WriteAngles: A Straw Dog Writers Guild Conference - Thursday May 15, 2025
Story's noble purpose is to get to the heart of some of the deepest and most complicated human emotions. To forge a path through the thickest of thorny ideas. To reflect and hopefully shed light on our society, human nature, and readers' lives. You are the storytellers. You have the power to affect the world no matter how small or grand your story.
Straw Dog Writers Guild, a local 501(c)(3) literary organization, is excited to announce the second WriteAngles Writers Conference under its leadership on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Greenfield Community College.
The conference theme, inspired by Tiffany Yates Martin’s quote from The Thicket of Thorns: Stories Grow, suggests exploring writing as a tool for resilience, justice, and forging connections in our polarized era. WriteAngles brings together writers for workshops, roundtable conversations, networking, and inspiration.
A keynote speaker of national note, Franny Choi, whose work supports the theme, will launch the day’s activities, which include programming for writers at all levels of development and appointments with literary agents.
WriteAngles is by writers for writers in the vibrant literary region of western Massachusetts. In line with Straw Dog Writers Guild’s mission, presenters represent a diversity of age, race/ethnicity, and gender identity. Presenters will receive an honorarium, and a generous scholarship program will welcome lower-income participants.
Writers are invited to propose workshop sessions by completing this form before May 15, 2025
The Story of WriteAngles
First held in 1987, WriteAngles was sponsored by the local chapter of the National Writers Union until 2007, when it became an independent project run by volunteers.
Keynote speakers over the years included Elinor Lipman, Marilynne Robinson, Jonathan Harr, Barry Werth, Madeleine Blais, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Dennis Lehane, Augusten Burroughs, Martín Espada, Breena Clarke, Patricia Smith, Magdelena Gómez, Andre Dubus III, Julia Glass, Richard Russo, Roland Merullo, Jane Yolen, Maria Luísa Arroyo, Ann Hood, Pat Schneider, David Anthony Durham, Susan Stinson, and Grace Paley.
The conference was featured in Writer’s Digest “Conference Scene” as a “budget-friendly event,” and despite its low registration fees, it was able to distribute grants to western Massachusetts organizations that promote writing and reading.