San Francisco Writers Conference

13th SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE & CLASSES Main Conference: THURSDAY thru SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11—14, 2016 Open Enrollment Classes: FEBRUARY 11 & 15 InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, One Nob Hill, San Francisco 94108 IMH Local Phone: 415-392-3434

UPDATE FOR ATTENDEES

Hello!

We are delighted that you will be attending the 13th San Francisco Writers Conference. This information will help you make the most of the event.

UPDATED SCHEDULE: We know you want to review the schedule to know when to arrive, which sessions to attend, which meals are included, when the social events happen…and much more. It will be ready SOON! In the meantime, here is a brief overview so you can plan when to arrive and book your travel.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 For attendees who check in early, Harvey Pawl will offer a No-Host Dinner at Café Bastille around 5:30 p.m. It will cost $39 not including drinks. If you plan to join in, please call Mike Larsen at 415-673-0939 to RSVP. Also for attendees or anyone else, there will be a special open-to-the-public free event at—CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: Opportunities for Writers of Color in the Pacific Century—at the Mark Hopkins at 7:30 p.m..

STARTING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 There will be a FREE Pre-Conference Class—THRIVING IN THE GOLDEN AGE FOR WRITERS—at 10:30 a.m. until Noon in the California Room. You do not need your badge to attend this session.

REGISTRATION CHECK-IN AND INCLUDED SESSIONS ON THURSDAY, Feb. 11th Pick up your badge and bag starting on Thursday beginning at 1:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Peacock Ballroom Lobby. Enjoy an afternoon of classes and networking from 2:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. NOTE: REGISTRATION WILL RESUME ON FRIDAY at 7:30 a.m. NOTE: Check the latest schedule for sessions and more specific information.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 NOTE: SPEED DATING with AGENTS moves back to Sunday morning this year. The day begins with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. featuring a pre-Speed Dating session where the agents will introduce themselves and let you know what kinds of writing they represent. SPEED DATING WITH AGENTS begins at 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and concurrent sessions will be happening during this time, as well. The official end of the San Francisco Writers Conference is at 4 p.m., but there will be one last NO-HOST DINNER at 4:30 p.m. in Chinatown for those who just don’t want the event to end! Optional Post Event classes will be held on MONDAY.

WHEN THE SCHEDULE IS READY, WE WILL SEND YOU THE LINK TO THE PDF. Keep in mind there may be minor last-minute changes. You will receive a final printed schedule at the event.

OPTIONAL PRE+ POST CONFERENCE CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE Writers have to know more than ever. Our in-depth optional open-enrollment sessions on Thursday evening and more on Monday will help. They’ll be a great addition to the conference, and since they’re open to the public, we hope you’ll tell your friends about them. You may register onsite, but to help us assign rooms for the classes we’d greatly appreciate it you would sign up NOW. The incentives for YOU to register now? Many of the classes have size limits and some even offer a discount until the end of January for registered SFWC attendees!

WEATHER: It has been rainy, foggy, and cold in the Bay Area lately. It is wise to Google the weather in San Francisco for Presidents Day Weekend closer to the event. When in San Francisco, plan to dress in layers to stay comfortable. Evenings will be in the fifties. Bring an all-weather coat for venturing out of the hotel. You will want to have a sweater for indoors, since the meeting rooms can get cold and/or warm throughout the day.

WHAT TO BRING: Business cards with your contact info, copies of your nonfiction proposal or as much of your manuscript for your novel or manuscript as you want to share. You can bring a thumbdrive and use the hotel office to print out what you want to share…but it is pricey! Bring a cell phone (set on silent) for using our mobile event app (Whova), Tweeting using #SFWC16 or posting at www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoWritersConference. With Jane Friedman at the event, there will be a lot of tweeting going on. We can’t be responsible for lost possessions, but bring your tablet or laptop for taking notes, if you wish.

GOOD TO KNOW: Internet reception can be difficult at the hotel. If you absolutely must have it, you can purchase wi-fi access from the hotel. There is a business center and ATM in the hotel if you need access to office equipment and/or cash.

TIPS FOR ATTENDEES CONTINUED: Find the best (and cheapest) places to park, what to wear, and other information that will make the conference more enjoyable CLICK HERE.

TRAVEL INFO: Good site for people coming from the SFO Airport: : http://www.wikihow.com/Travel-from-the-San- Francisco-Airport-to-Downtown People around here swear by the new ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Set it up in your smart phone now, and you will be all set to use it at the event. Perhaps you could even take a short ride in your own town to test it out in advance. Other options include putting the local taxi cab number in your phone NOW. Mike Larsen doesn’t own a car and they get around the city entirely by taxi all the time. Yellow Cab is (415) 333-3333 and Desoto is (877) 691-2170. The Cable Car (Powell and California Street lines) runs right past the hotel. The BART stations to use are Powell Street (closest to the hotel when coming from SFO) and Embarcadero (if you want to take the less crowded California Steet cable car up to the hotel). www.BART.gov

ATTENDEE DISCOUNT ON UNITED Conference attendees can use a discount code on United Airlines. When searching for flights and making your reservation online, use the code ZW6V280764 in the Offer Code box. If using a travel agent or calling United at 800-426- 1122, tell them the Agreement Code is 280764 and Z Code is ZW6V. Outside the U.S., call your local United Airlines Reservation Office.

AVIS: Car rental company Avis has extended a discount for SFWC attendees this year. Our Avis Worldwide Discount or AWD number is D424924. When calling Avis at 1 (800) 331-1600 to make reservations, attendees should provide the reservations agents with this AWD number to ensure they receive the best available car rental rates. The AWD will be effective from seven days prior to the event until seven days after the event. Use this hyperlink to Avis.com and the AWD number will automatically be placed in the reservation detail.

