Iota Short Forms Conference

The tenth annual Iota Short Forms Conference was held from October 16 to October 19 at the Cobscook Institute in Trescott, Maine, and its surrounding fifty acres of forest and former farmland. The conference featured writing classes, readings, workshops, an open mic, and craft talks oriented toward forms of short prose writing, including essays, prose poems, short stories, flash fiction and nonfiction, micro essays, and more. The faculty included poet Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, fiction and nonfiction writer Suzanne Strempek Shea, and nonfiction writers Melanie Brooks and Penny Guisinger. An optional self-paced retreat was held from October 19 to October 23. The cost of the conference, which includes workshops, activities, and meals, was $665. Lodging for three nights in a private room with an attached bathroom was $300; lodging in a shared room with an attached bathroom was $225; and camping with access to shared bathrooms and a common space was $30 (camping in a recreational vehicle is $75). Add-on meal packages for commuters range from $25 to $75. The cost of the retreat, which included four nights of lodging in a private room with an attached bathroom, was $550. The deadline for registration was September 25. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations included accessible restrooms, event rooms, and dining halls; reserved seating; and accessible parking. Writers contacted the community programming steward via phone or e-mail for additional accessibility details.