The Literary World Comes to Honolulu this Year

“The Maui Writers Conference.”  That sounds small and quaint, doesn’t it?

Well, the Maui Writers Conference has gone way beyond “quaint.”  Literally hundreds – up to a thousand — of the world’s best writers, screenwriters, agents and editors swarm to Hawaii every Labor Day weekend and the preceding week … more and more of them every year.  And more and more aspiring authors join them to spend thousands of hours gathering information on how to write better, and how to get their books published.  They get inside looks at the publishing business from the heads of Random House, Simon and Schuster, William Morris — all the top publishers and agents.  Mainly, they come simply to be inspired by their favorite authors and screenwriters.

This year they’ll be regaled by the likes of Mitch Albom, David Baldacci, Carrie Fisher, Frank McCourt and Barbara Kingsolver … hundreds of best-selling authors, Oscar-winning screenwriters and powerful publishers and agents in the biggest conference so far.

The event, in fact, has grown beyond its Maui beginnings.  Now it’s the “Maui Writers Conference – On the Road,” because the Conference and the related Retreat have moved to Honolulu.  Honolulu simply offers more things the attendees need: the convenience and number of flights, a broader variety of hotels and more dining options.  The organizers say they are striving to retain the special intimacy that has made Maui Writers Conference the anticipated world event it has become.

The Retreat that leads up to the Conference itself is six intense, inspiring days when attendees can learn the art and craft of professional writing.  The hands-on groups focus on how to shape and present a saleable manuscript or screenplay. They involve writing, revising and manuscript critiques in workshops, to free-wheeling mentoring sessions and seminars.

The host venues of the Conference and Retreat encompass three upscale hotels and the Hawaii Convention Center, where most of the Conference events will take place.  The Conference itself costs about $800 – and you save a hundred dollars if you register before July 1.  Then there’s the Retreat and a whole lot of add-ons and options, to consider, too.  You can learn everything at the Conference Web site: www.mauiwriters.com.  There’s still plenty of time.  When you get an idea of everything that’s offered, don’t plunge right in.  Give us a call at Hawaii-Aloha Travel – 1-800-843-8771 – or pick an agent from the Home Page of our Web site at hawaii-aloha.com.  We’ll help you sort it all out, then we’ll put together a package for you that gets you options for the best travel arrangements, accommodations and the choices you prefer at the very best possible price.

Add comment June 21st, 2008