Friday, April 24

Special one-on-one sessions:

One-on-one option with developmental editor Ragan Fry are being offered for an add-on cost of $75. She will offer a focused manuscript evaluation of up to 10 pages. The process begins with a brief intake conversation at the retreat to discuss the manuscript, goals and project scope. Registrants will be provided with details of the process after registration. (Limited to 10 registrants; meetings will be on Friday and Saturday, with times TBD.)

3-4:30 p.m. - Registration. Location: Pre-Function

Pre-Conference Masterclasses

(Masterclasses are add-on events for conference registrants with an $85 additional fee. Add classes as you register for the retreat. If you already registered and wish to add a Masterclass, contact administrator@myscwa.org for assistance.)

3-4 p.m. - Masterclass #1: Andrew Geyer: Make it POP! How to Nail the Opening of Your Manuscript

A great opening isn’t everything, when it comes to getting an agent or a manuscript accepted for publication.  But it’s close.  At Make it POP!  How to Nail the Opening of Your Manuscript we’ll talk about practical strategies for getting the most out of the beginnings of novels, story cycles, and individual short stories and poems.  We’ll look at examples of amazing openings, talk about pairing those openings with fantastic finishes, and author/editor Andrew Geyer will share decades of experience on both sides of the editorial desk. 

3-4 p.m. – Masterclass #2: Tayler Simon: The Ins and Outs of Self-Publishing

In a literary and academic landscape that often echoes uniformity and gatekeeps access, self-publishing serves as a beacon, inviting writers to reclaim their voices, stories, and truths. From the inception of an idea to the triumphant moment of publication, this workshop will help you navigate the intricate path of self-publishing, empowering writers to become architects of their own literary destinies.

5-7:30 p.m. – Welcome, Dinner and Keynote Speaker Dan Leach (Albers): The World at Your Window: Art in Times of Crisis

Keynote Address: Dan Leach, Charleston Southern University and fiction and poetry authorThe World at Your Window: Art in Times of Crisis

What is the task of the writer in times when the world feels fractured or unbearable? How do we create work that offers beauty and complexity when so much of what we encounter (especially in digital spaces) feels reductive and crude? What texts teach us how to write about a reality that feels increasingly fractious and strange? Using books such as Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Thomas Lynch's The Undertaking, in addition to lyrics from John K. Samson and Fleet Foxes, Leach seeks out literary models for making art during a time of crisis.

7:30-9 p.m. – Open Mic (Albers)

Attendees have the chance to read short pieces and get instant feedback from fellow writers and editors. Bring your pieces with you and get ready to take your writing to another level.

Saturday, April 25

7:30 a.m. – Registration (Pre-function area)

7:30-9 a.m. – Continental breakfast (The Collection)

9-10 a.m. – Welcome, Announcements and Keynote by Caleb Wygal (The Collection): From Brain Surgery to Career: Novelist Rebuilding a Writing Life

Keynote Address: Caleb Wygal, award-winning novelistAfter surviving a traumatic brain injury that required him to relearn fundamental skills, Wygal rebuilt his writing life from the ground up. He is the author of 13 novels, including the award-winning Myrtle Beach Mystery series and the Lucas Caine Adventure series. His books have received national recognition and have been honored with multiple awards and short-listed for others. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Wygal also has taught mystery writing through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University.

10-11 a.m. – Ginny Padget Student Award Winners Readings (The Collection)

Three young, talented student writers were winners of the Ginny Padget Award in Creative Writing, the student component of The Petigru Review. These students will read selections from their winning submissions. The award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in writing by a student author. It is presented by SCWA in honor of the late Virginia Lynn (Giny) Padgett, a South Carolina native, University of South Carolina graduate and former SCWA president. She was an accomplished storyteller, and the award honors her love for writing anf her dedication to education.

11-11:30 a.m. – Break

11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions A

Breakout #1 – Tayler Simon: Writing Our Truths: Social Justice Storytelling

Writers have the power to reflect truth back to our society. With the power of the pen, we can use our craft for social good. Simon will teach writers of all levels and genres how they can use their talent to advocate for social justice. Attendee takeaways: Using storytelling for social justice. Subtle ways to add messaging to all genres. Other ways we can use writing for social justice.

