2021 Call for Proposals
Deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Multiple studies undertaken this past year have highlighted what many of us already know: women's writing and research have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The disparities in professional development are especially high for women of color and women with young children or other caretaking responsibilities. As the vaccine rollout continues and we begin to look toward the future, we have recommitted ourselves to fostering a supportive community that offers motivation, encouragement, and educational opportunities aimed at creating equity in the literary, academic, and professional writing world.
The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference invites proposals for presentations at our annual conference to be held November 12–13, 2021, at the University of Central Arkansas.
Inspired by C.D. Wright’s legacy, our mission is to recognize, promote, and encourage a diverse range of women-identifying writers. We value the opportunity to develop an intersectional community that includes African American and Black, Latinx and Chicanx, Asian American, disabled, LGBTQ and non-binary, immigrant, native and Indigenous, rural, and resource-poor women writers.
Participants will explore opportunities, challenges, and trends specific to women-identifying writers through keynote presentations, panel discussions, creative readings, craft talks, and workshops led by contemporary authors. The conference will offer writers a space to gather for inspiration, further education, support, and networking.
General Information
Sessions will be 75 minutes and may employ a variety of formats, including panel and roundtable discussions, creative readings, or workshops. We encourage group proposal submissions but will also consider individual submissions. Individual proposals that are accepted will be grouped into panels by the conference organizers. An individual participant may only be included in one proposal; participants can present only once during the conference.
Conference presenters and attendees must register for and pay for the full conference, and there will be opportunities to apply for needs-based stipends. To submit a proposal, use the Proposal Submission Form.
Conference organizers hope to host an in-person conference in November; however, a shift to virtual delivery has not been ruled out, given the uncertainty of the current pandemic.
Suggested Presentation Topics
The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference is a space to celebrate, study, and advance the work of women-identifying writers in all genres. We will address the value of adding women’s voices to the collective, cultural conversations about writing and the danger of limiting or excluding these voices.
Possible topics for proposals may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Please visit the website to access the Proposal Submission Form. Proposals can be submitted through the conference website. Email the conference director with any questions at cdwrightconference@gmail.com.
Proposals will be accepted until 11:59pm (CST), March 31, 2021.
The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference invites proposals for presentations at our annual conference to be held November 12–13, 2021, at the University of Central Arkansas.
Inspired by C.D. Wright’s legacy, our mission is to recognize, promote, and encourage a diverse range of women-identifying writers. We value the opportunity to develop an intersectional community that includes African American and Black, Latinx and Chicanx, Asian American, disabled, LGBTQ and non-binary, immigrant, native and Indigenous, rural, and resource-poor women writers.
Participants will explore opportunities, challenges, and trends specific to women-identifying writers through keynote presentations, panel discussions, creative readings, craft talks, and workshops led by contemporary authors. The conference will offer writers a space to gather for inspiration, further education, support, and networking.
General Information
Sessions will be 75 minutes and may employ a variety of formats, including panel and roundtable discussions, creative readings, or workshops. We encourage group proposal submissions but will also consider individual submissions. Individual proposals that are accepted will be grouped into panels by the conference organizers. An individual participant may only be included in one proposal; participants can present only once during the conference.
Conference presenters and attendees must register for and pay for the full conference, and there will be opportunities to apply for needs-based stipends. To submit a proposal, use the Proposal Submission Form.
Conference organizers hope to host an in-person conference in November; however, a shift to virtual delivery has not been ruled out, given the uncertainty of the current pandemic.
Suggested Presentation Topics
The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference is a space to celebrate, study, and advance the work of women-identifying writers in all genres. We will address the value of adding women’s voices to the collective, cultural conversations about writing and the danger of limiting or excluding these voices.
Possible topics for proposals may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Writing for public discourse and as a political act
- Historicizing women-identifying writers and movements
- Creative readings by women-identifying writers
- Navigating the publishing industry as a woman
- Identifying challenges faced by women-identifying writers, particularly in the South
- Balancing writing with work, family, carework, and social groups
- Developing best practices in your craft
- Collaborating with and mentoring other women-identifying writers
- Responsibly engaging diverse voices and perspectives
- Writing about identity and marginalized experiences
- Writing in the disciplines: arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, etc.
- Writing for mass media: journalism, blogging, podcasts, radio, etc.
- Writing in genres: sci-fi, speculative, romance, mystery, crime, fantasy, travel, food, etc.
- Strategies for teaching and researching writing
- Engaging and sustaining a writing life
Please visit the website to access the Proposal Submission Form. Proposals can be submitted through the conference website. Email the conference director with any questions at cdwrightconference@gmail.com.
Proposals will be accepted until 11:59pm (CST), March 31, 2021.