Publishing in Color conferences foster relationships between writers of color and representatives from the spiritual publishing industry. Several acquisition editors will be here, looking for new writers of color. The conference is particularly focused on serving under-represented groups such as African Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
Connecting storytellers with editors and agents who can midwife them is the purpose of this conference. Bring your stories, learn about publishing, and meet many editors and agents who might help you take them to market. Not to mention a community of like-minded authors!
Is writing your calling? Listen to and speak with our caring and experienced group of industry veterans. #discernment
The conference will emphasize networking, relationship building, and learning “how to get published”. Participating companies will be accepting book proposals.
The main conference will take place on Saturday October 19, 2019, with a pre-conference seminar, “The Business of Being a Spiritual Writer” on Friday October 18 (separate registration required). Both the conference and the retreat will take place at Abingdon Press (the United Methodist Publishing House) at 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37228.
This is your chance to meet acquisition editors and other key representatives from:
- Abingdon Press
- HarperCollins
- Penguin Random House – Waterbrook / Convergent
- Thomas Nelson
- Westminster John Knox Press
- Upper Room Books
- Harambee Press
- Jevon Bolden, literary agent
Our featured author speakers are Saundra Dalton-Smith, Karynthia Phillips, and Micky ScottBey Jones.
A very special THANK YOU to our conference co-sponsor: Abingdon Press
Early bird registration for the main conference is only $99 (through September 15) and includes all conference sessions, 1-on-1 meetings, open mic, and refreshments. Attendee contact info will be provided to all attending industry representatives. Beginning September 16, regular price registration will be $129.
Registration Now Open! Click on this link to pay now (credit card, debit card, PayPal are accepted; all payments are processed through PayPal). After you pay, an email confirmation will be sent to the name and email address you enter into PayPal (or the one associated with your PayPal account) within 5 days. If you need to change the name and email address please let us know.
Click on the links below for additional information.
Conference speakers and participants
Also Included: 1-on-1 meetings, attendee contact info will be provided to all attending industry representatives, open mic, freebies!
“The Business of Being a Spiritual Writer” (separate registration required – only $89; additional 0.6 CEUs available) – Friday October 18
You may also be interested in our free download: “Getting The Most Out Of A Writers Conference”
By registering, all conference participants agree to abide by our Code of Conduct and Release Agreement.
Registration Now Open! Click on this link to pay now (credit card, debit card, PayPal are accepted; all payments are processed through PayPal). After you pay, an email confirmation will be sent to the name and email address you enter into PayPal (or the one associated with your PayPal account) within 5 days. If you need to change the name and email address please let us know.
A limited number of scholarships are available for the Nashville Publishing in Color conference on Saturday, October 19. These scholarships cover the cost of attendance but not travel nor lodging. They are intended for students and others who cannot afford the registration fee. You can apply for a scholarship here.
Writing for Your Life is pleased to offer 0.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for pastors for this writers’ conference. Writing for Your Life is the parent company of Publishing in Color and is a member of the Association of Leaders in Lifelong Learning for Ministry (formerly the Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry).
Profits from Publishing in Color conferences are donated to the Publishing in Color Scholarship Fund or to future Publishing in Color conference sponsorships.
All conference information is subject to change.
Comments from our previous conferences:
Check out this video, where one of our conference alums describes how a Publishing in Color conference helped her land a three book deal!
Al: My being present at this conference was a God Send! I was beyond inspired by all of…..EVERYTHING! So many wonderful writers and people, I am getting emotional just thinking about all of my wonderful encounters! My life has been changed…
Lorri: Thank you so much for a tremendous experience. This conference has opened up a significant new door in ministry for me.
[Name withheld for privacy]: Yesterday I was informed by Fortress Press that their senior leadership team voted to accept my book proposal. Contract and advance on the way! Thank you!
Monica: This event was truly amazing. Words are not enough to fully express the life changing impact that it had on me as an up and coming writer.
Chelle: The single most encouraging writing fellowship experience of my life. I cannot begin to thank you enough. I was blessed.
[Name withheld for privacy]: I am pleased to shared that one of the publishers at the conference has extended a long term publishing contract (5 book series) to me! My literary agent is preparing the contract as I write. I knew when I read the article about this inaugural writers conference that something good would happen. Thank you again for your vision…Kym: I was deeply inspired and delighted to be in the company of such fine people.
Richard: Had an amazing couple days at @publishincolor. Loved listening, learning, and contributing in whatever way I could. Met so many brilliant people, feeling very honored to have been a part of it.
Lisa: Thank you @publishincolor and @writing4urlife for an incredible two days. I’m energized by the conversations!
[Name withheld for privacy]: I have been selected as one of the winners of the Guideposts Magazine Writers Workshop contest which was advertised at the Publishing in Color Conference. What a privilege it was to attend the conference and network with so many wonderful writers, speakers, publishers, and agents. I would not have learned about this opportunity if you were not doing this great work.Donna: This conference was groundbreaking. It was not only the first of its kind, a much needed gathering of underrepresented writers, BUT every keynote, workshop, one-on-one, lunch conversation, business card exchange, and photograph taken broke up the soil in my writing that had begun to dry out and harden. I emerge from this conference with fresh soil ready to be tilled and cultivated to bear fruit.
Kem: Had the BEST time at #PIC2018! Awesome experience building relationships with writers, agents and publishers!
Lisa: One @publishincolor workshop presenter had me in tears, cue the music, pass the tissue; one of us whose heart for God has always been pure gold; writing exercise was lit, we were late getting food the creative fare was so yummy!
Shannon: @publishincolor Thank you for creating a fantastic conference for Black Christian writers. It was such an affirming and supportive environment for my mind and spirit. It felt like home.
Lisa: Ever cry so much your eyeballs hurt? That’s how I’m feeling heading home on train from @publishincolor — all were happy tears; deeply emotional being in such a spiritually charged, creative, COLORful space!
Carolyn: It was such a great conference. I was impressed and inspired by all the wonderful speakers and the folks I had a chance to chat with. Thank you for the wonderful work you did to make this happen. Truly- thank you.
Ed: Thank you so much. I’m still floating on cloud nine from this conference.
Bonetta: Just wanted to say Thank You So Much, for such a FABULOUS Spiritual Writer’s Conference. I have truly learned so much, met some truly amazing people and received a lot of great information. Just Wonderful. I am so glad I attended.
Lorri: This was so informative and self-acknowledging. It was a great experience and the conference for me was mind-blowing.
Maryam: Thank you for a wonderful conference!
Francine: I thoroughly enjoyed the conference. It was very insightful and encouraging. I am confident that the Lord has ordered my steps. And significant relationships and connects are being established as a result of the conference.
Jacqueline: I wanted to express my gratitude while the memories are still fresh! Thank you for all of your hard work in not only assembling a stellar list of publishing professionals but attracting a great group of conferees to attend the conference. As a conferee, I benefited from both. May God bless you for your sacrifice of time and energy for putting it all together! I will be sure to let you know how God is working in my life and the lives of others after attending this stellar event!
Lisa: For two days, I received the visual and auditory proof. Indeed, it soon became clear from things I saw and heard that there is genuine interest in publishing more ethnic voices.
Lynne: This was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.
Frank: It has been amazingly successful and I hope you get the sense that all have been blessed by the conversations.
Toussaint: The workshop was more than I expected. I learned so much and met a lot of amazing Publishing houses, Agents, Editors, Magazines and amazing guest speakers.