Surrey International Writers' Conference
Encyclopedia
The Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) is held every October in Surrey, British Columbia
, Canada. “To inspire, educate and motivate aspiring and experienced writers alike” has been the goal of the Surrey International Writers’ Conference since its inception. The conference is conducted on a not-for-profit basis and is planned, organized and run by a volunteer board, conference coordinator, and many volunteers.
, Catherine Coulter
, Jennifer Crusie
, Robert Dugoni, Hallie Ephron
, Diana Gabaldon
, Annabel Lyon
, Phillip Margolin
, Robert McCammon, Jacqueline Mitchard, Anne Perry
, Mary Jo Putney
, Karen Robards
, John Saul
, Robert J. Sawyer
, Michael Slade
, Meg Tilly, Jack Whyte
.
The conference first took place at Johnson Heights Secondary School and was attended by just over 100 people. The organizers considered it a success and began planning for an even bigger and better conference the following year. The second conference moved to the Sheraton Guildford Hotel, where it has remained ever since, and featured best-selling author Maeve Binchey as a keynote speaker, arranged in cooperation with the Vancouver Writers’ Festival. The conference continued to grow in its third year but took off in its fourth year when Diana Gabaldon became involved. She liked what the conference was attempting to accomplish and has remained its champion ever since, as have many other best-selling authors and noted editors and agents.
In 2001, the ninth conference saw the addition of Thursdays as a pre-conference day of Master Classes. On the tenth anniversary of the conference in 2002, the growth and reach of the conference was recognized by including ‘international’ in the official title to become the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.
The conference operated as an extension of the Surrey School District’s Continuing Education department as a non-profit event from its inception up to and including the 2010 conference. It now operates as a not-for-profit society, the Surrey International Writers' Conference Society.
Presenters have come from as far away as Japan and Scotland while attendees hail from as far away as South America, Europe and Australia.
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, Canada. “To inspire, educate and motivate aspiring and experienced writers alike” has been the goal of the Surrey International Writers’ Conference since its inception. The conference is conducted on a not-for-profit basis and is planned, organized and run by a volunteer board, conference coordinator, and many volunteers.
Next Conference
The 2012 Conference will be held on October 19, 20, and 21, 2012. Master Classes will be held on October 18.Conference Format
- Workshops. Over 60 workshops are offered over the three days. Attendees can attend any of the workshops on the days they register for. Workshops generally run 1.5 hours; some are split into 2 parts for a total of 3 hours. Sunday workshops are slightly shorter.
- Master Classes. On the day before the main conference starts, in-depth, three-hour master classes are offered in a variety of topics.
- Editor/Agent Interviews. Various Editors and Agents are available for one-on-one pitch appointments throughout the 3-day conference as part of the attendee registration fees.
- Blue Pencil Cafe. Speakers are available for 15-minute one-on-one appointments throughout the 3-day conference, providing attendees with a chance to ask a professional writer questions in an informal setting.
- Trade Show. The Trade Show features a large selection of books (a bookstore plus many authors), writing organizations, computer programs, and small press magazines.
- Saturday Evening Author Signing and Book Fair. All of the conference's presenting authors participate in this event. As well, other published writers are invited to attend to sell and sign their books. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Speakers
The extensive list of past presenters includes many award-winning authors, including: Terry BrooksTerry Brooks
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print...
, Catherine Coulter
Catherine Coulter
Catherine Coulter is an American author of romantic suspense thrillers and historical romances who currently resides in Northern California with her husband Anton Pogany.-Early years:...
, Jennifer Crusie
Jennifer Crusie
Jennifer Crusie is a pseudonym for Jennifer Smith, a bestselling and award winning author of contemporary romance novels. She has written over 15 novels, which have been published in 20 countries.-Biography:...
, Robert Dugoni, Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron
Hallie Ephron is an American novelist, book reviewer, journalist, and writing teacher. She is the author of six acclaimed novels. Her novel Never Tell a Lie was a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and won the David Award for Best Novel of 2009...
