Atlanta Writers Conference

The fall 2025 Atlanta Writers Conference, sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, was held on October 24 and October 25 at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel. The conference included a book fair featuring attendees’ books; presentations on the craft and business of writing, including a workshop titled AI and Publishing: What You Need To Know, led by fiction writer, business writer, and IT specialist Jeff Lakusta; agent and editor pitch sessions; manuscript sample critiques; query letter critiques; and Q&A panels for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writers. Virtual participation was available for all agent and editor pitch sessions, query letter critiques, and manuscript sample critiques. Participating publishing professionals included literary agents Jessica Berg (Rosecliff Literary), Sheila Fernley (Storm Literary Agency), Susan Graham (Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency), Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency), Kaitlyn Katsoupis (Belcastro Literary Agency), Shari Maurer (Stringer Literary Agency), Lynnette Novak (Seymour Agency), Katie Reed (Andrea Hurst & Associates), and Stuti Telidevara (Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management) and editors Angelica Chong (Orbit Books), Mal Frazier (Tor Books), Geoff Habiger (Artemesia Publishing), Arielle Haughee (Orange Blossom Publishing), Zoie Konneker (Peachtree Publishing Company), Christina Lopez (St. Martin’s Press), John Morgan (Grand Central Publishing), and Jaynie Royal (Regal House Publishing). The cost of a single event ranged from $50 to $200; the cost of the full conference was $760. Registration for a table to sell merchandise at the book fair was $40. For nonmembers of the Atlanta Writers Club, an additional $60 membership fee was required. Lodging at the conference hotel was offered at a discounted rate of $159 per night until October 10. General registration was rolling through October 24; the deadline to submit a manuscript for critique was September 21. Attendees participating virtually submitted a query letter for critique by October 20 and one for pitch sessions by October 24. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations included elevators in all multilevel event spaces; accessible sidewalks, pathways, and doorways; accessible bathrooms; accessible parking; closed captioning for virtual programming; and signage in Braille. Reserved seating and ASL interpretation was available with advance request. Writers contacted the conference director via phone or e-mail by October 17 for requests or additional accessibility details.