Are you headed to the AWP Conference & Bookfair (March 4-7, 2026)?
If so, I’d love to see you there and say hello. This will be my third AWP as a moderator or panelist. Last year I gave my TEDx Talk in Boston, during the conference in LA.
If you haven’t been to the AWP Conference & Bookfair, it is the largest (read: potentially overwhelming) conference of people in the literary world (editors, writers, authors, independent publishers, and teachers) in the United States. When I say overwhelming, I’m talking over 10,000 people. You can still get a ticket to the event (pricing is $75 for most students and $380 for non-AWP members). There is also a $25 Saturday-only rate. Find out more here.
I will also be walking around the conference, definitely checking out the book fair, and visiting with writer friends and colleagues. But I will also be protecting my energy, by taking time to rest, recharge, and think.
My Panel
I’m very excited about moderating this session:
Double Exposure: Writing, Submitting & Publishing in Literary/Mainstream Outlets
What separates an essay destined for The Sun, Electric Literature, or Fourth Genre from one accepted at The New York Times or The Cut? Writers are often told these are two separate worlds: literary and mainstream. But many writers move between them, and the reality is more nuanced.
This panel looks at how essays, reported pieces, and hybrid work shift depending on venue, audience, and intention. We’ll talk concretely about how writers decide where a piece belongs, how voice and structure change across platforms, what editors rarely say out loud about submissions and pitching, and how to build a strategy that is sustainable rather than prestige-driven.
We’ll share real submission examples, revision pivots, and behind-the-scenes editorial insight, and we’ll leave time for practical takeaways and audience questions.
- Time: Friday, March 6, 2026 / 10:35 AM-11:50 AM
- Location: Room 310, Level 300, Baltimore Convention Center
- Speakers: Katie Henken Robinson (Deputy Editor, Electric Literature), Dionne Ford and Dennis Sweeney. Moderator: Estelle Erasmus
I will have a handout available directly on my website with resources from our session.
I’m also a mentor in the writer to mentor program. And if you don’t know her yet, my mentee Julia Beckmann will one day make a splash in the publishing world. And the video I made for AWP’s career corner: Podcasting Made Easy is available to all.
Other resources
- Freelance Writing Direct: With over 180 episodes, this is a true path to demystifying every aspect of publishing. Key episodes include Cheryl Strayed, Lisa Sharkey of HarperInfluence, Ann Hood, Abigail Thomas, and my co-panelist Dennis Sweeney.
- Writing That Gets Noticed Substack: With info derived from my editor-on-call events with Slate, the New York Times and more, and opportunities for my subscribers, this is a fountain of information on craft and publishing advice.
- Writing That Gets Noticed: Named a Best Book for Writers by Best Book for Writers by Poets & Writers, this guide breaks down exactly how to craft work that stands out in both literary and mainstream venues. Many of the strategies we’ll discuss on the panel come directly from its framework.
- TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond
If you’re thinking about visibility, platform, and commanding attention across venues, this talk builds on many of the same ideas about craft and presence we’ll be discussing at AWP.
I hope to see you there. If you’re attending, put my panel on your schedule and stop by to say hello.
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