Young adult and children writing workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing specifically for teens and children, and/or question-and-answer sessions about writing for teens and children.
 

In the past we have had young adult and children writing workshops such as “YA Fiction: Writing for Teens: The Crossover Novel,” “Writing for Children & Young Adults,” and “Writing for Children: the picture book.”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/ genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Many writing techniques, concepts, and style improvement ideas are suitable for both fiction and creative non-fiction, including novel, memoir, travel writing, short story, and so on. Use this workshop category if your topic would be useful for writers in any prose genre.

In the past we have offered workshops such as "Strengthen Your Writing with Compelling Scenes," "Precise Language: Choosing the Right Word," and "Making Your Dialogue Come Alive."

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Fiction workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing fiction, and/or question-and-answer sessions about fiction writing. (There are separate categories for Short Story and YA/Children's books.) 

In the past we have had fiction workshops such as “Creating and Developing Characters in your Novel,” “Writing the Unreliable Narrator,” and “The Scene as the Basic Building Block of Fiction.” 

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate proposals. They can be in the same category / genre or different category / genre.

Mast Classes may be three-hour or six-hour classes on any of the same topics presented at 90-minute workshops, e.g., fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. 

In the past we have had Master Classes such as “Hinges, Swerves and Voltas: How Poems Move," "The Inside Story: How to Make Your Memoir Pop," and "Beyond Conflict: Sources of Narrative Drive in Fiction."

 Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate proposals. They can be in the same category / genre or different category / genre.

Memoir writing workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing nonfiction, and/or question-and-answer sessions about nonfiction writing.
 

In the past we have had memoir writing workshops such as “Telling the Truth in Memoir,” “Biography: The Antidote to Memoir,” and "Using the Tools of Journalism to Write the Memoir."

Our personal writing workshops have included: “Journaling as creative discovery,” "Personal Essay: The Transformative Power of Writing Practice," and “Personal Writing: Writing Your Heart Out.”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Nonfiction/Creative Nonfiction workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing nonfiction, and/or question-and-answer sessions about nonfiction writing. (There are separate categories for Memoir and Personal Writing.)

In the past we have had nonfiction workshops such as “Your Nonfiction Writing: Capture and Keep Interest From the First to the Last Page,” “The Art Of Vivid Description,” and “ Nonfiction: Thin Sentences vs. Rich, Aromatic Prose.”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre.

Pleasures of reading workshops are aimed at the general reading public, not necessarily writers only. They usually explore a specific author or category of writing such as Mexican literature. They are not writing skills workshops, but rather workshops where a reader can come to a better understanding about a certain subject through literature. Please choose this category for proposals about discussions of specifics book(s), author(s) or categories of literature.

In the past we have had pleasures of reading workshops such as “Reading Literature About Mexico by Authors From Both Sides of the Border,” “The Pleasures of Reading: Reading Like a Writer,” and “The Pleasures of Reading: The Odes of John Keats.

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category / genre or different category / genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Poetry workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing poetry, and/or question-and-answer sessions about poetry writing.

In the past we have had poetry workshops such as “Wild Writing: The Dharma of Poetry,” “Assembling Your Poetry Manuscript,” and “Discovery: Writing at the Edge.”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category / genre or different category / genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Publishing and marketing workshops teach techniques for getting published, finding an agent, marketing a book, and new technologies in literature (social media, e-books, etc). These are not writing workshops, but rather workshops that teach writers skills that will help them disseminate their work to the public. 

In the past we have had publishing and marketing workshops such as “Ninja Marketing: Create your own video book trailer,” “Publication Strategies for the Contemporary Market,” “The E-Book Revolution and How E-Publishing Affects You,” and “Dominating Social Media: How to market yourself to the masses.”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Screenplay and playwriting workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique of writing screenplays and plays, and/or question-and-answer sessions about writing screenplays and plays.

In the past we have had screenplay and playwriting workshops such as “The Playwright’s Toolbox,” “The Big Ten: Writing the Ten-Minute Play,” and “Screenplay Writing: So You Think Your Life’s A Movie – Reel Magic!”

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Travel writing workshops usually include one or more of the following: hands-on writing exercises, a lecture about the technique and challenges of travel writing, and/or question-and-answer sessions.
 

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/ genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

The “Other Workshop” category is for workshops that do not fit into any of the categories above. Before submitting in this category, please look through each of the above categories and make sure your proposal does not pertain to one of them. 

If you are proposing a topic that has to do with the literary industry such as finding an agent, publishing an e-book, or using social media to find an audience, you should use the “Publishing & Marketing” category.

If you are proposing a writing workshop, you should submit your proposal through one of the writing categories above (fiction, personal writing, poetry, etc.). 

Note: It is our policy that all our faculty teach two or more workshops. We ask that all faculty presenting proposals submit at least two separate workshop proposals. They can be in the same category/genre or different category/genre. Panels are not considered one of your two workshop proposals.

Special topic panels usually involve three or more people who are experts in a specific field. Panels are usually one hour to one-and-a-half hours long. Topics can range from literature to publishing to issues such as “women in writing,” “bilingual writers,” etc. 

We are always open to new ideas for panels, but usually we do panels about writing, the literary industry, and authors discussing a specific topic. 

In the past we have had panels such as “Publishing and Marketing Panel: When You Need a Literary Agent and How to Connect with the Right One for You,” “Special Topic Panel: Women Write Their Lives,” and “Special Topic: Global Migration Panel.”

Thank you for your interest in participating in the San Miguel Writers' Conference as a Literary Agent in Residence. 

As an Agent in Residence you will be considered part of our faculty. As such, we ask that you teach at least one 90- minute workshop and participate in on our Agents' Panel. (If you're interested in teaching a second workshop, that would be great, too.) 

We also ask that you do individual 15-minute consultations.