San Francisco Writers Conference

Joyce Maynard began publishing her stories in magazines when she was thirteen years old. She first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story, “An Eighteen Year Old Looks Back on Life”, in 1972, when she was a freshman at Yale. Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, a syndicated newspaper columnist whose “Domestic Affairs” column appeared in over fifty papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR and national magazines including Vogue, The New York Times Magazine, and many more.

Joyce Maynard

Best Selling Renowned Author, Joyce Maynard to keynote the 2023 San Francisco Writers Conference!

She is the author of eighteen books, including the New York Times bestselling novel, Labor Day and To Die For (both adapted for film), Under the Influence and the memoirs, At Home in the World and The Best of Us. Her latest novel, Count the Ways —the story of a marriage and a divorce, and the children who survived it— was published by William Morrow in July, 2021.

Arielle Eckstut is co-founder of The Book Doctors and co-author of the definitive Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. She’s an Agent-at-Large at the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency, one of the finest boutique agencies in the world, and has helped hundreds of talented amateurs become professionally published authors. She is also the author of ten books. In addition, she is an EP on two new TV shows currently in development with Silvergate/Sony and The Jim Henson Company. She’s spent the last fifteen year travelling presenting Pitchapaloozas and teaching workshops everywhere from Cape Cod to rural Alaska to Kauai. She’s been featured in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and on National Public Radio as well as countless other media outlets.

Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

America’s Next Great Author creators to keynote the 2023 San Francisco Writers Conference!

David Henry Sterry is the bestselling author of sixteen books that have been translated into a dozen languages. His last book graced the cover of The New York Times Book Review. His memoir, Master of Ceremonies, is currently being made into a TV series for which David serves as an Executive Producer. David was a professional actor for twenty years, appearing in dozens of movies and TV shows and over 2,500 commercials. He’s also the creator of Pitchapalooza, which has been presented hundreds of times all over the nation, helping countless amateur writers have become professional authors. He’s spent the last fifteen year teaching workshops everywhere from San Quentin Prison to Stanford University on how to get successfully published. He’s been featured in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and on National Public Radio as well as countless other media outlets.

The runner-up in the children’s category of the SFWC Writing Contest last year (Melissa Savage) will be introduced at the 2016 SFWC… I sold her winning entry, LEMONS, in a 2-book, $200,000 deal to a Big Five publisher.

Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary founder

Thank you for including me in your amazing conference. I had multiple
writers approach me and gush about the conference. Each used the word,
“love.” They said they could feel the genuine love and support of everyone.

Mark Coker, Founder of Smashwords

The SFWC gave me everything I needed to make it over the finish line! I met my website designer there. I talked to other writers and many helpful experts on publishing.  I loved the enthusiasm and supportive community.

Susan Silver, Hot Pants in Hollywood