Vintage

You missed it!

The 2008 Backspace Writers Conference is over, but the 2009 conference is scheduled for

May 28 & 29, 2009 at the Radisson Martinique in New York city.

 For information on the 2009 conference program as it develops, send your email address to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 The 2008 Backspace Writers Conference brought together literary agents, acquisitions editors, best-selling authors, and publishing professionals for a two-day, two-track program of workshops, panels, and networking in the heart of the publishing world.  

Thanks to all of the speakers and conference attendees who made the conference a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

Here's what a few first-time attendees had to say:

"Warm, intimate, informative and supportive, the Backspace Writers Conference is everything any writer (published or not) could want. As a panelist, I was amazed at the comradery of writers who had just met, and the sparks ouR group conversation enabled. As an attendee, I was thrilled by the stimulating panels, which, by the way, were also, a whole lot of fun." -- Caroline Leavitt, book columnist for The Boston Globe and Dame Magazine, and author of GIRLS IN TROUBLE and BREATHE

"The Backspace conference experience is entirely unique. The atmosphere is alive with buzzing friendships and the comfortable acceptance of other professionals and novices out to share stories, advice, and lots of support. It's a conversational, easy place, which allows time for everybody to explore the serious and often troubling issues around writing and publishing without fear or intimidation or even hierarchical competitiveness. A dream for those who want to mix and mingle feeling safe to bring up just about any theme around writing, the market, exposing oneself to the business, and the craft. I can't praise the Backspace staff enough for setting this ambiance and making it work. It's no simple task to gather writers and participants together in mutual respect and communion. Backspace's welcome extends far beyond the initial registration and seminars, it's a lasting pleasure for every participant, stocked with new acquaintances and old, all there to help, listen, and (when possible) even offer a word or two of good guidance." -- Leora Skolkin-Smith, author of the novel EDGES

"I'm so glad I ditched [large, well-known genre convention] for Backspace!" -- conference registrant

Check out the pictures of the 2008 conference courtesy of Carolyn Burns Bass, then sign up for the mailing list for the 2009 conference.

"Unquestionably the best of all writers’ conferences, this two-day annual conference has leaped to the top with its emphasis on quality, not quantity. No more than 200 novelists can attend, and there are no formal pitch sessions. Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to attend quality workshops and mingle with some of the best editors, agents and other publishing professionals in the industry in a comfortable, non-aggressive atmosphere." -- BiblioBuffet