, Diana Gabaldon
Diana Gabaldon
Diana J. Gabaldon is an American author of Mexican-American and English ancestry. Gabaldon is the author of the Outlander Series. Her books they contain elements of romantic fiction, historical fiction, mystery, adventure, and science fiction.-Early life and science career:Diana J. Gabaldon was...
, Annabel Lyon
Annabel Lyon
Annabel Lyon is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She's published two collections of short fiction, two young adult novels, and an adult historical novel, The Golden Mean.-Life and work:...
, Phillip Margolin
Phillip Margolin
-Biography:Phillip Margolin was born in New York City in 1944. After receiving a B.A. in Government in 1965, from American University in Washington, D.C., he worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia until 1967...
, Robert McCammon, Jacqueline Mitchard, Anne Perry
Anne Perry
Anne Perry is an English author of historical detective fiction. Perry was convicted of the murder of her friend's mother in 1954.-Early life:Born Juliet Marion Hulme in Blackheath, London, the daughter of Dr...
, Mary Jo Putney
Mary Jo Putney
Mary Jo Putney is a best-selling American author of over twenty-five historical and contemporary romance novels. She has also been published fantasy romance novels as M.J. Putney. Her books are known for their unusual subject matter, including alcoholism, death, and domestic...
, Karen Robards
Karen Robards
Karen Robards is a best-selling author of over thirty romance novels. After first gaining recognition for her historical romances, Robards became one of the first historical romance novelists to successfully make the switch to contemporary romantic fiction...
, John Saul
John Saul
John Saul is an American author of suspense and horror novels. Most of his books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List.-Biography:...
, Robert J. Sawyer
Robert J. Sawyer
Robert James Sawyer is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 20 novels published, and his short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Amazing Stories, On Spec, Nature, and many anthologies. Sawyer has won over forty awards for his fiction, including the Nebula Award ,...
, Michael Slade
Michael Slade
Michael Slade is the pen name of Canadian novelist Jay Clarke, a lawyer who has participated in more than 100 criminal cases and who specializes in criminal insanity. Before Clarke entered law school, his undergraduate studies focused on history...
, Meg Tilly, Jack Whyte
Jack Whyte
Jack Whyte is a Scottish-Canadian novelist of historical fiction. Born and raised in Scotland, Whyte has been living in Canada since 1967. He resides in Kelowna, British Columbia....
.
Writing Contest
The SiWC Writing Contest is held annually in conjunction with the conference. Categories are Storyteller's (short story), Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Writing for Young People. Prizes awarded to the winners at the awards ceremony on the first evening of the conference. First place in each category wins $1000, honorable mentions $150.Winners and honorable mentions are published in an anthology of winning entries.History
The Surrey Writers’ Conference began in 1993 as the brainchild of Ed Griffin, Ursula Maxwell-Lewis, Carol Monaghan and Elisa Carlson.The conference first took place at Johnson Heights Secondary School and was attended by just over 100 people. The organizers considered it a success and began planning for an even bigger and better conference the following year. The second conference moved to the Sheraton Guildford Hotel, where it has remained ever since, and featured best-selling author Maeve Binchey as a keynote speaker, arranged in cooperation with the Vancouver Writers’ Festival. The conference continued to grow in its third year but took off in its fourth year when Diana Gabaldon became involved. She liked what the conference was attempting to accomplish and has remained its champion ever since, as have many other best-selling authors and noted editors and agents.
In 2001, the ninth conference saw the addition of Thursdays as a pre-conference day of Master Classes. On the tenth anniversary of the conference in 2002, the growth and reach of the conference was recognized by including ‘international’ in the official title to become the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.
The conference operated as an extension of the Surrey School District’s Continuing Education department as a non-profit event from its inception up to and including the 2010 conference. It now operates as a not-for-profit society, the Surrey International Writers' Conference Society.
Presenters have come from as far away as Japan and Scotland while attendees hail from as far away as South America, Europe and Australia.