Writer’s conference slated for Saturday

COLUMBIA — The Columbia chapter of the Missouri Writer’s Guild is hosting its annual “The Write Direction” conference on Saturday in conjunction with the Stephens College creative writing department. This year’s lineup of workshops features many topics, including marketing and the theory of crime fiction.

Chloie Piveral, who organized this year’s conference, was excited about the opportunities the conference will provide, both in workshops and in meeting other writers.

“I think it’s going to be a great conference this year,” Piveral said. “We have people coming from adjoining states this year. We have people coming from the four corners of the state.”

Piveral said screenwriting and playwriting workshops, led by Kate Berneking Kogut, are the first such workshops the conference has offered.

Richard B. Schwartz will deliver the keynote address on “Agents and Publishers: Paths Through the Thicket.” Schwartz, a former dean of MU’s College of Arts and Science and author of several novels, will also lead a session on crime fiction.

Those interested in attending should act quickly, though — registration information must be received by Thursday. The cost for non-members is $35.