Breakout #2 – Topic and speaker TBA

Breakout #3 – Pam Stone: Thinking Outside the Box

The award-winning actress, comedian, writer and talk show host, will discuss creative ways to hone one’s skills as a writer and how to market and sell what you write.

12:30-2 p.m. – Lunch on your own in downtown

2-3 p.m. – Breakout Sessions B

Breakout #4 – Rick Mulkey: Poetic Design: Organizing Your Poetry Manuscript

The poet Robert Frost wrote that “If there are twenty-five poems in a book, the book itself ought to be the twenty-sixth poem.” Writing individual poems and structuring a poetry collection require slightly different skills sets. Poet Rick Mulkey will discuss various strategies, pitfalls and options available to writers as they go about collecting and organizing individual poems into a book-length manuscript. Attendee Takeaways: Discover organizational models for your manuscript. Discover principles of balance and contrast you need for a successful collection. Discover the difference between a manuscript that is book strong vs. contest ready.

Breakout #5 – Susan Zurenda: Reflections on Turning Life into Fiction

“I never imagined writing a novel based on a real person’s life, especially someone I didn’t know, but take my advice and never say never. This presentation will cover the joys and challenges of creating No Way Out but Through, my upcoming novel inspired by an ordinary young woman who survived extraordinary circumstances.” - Susan Zurenda

Breakout #6 (Albers) – The Petigru Review (TPR) Panel: Publishing: Things That Go Bump in the Night

Managing editor Andrew Geyer and assistant editor Sara Sobota of The Petrigru Review will discuss this year’s theme of “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” and making practical manuscript writing/preparation/submission recommendations about litmags in general and this year’s TPR issue in particular. Special emphasis will be placed on making your manuscript stand out from the crowd.

3:10-4:10 p.m.– Breakout Sessions C

Breakout #7 – Topic and speaker TBA

Breakout #8 – Topic and speaker TBA

Breakout #9 (Albers) – Publishing Panel: Publishing Today: Models, Realities, and Strategic Choices

Led by Michael J. McGandy, director of the University of South Carolina Press, a panel of publishing professionals will share ideas and best practices to help authors understand and work within an increasingly complex publishing marketplace. From business models to query letters, the panelists will share from their years of experience, provide insight and dispel mistaken impressions about publishing. Ample time will be reserved for questions and answers. Panelists include Alison Mero, Clemson University Press; Amy Trainor Ashby, Warren Publishing; Dakota McElhinny, SCWA president and self-published author; Lib Ramos, Good Printed Things; and Andrew Mack, Loblolly Press.

4:10-5:30 p.m. – Afternoon breaktime on your own

5:30-7 p.m. – Wine and cheese/snack reception at Hub City Books, just across the street from the AC Hotel.

Hub City Press, the South’s premier independent literary press, will host this special SCWA networking reception on Independent Bookstore Day. The press celebrated 30 years in 2025. Focused on finding and spotlighting extraordinary new and unsung writers from the American South, its curated list champions diverse authors and books that don’t fit into the commercial publishing landscape. By offering these voices a national platform, the press works to transform and expand the national perception of the American South in literature and beyond.

7 p.m. – Dinner on your own in downtown Spartanburg

Sunday, April 26

8-9:30 a.m. – Continental breakfast and SCWA Annual Meeting (The Collection)

10-11 a.m. – Special speaker: Diane Vecchio: Fact or Fiction: The Importance of Historical Research for Writers

11 a.m.-noon - Final keynote, Dr. Stacey Hettes: Facing the Page and Finding the Courage to Stare it Down

When you signed up to attend this retreat, did you feel brave? What about the last time you started with a fresh sheet of paper or a blank screen? The vulnerability it takes to write begins as a moment of solitude that transforms into a public reckoning. Every writer embraces a journey toward connection. Every step of which requires courage. In a world where criticism and ridicule are cheaper and easier than ever, our contributions, big or small, deserve celebration.

Other planned afternoon activities TBA.