Collins Writers’ Conference On Tap at Augustana in Rock Island June 24-27
The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference (formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Writers’ Conference) will return to the campus of Augustana College this summer, June 24-27. It will continue to offer scholarships to students, veterans/active-duty service members, and those with financial need.
Attendees will hone their craft in intimate, intensive three-day workshops and will also have the option to participate in book pitches, a faculty reading, and a keynote event featuring Conference faculty.
This year’s conference offers four three-day workshops, led by accomplished faculty members, and returning Midwest Writing Center favorites:
- “Writing the Personal” Nonfiction/Memoir Workshop with Cyn Kitchen
- “Beginning Anew” Short Fiction Workshop with Adam al-Sirgany
- “Generative Poetry Marathon” Poetry Workshop with Margaret Yapp
- “The Arc of the Novel” Novel Writing Workshop with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
Complete course descriptions as well as bios for the Conference’s distinguished faculty are available on the MWC website HERE.
Manuscript Critique with Faculty
- Cyn Kitchen will be offering Manuscript Critiques. 5 spots are available for 10-15 pages of Creative Nonfiction (prose). Cost is $125 and includes a private 45 minute meeting.
- Adam al-Sirgany will be offering Manuscript Critiques for writers of any genre. 10 spots are available for up to 12 pages of writing. Cost is $50 and includes a private 30-minute meeting.
- Margaret Yapp will be offering Manuscript Critiques for poetry. Five spots are available for 10-15 poems (10-15 pages). $60 includes a private 45-minute meeting.
Book Pitches – by appointment with MWC Press and University of Iowa Press
Ten minutes to pitch your book to a panel from MWC Press or the University of Iowa Press. Pitch times will be scheduled with authors in advance of the Conference. Cost is $10, and pre-registration is required.
MWC Press: The panel requests each author bring a one-page summary of their pitch—brief synopsis of the manuscript, brief author bio/other publications, brief outline of marketing ideas/strategy, etc. The panel will take these summaries and their input from the pitch sessions back to the MWC Board of Directors and related committees to make a final decision. Authors whose work advances through this process may be asked to provide more detailed information.
University of Iowa Press: Anyone pitching to University of Iowa Press will be expected to be familiar with and meet the guidelines laid out on this page: https://uipress.uiowa.edu/resources/prospective-authors/submit-proposal
The events below are open to the public:
Lunch and Learn (Friday and Saturday)
Allison Means from University of Iowa Press will host two one-hour brown-bag talks. Thursday she will present and answer questions on the Life Cycle of the Book and Friday she will present and answer questions on Publishing. Each session is $20 for members and $30 for non-members and open to the public.
Conference Kick Off Reading, Community Writing Workshop, and Open Mic Wednesday, June 24 at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave, Rock Island)
- 6 p.m. — free writing class
- 7 p.m. — open mic
- 8 p.m. — featured readers Eric Baus and Andrea Rexilius, opening reader Sarah Elgatian
Conference Faculty Reading and Participant Open Mic Thursday, June 25 at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island), Social at 6 p.m., Faculty Reading at 7 p.m., Participant Open Mic at 8 p.m.
The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference offers quality writing instruction at affordable prices with a dash of Midwest hospitality. Register today through PayPal at the MWC website HERE, over the phone (309-732-7330), or via email (mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org).
The 2026 David R. Collins Writers’ Conference is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and grantors: Modern Woodmen of America, Founding Sponsor; the Illinois Arts Council Agency; Augustana College; and Rozz-Tox.
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