Register for UND Writers Conference events March 25-27

The University of North Dakota is hosting its 57th annual Writers Conference at the Memorial Union on March 25 through 27. All events at the conference are free and open to the public.

Since 1970, the Writers Conference has served the community and region by bringing renowned authors and artists to Grand Forks. This year’s conference is no exception, and in fact, will be offering an expanded schedule of events and new experiences for attendees.

This year’s schedule will feature additional author readings, a new panel focused on the creative profession and a workshop led by a literary agent, in addition to the offerings visitors have enjoyed in years past.

Headlining the guest list this year is Booker Prize- and Story Prize-winning author George Saunders, whose brand-new novel “Vigil” is taking the book world by storm.

Joining Saunders on the guest list for this year’s conference is Maria Dahvana Headley, Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, Anna Maria Hong, Ananda Lima, Amber Sparks, Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, and artist Beatriz Cortez. This lineup of authors and artists will also be joined by literary agent Penelope Burns to provide attendees with an inside look at the publishing industry.

Registration for the conference, including information on all guests and scheduled events, is available on the Writers Conference website.

Registering for in-person attendance allows attendees to claim a seat in one of the small group community craft sessions held at 2:15 p.m. on each day of the conference, Wednesday through Friday. These sessions are casual workshops and conversations led by featured guests; capacity is limited to 20 participants. A waitlist will be available for full sessions.

Authors this year will also visit UND classes and student groups on campus, partnering with UND’s Departments of English, Art & Design and Honors, as well as the Pride Center.

Notably, throughout the conference, walk-in attendees are always welcome, and registration is not required to attend events on the Writers Conference main stage or the nightly receptions at the North Dakota Museum of Art.

All panel discussions, artist talks and author readings from the Writers Conference main stage will also be livestreamed via Zoom. Please note that separate sign-ups are required for each day’s Zoom events.

Visit the conference website for the full daily schedule.

About the 57th Annual UND Writers Conference

Themed for “Fables & Futures,” this year’s conference draws its inspiration from a tale as old as time: the fables that have drawn us to the fireside, generation after generation. Since time immemorial, stories have served our community by fostering ties between us. They have allowed us to better understand the world around us and to imagine a better future for all. Stories are not merely decorative; they are the fiber that weaves our community together.