Write On at SBWF

Normally this would be the time of year when a large assortment of published and would-be scribes hunker down at a Santa Barbara hotel for the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. For 52 years the immersive swirl of workshops and socializing has earned the annual event a respected reputation far and wide. But confronting a serious illness back in December caused longtime Director Grace Rachow to cancel this year’s conference. 

Earlier this spring, though, Rachow – largely recovered – responded to attendees’ interest in putting something together in lieu of the cancelled conference. After almost a dozen previous workshop leaders signed on, the one-shot, single weekend Santa Barbara Writers Fest was born, set for June 20-22. 

Other than the truncated duration, much is the same. Writers will spend hours each day in workshops where they learn from veteran published writers in such fields as fiction, nonfiction, poetry and more, including reading and hearing each other’s work to receive and offer feedback. One other small distinction from the decades-old conference; there is no central location, as the workshops are largely being held in the instructor’s home, office, or another space in town.  

The “glass-half-empty” is having to arrange your own transportation, and switching workshops in the middle isn’t possible in this format. But on the plus side, most of the workshops will be offered in a more intimate setting than would otherwise have been the  case, and that setting may be the professional writer/instructor’s own work space.  

“You’re still getting the meat of the conference, even if there are no agents and we’re only together for three days,” Rachow said. “It’s small enough that some of the workshops feel like they’re almost private.” 

Rachow has arranged for happy hours at different downtown restaurants and pubs so people get a chance to interact, compare notes and urge each other on. 

“We’re going to descend on a different spot every evening so people can get a bite to eat or a drink and socialize,” she said. “Or if it’s not your jam, you can go home and write!” 

The Fest has proved popular, and several of the workshops are already full. As of this writing, though, the majority of the workshop leaders still have at least one spot available at least once over the weekend. These workshops include Montecito resident Diana Raab’s The Memoir Journey, former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Perie Longo’s Writing and Crafting Poems, Marla Miller’s Hooking Readers, Dale Griffiths Stamos’ Story Structure for all Genres, and Max Talley’s Improving and Submitting your Writing. 

“If you’re new, you still get to sample what the conference is like, try some workshops so you have a good footing for next year, when we’ll be back in full force,” Rachow said. “Regulars will have a very similar experience but with a twist of being in a private home, which will probably feel more welcoming and cozy as opposed to scary in a hotel. You just probably won’t be as exhausted, which can be good for your writing. But the excitement is building.”

Visit https://sbwfest2025.square.site

Ultra ‘Ulysses’:  Bloomsday Is Back 

Need another spark to whet your appetite for the Writers Fest and/or simply raise your spirits for writing? Lovers of literature can, ahem, rejoice in the annual local gathering for the international Bloomsday event to celebrate Ulysses, James Joyce’s groundbreaking 1922 novel. Here in town the event is hosted by the James Joyce Pub (duh!) on lower State Street on June 16 – the 121st anniversary of the single day during which the groundbreaking novel’s action takes place. This year’s roster of readers from the world of actors, writers and more include Henry Brown, Bill Egan, James Read, Matt Tavianini, SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, Starshine Roshell, newly-installed Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin and his wife, former Laureate Chryss Yost, plus special guests. The readings start at 6 pm, admission is free, snacks are provided, and happy hour prices (and lots of mirth and merriment) prevail. Will you be there? Feel free to answer “yes I said yes I will yes” …