WriterFest Nashville!
Join Harpeth Road Press Founder and Director Jenny Hale at WriterFest!
WriterFest Nashville Returns November 2022
Writers of Book, Song, and Screen Gather with Industry Leaders
Keynotes Addresses from Tara M. Stringfellow, John T. Edge, and Tim Reid Jr.
WriterFest Nashville Returns November 2022 Writers of Book, Song, and Screen Gather with Industry Leaders Keynotes Addresses from Tara M. Stringfellow, John T. Edge, and Tim Reid Jr.
Nashville, Tenn, Sept. 1, 2022––WriterFest Nashville, a creative gathering for authors, screenwriters, songwriters, poets, and more, returns for its fourth annual conference November 18-19, 2022. Registration is open and tickets for the event, hosted on the Lipscomb University campus, are available at www.WriterFestNashville.com.
“Music City attracts amazing creative talent and offers a uniquely collaborative environment,” says Ami McConnell, Founder and Director of WriterFest Nashville. “WriterFest exists to empower, inspire, and connect creative writers. If you’re passionate about crafting books, songs and/or films, it’s for you! We share, network, and learn from each other.”
WriterFest Nashville 2022 will feature lectures by and conversations with professional writers, world-class editors, agents, filmmakers, and music business professionals.
Keynote speakers for the event are Tara M. Stringfellow, poet, attorney, and author of the national bestseller Memphis; John T. Edge, host of the TrueSouth series on the SEC Network and ESPN, author of The Potlikker Papers, and contributing editor at Garden & Gun; and Tim Reid Jr., Senior Vice President of A&R and senior level Repertoire and Marketing Executive at BMG Music.
Other confirmed expert speakers include:
● Paige Allen, director of IngramSpark
● Motke Dapp, writer and director for films and commercials
● Lisa Donovan, chef, essayist, and James Beard award-winning author
● Heather Fain, CMO of Pushkin
● Dannie Fountain, author, sales and marketing strategist for Google
● Jenny Hale, author, international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction
● Amanda Heckert, executive editor at Garden & Gun magazine
● Eric Holt, managing partner of the LoveNoise group, Belmont University faculty, music business expert
● Margaret Riley King, partner at William Morris Endeavor
● Jessica Wigton Meeks, senior director of retail trade sales at HarperCollins Christian Publishing
● Jonathon Merkh, president and publisher at Forefront Books
● Mike Nawrocki, director, writer, lyricist, animator, voice actor, and co-creator of VeggieTales
● Mary O’Donohue, expert media coach, #1 bestselling author, and post producer
● Suzanne Park, comedian, bestselling author of comedic young adult and adult fiction
● Dave Shroeder, director of publishing and consumer products, WTA Media
● Julian R. Vaca, author of The Memory Index, screenwriter, and actor
WriterFest Nashville 2022’s presenting sponsor is Lipscomb University’s George Shinn College of Entertainment and the Arts. The Nashvillian Magazine serves as Media Sponsor.
Praise for WriterFest Nashville
“A great conference that should be on every emerging storyteller’s radar, regardless of medium. Be it books, songs, or screenplays, there’s something for everyone.”
- JT Ellison, New York Times bestselling novelist
“WriterFestNashville managed to do the impossible: it brought together screenwriters, songwriters, novelists, and nonfiction authors with top notch workshops, networking, and huge industry pros. Whether you are an aspiring writer or an established author, there’s something for everyone here. I’m already counting down the days until next year.”
- Rea Frey, novelist, Not Her Daughter
“WriterFest Nashville is a beautiful, collaborative experience for aspiring writers to have an open dialog with industry professionals and well-respected authors, all in an intimate setting. Beautifully structured and run—a true class act that promises to grow each year.”
-Carey Nelson Burch, Producer, My Own Shingle Productions
“WriterFest Nashville offers an impressive gathering of professionals from all facets of the publishing community, with something for every writer and reader. I couldn’t recommend WriterFest more highly!”
-Sarah Pelz, Executive Editor, Atria/Simon & Schuster
“ I loved every minute...Informative, spirited, and thought-provoking panels often sparked fun and lively discussions. I walked away from the conference feeling energized about where publishing is going, as well as reinvigorated about my love of books and writers––I truly have a dream job!”
- Rachel Beck, literary agent, Liza Dawson Associates
“The energy and enthusiasm at WriterFest is refreshing. I can’t wait to speak at the conference again in the future, and to once again walk away inspired and motivated to continue sharing our stories with the world.”
- Clark Buckner, Relationary Marketing, podcaster and marketer
“WriterFestNashville was such a cool experience. I met other writers of various genres and platforms. We bonded about the writing process, but also taught each other new tips and tricks. It was like going to a trade show for writers.”
- Liz Cackowski, writer and producer, Wine Country, SNL, Community, Last Man
“The vibe around WinterfestNashville is electric ...I’ve so enjoyed being part of this great event." -Tom Douglas, award-winning #1 songwriter, screenwriter, LOVE, TOM (Paramount)
“If you want to advance your career as an author, screenwriter, or filmmaker, WriterFestNashville is a must-attend event! This creative gathering offers leading industry professionals to guide you with strategic, practical ideas for reaching your writing goals. I was so impressed with the quality of the speakers, the creative collaboration, and the excellent attention to conference details. Invest in your writing...WriterFestNashville is worth every penny!
- Joey O’Connor, Segovia Entertainment, The Grove Center for the Arts and Media
WriterFest founder and director Ami McConnell is an author, ghostwriter, and editor with over 20 years experience in-house at major trade book publishers. She formerly served as Editor-in-Chief and VP of Howard Books/Simon & Schuster and as an acquiring editor at HarperCollins. She has edited numerous New York Times bestsellers and award winners. Ghostwriting projects include celebrated singers, songwriters, social media influencers, psychologists, doctors, therapists, as well as film/tv actors. She lives in the Nashville area with her family.
Programming Director Sara Wigal is the Chair of Media Studies, Director of Publishing, and Assistant Professor of Cinema, Television & Media at Belmont University. She serves as Fundraising Chair of Next Chapter Society, a section of the Nashville Public Library Foundation. She is the founder of the Nashville Publishing Meetup, a group for industry contacts to network without being client-facing. Wigal has been published by Library Journal, The Tennessean, Publishers Weekly, Writer's Digest, and various literary journals. She is an aspiring historical fiction novelist, and writer of the personal essay.