MEALS: You will enjoy breakfast on Saturday and Sunday and luncheons on Friday and Saturday. The hotel will provide vegetarian option. If you have serious food allergies, please email [email protected]

THE CONCIERGE PROGRAM WITH KEVIN SMOKLER Get the most out of the conference with one-on-one guidance. Only 22 attendees will have the chance to spend 30 minutes with Kevin Smokler for a consultation tailored to your book, your needs, your goals, and wherever you are in the writing and publishing process. You will receive:  Guidance from one of the conference’s most knowledgeable and respected teachers  Kevin’s private cellphone number so you can stay in contact with him throughout the conference  A free follow-up phone call with Kevin after the conference Fee: $75, which Kevin donates for SFWC scholarships. Bonus: The first 18 writers to register will network at Kevin’s table at lunch on Friday or breakfast on Sunday. CLICK HERE to reserve your consultation. Slots Available Thursday through Saturday. You will select the time and day for your consultation when you arrive, first come first served.

DINNERS WITH HARVEY Advisory Board Member Harvey Pawl leads attendees to host-free evening meals at restaurants around town. You can network with presenters (the presenters are Harvey’s guests) and writers from around the country. Each meal is $39, including tax and tip, but not drinks. Please see the pink sheet in your attendee bag for details. Then sign up in Café Ferlinghetti.

PRESENTER PROTOCOL The presenters are here to meet you and help you. So introduce yourself when the opportunity arises. They will join us at meals, at social events, and you may even have a captive audience with a presenter in the elevator. But if presenters aren’t wearing their name tags, they're taking a break, so please don’t disturb them. WANT FEEDBACK ON YOUR PITCH OR YOUR FIRST PAGE? Check the schedule for the opportunities to get feedback on your pitch and your writing. A volunteer at these sessions will have a sign-up sheet, so arrive as early as you can to secure a chance to pitch your work to presenters in front of fellow attendees. It’s a true learning experience for all.

GET FREE FEEDBACK ON YOUR WORK FROM AN INDEPENDENT EDITOR Bring your nonfiction proposal or as much of your manuscript as you're ready to share. You can choose a freelance editor in the Garden Room to give you a free 8-minute critique. Sign up in front of the Garden Room for a consult on Friday or Saturday. You may sign up for one consult on Friday and Saturday while slots are available.

RECEIVE FREE ADVICE ABOUT PROMOTION FROM A PUBLICIST You’re welcome Sign up for an 8-minute publicity consult starting Friday morning in front of Café Ferlinghetti/Room of the Dons. Publicity consults are very limited.

NEW FOR 2016! RECEIVE FREE ADVICE ABOUT PROMOTION FROM AN AUTHOR COACH You’re welcome Sign up for an 8-minute Author Coach consult starting Friday morning in front of Café Ferlinghetti. These consults are very limited.

A WORD ABOUT AGENTS AND EDITORS Agents and editors come to the conference to find writers. But they don't usually read a writer's work on the spot or at Speed Dating. If your pitch excites them, tell them you have the first page if they’d like to see it. If they like your first page, they’ll tell you know how to submit more.

CAFÉ FERLINGHETTI, BOOK STORE and EXHIBITORS The café with coffee and tea is in the Room of the Dons. It will be a great place to meet with friends or to stop by if you want to write, relax, or get a caffeine fix. The bookstore in the Café is sponsored by Neal Sofman of BookShop West Portal. There will be exhibitors in the Café, the lobby, and on the California Street level. Non-attendees can stop by.

CONSIGNMENT BOOK SALES & SFWC PRESENTER BOOK SIGNING Attendees with books can sell them through the onsite bookstore. For details, CLICK HERE. If your book is in the bookstore, please come sign books at the autographing reception and book signing with a no-host bar in Café Ferlinghetti on Saturday at 6:30-7:30 p.m.. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE PRESENTER BOOKSIGNING. It is open to the public.

HEADSHOTS AND MIND PICTURES Need a good headshot of yourself…for your website, book jacket or general publicity? Melanie Rijkers will be doing headshots. You can contact her now to book a time: Melanie [email protected] Melanie will also lead a short walking session to help boost your creativity at 1:45 p.m. on Friday. Meet her in the lobby and bring your smartphone or small camera. You will return by 2:45 p.m.. This tour is open to spouses, too.

SFWC WRITING CONTEST Contest Director Laurie McLean will announce the winners of the writing contest at lunch on Saturday. Scholarship winners will also be announced.

START A WRITING GROUP We encourage you to create instant, pop-up writing groups at the conference and share your work with other attendees. You can keep these groups going, online or off, after the conference ends. A writing group that helps you create a salable manuscript may be the best thing that happens for you at the conference.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST EMAIL COMMUNICATION FROM SFWC? Then you aren’t on our email newsletter list! Please go to www.SFWriters.org and opt-in to the newsletter now!

Get some sleep before the conference. We can’t wait to see you!

We’re looking forward to seeing you soon. Elizabeth, Mike, Barbara, Richard, and Linda The San Francisco Writers Conference Organizational Team

Co-directors: Elizabeth Pomada & Michael Larsen Marketing Director and Newsletter Editor: Barbara Santos Registration & Website Director: Richard Santos Volunteer Director: Linda Lee Onsite Volunteer Director: Jane Glendinning Social Media Manager: Frances Caballo 1029 JONES STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 94109 WEBSITE: www.SFWriters.org PHONE: 415-673-0939 Registration questions: (925) 420-6223