Midway) in Addison, Texas. OK, I said free, but there is a $10 fee (cash only, please bring small bills) for non-members for the program and drinks-only attendees. The fee is reduced to $5 (again, cash only) for non-members staying for lunch. The program is followed by pay-your-own lunch, or just stay and break breadsticks with fellow writers.

As far as I can tell, Lu will not be available for book pitches at the meeting but see her site or contact james@gaskin.com for additional information. 

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Image: wikimedia commons

Back to the WLT manuscript contest. It's open for unpublished manuscripts by writers in or out of Texas, in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres. The winner in each category will meet virtually with a top literary agent (and the final judge in their category) via Zoom. All entrants who opt for a critique, whether winners or not, will receive feedback on their submissions from an experienced editor. 

All 2026 winners and finalists will be featured in the fourth edition of the WLT Inklist, a catalog of short pitches shared with literary agents and book editors in Fall 2026.

Manuscript entry fees are $65 for WLT members/$85 for nonmembers (which includes a written critique. Fees for contestants who opt out of written critiques are $25 for WLT members, $35 for nonmembers.

Contestants may enter as many categories as they like, with up to four entries per category. Each entry requires separate payment and entry form.

Winners and finalists will be notified by mid-October 2026. Any submissions that include a critique will receive their written feedback by mid-September 2026. After winners and finalists are notified, all other submissions will receive emails of the judging results.

Again, refer to the site for additional details, formatting rules, categories, etc.

Also, see the WLT site for information about its Agents & Editors Conference in Austin, Texas, including a list of featured agents and editors. Registration: $549 for WLT members, $599 for nonmembers. Pitch/consultation sessions with literary agents and editors available for purchase as space allows. 

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Also coming up later this year is the DFW Writers Conference, October 3-4, at the Hurst Convention Center, Hurst, Texas. Registration through September 20 is $449 for both days. Registration includes one complimentary session with a literary agent or editor. See the site for additional information and list of agents/editors so far!

Updates for Texas summer literary events and beyond

 Mark your calendars for summer literary events -- and previews of some beyond summer -- coming up fast!

May 15-18: The annual Dallas Is Lit! festival sponsored by the Dallas Writer's Garret opens this Thursday (May 15) with Hear Me, See Me, a blend of poetry, music and movement at The Oak Cliff Assembly, 919 Morrell Ave., in Dallas. 7 p.m. Tickets $25. See the site for details and ticket purchases.

Dallas Is Lit! continues at 7 p.m. Friday (May 16) with former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo in conversation with Jodi Voice Yellowfish at the historic Texas Theatre, 231 Jefferson Blvd., in Dallas. Harjo is the first Indigenous person to hold the national poet laureate title. Tickets from $35. See the site for details.

While you're still at the Texas Theatre (yep, the place where JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested) follow Harjo's appearance with Late Night Lit, featuring spoken word artists and the first ever Dallas Is Lit! poetry slam. At 10 p.m. Tickets $25.

Additional events continue through Sunday, May 18. See the Writer's Garret site for details and locations.

May 24: The Writer's League of Texas Big Writer Meet-Up hits nine cities across the state from 3-5 p.m. These in-person events and free and open to all, intended to bring as many writers together as possible. No formal program, but games, conversation and community. See the site to register and for additional details.

June 11-July 30: Sometimes all we want during a Texas summer is to sit in a cool place and let someone else do the heavy lifting. That's the idea behind the Rejebian Series of book reviews.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Come to the Wesley Hall auditorium at Highland Park UMC, 3300 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, for talks by Texas writers and book reviewers. No fees and no reservations needed unless you opt for dinner. Books writing by speakers will be available for purchase on the nights of their event. See the site for complete list of speakers/authors, optional dinner reservations, and more.

June 13-14: On the other hand, what's a summer in Texas without a hotter than hell outdoor event? Like the annual Howard Days festival honoring Robert E. Howard, the early 20th century Texas inventor of Conan the Barbarian and more legendary literary heroes.

It's held in Howard's hometown of Cross Plains, Texas, with celebrations at his home (now the Robert Erwin Howard Museum, 625 SW St.) and around town. Mostly free or opt for the Friday night (June 13) banquet and silent auction for $25. (Note: make banquet reservations pronto -- Howard fans literally come from all over the world for this event!). The Cross Plains Review office gives fans a glimpse of the 1930's newspaper office where Howard briefly worked. The Cross Plains Library houses a growing Howardian collection. And the Cross Plains branch of the U.S. Postal Service offers an HD souvenir with a unique Howard Days cancellation stamp. 

See the site for additional information and to register for the banquet.

July 11: As mentioned previously, this is the deadline for entries for the Writer's League of Texas manuscript contest. Use the online form to submit approximately the first 10 pages (not more than 2,750 words) of a fiction or nonfiction manuscript in any of several genres. Writers do not need a completed manuscript but should also attach a synopsis descripting the rest of the planned book.

Winners in all categories will meet virtually with a top literary agent (the final judge in their category) via Zoom. All entrants, winners or not, have the option of written feedback from an experienced editor.

Fees: $75 for Writer's League members, $95 for nonmembers who request the written critique. $35 members/$75 nonmembers without critique,

See the site for online submission forms and additional information. 

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Beyond summer, there are still events, but check deadlines and updates for the following:

Aug. 6: That's the deadline for manuscript entries for the horror/fantasy/sci-fi writing workshop of Austin's ArmadilloCon. Dates for the convention itself have been (mercifully) pushed back to September 12-14. But our fellow writers will need time to read and critique each other's offerings before then! As always, at Southpark Hotel, 4140 Governors Row, Austin.

Check the general site for basics, some of which are still sketchy. Then follow the link for entry fees to the entire convention, including the workshop, as well as detailed instructions for writers.

Sept. 27-28: AuthorPalooza, sponsored by the Houston Writers Guild, has been moved from its previously announced date of the first week in October due to a scheduling conflict. See the HWG site for details.