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2026 Literary Conference
August 7-9, 2026
Join us via Zoom Events
All events scheduled MDT (Denver, CO)
![2026 [margins.] Conference Schedule.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/be9b7a_178aff90aa164b189992f90bcc4b0eb0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_467,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2026%20%5Bmargins_%5D%20Conference%20Schedule.jpg)
Friday, August 7th​
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5:00p - 6:00p
​Opening Mixer
Join us to connect with fellow [margins.] attendees, to share in some time for opening new friendships, setting intentions, and sharing goals.
6:00p - 7:30p
Now is the Time: Open Mic
The strength of [margins.] is the community that shows up to bring it to life. To celebrate this, we’re starting with the first of two Open Mic sessions. The session will begin with a reading from recently named Colorado Poet Laureate and [margins.] veteran Cristoso Apache. Crisosto will help ground us in our call to “go to work”, drawing from their own goal of “amplifying the voices of those whose stories are rooted in the soil and sky, so that our words become not an ornament but a shared language of presence and possibility.”
Saturday, August 8th
10:30a - 11:30a
Opening - But First Let's Cry
Before we jump into “doing the work,” we want to take a beat to recognize the fatigue, stress, and sorrow of the moment before embarking on the call to action that brought you to this space. Responding to the moment includes acknowledging your body’s call to rest; we will not ask ourselves to separate the necessity of rest from the strength of action.
11:30a - 11:45a
Break
11:45a - 12:45p
Writing Craft Panel
*Information coming soon
Publishing Panel
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
12:45p - 2:00p
Lunch
2:00p - 3:30p
Writing Craft Workshop
*Information coming soon
Publishing Workshop
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
3:30p - 3:45p
Break
3:45p - 4:45p
Writing Craft Panel
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
4:45p - 5:00p
Break
5:00p - 6:00p
In Conversation: Editor-Writer Mentees Reflect on Their Journeys
Authors Samuel Kolawole (The Road to the Salt Sea), Charlotte Yeong (Isabel and the Magic Bird), and Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (Platanos are Love) are all graduates of The Word’s Editor-Writer Mentorship following very different paths in the literary world. In a conversation moderated by Alyssa, they’ll reflect on their entry points, goals, and sustaining processes. We’re all here in community together, and through this discussion we’ll explore how shared community strengthens unique journeys.
6:00p - 6:15p
Break
6:15p - 7:15p
Open Mic
Sunday, August 9th
10:00a - 11:30a
Publishing Workshop
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
11:30a - 11:45a
Break
11:45a - 12:45p
Writing Craft Panel
*Information coming soon
Publishing Panel
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
12:45p - 2:00p
Lunch
2:00p - 3:30p
Writing Craft Workshop
*Information coming soon
Community Session: Cohort Group
*Information coming soon
3:30p - 3:45p
Break
3:45p - 4:45p
Closing Author Keynote: Take it From Me with Alia Hanna Habib
Agent Alia Hanna Habib is the author of Take It from Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch. Her talk will explore practical guidance for aspiring and working writers across genres, demystifying the publishing world with expert advice, real-life examples of successful proposals and query letters, and templates for pitching and promotion. We close with an inspiring springboard to launch you to “get to work” with all that you’ve learned during this [margins.] journey.
Dates to be announced​
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Agent One-on-One Sessions
Meet with an agent for a 10-minute one-on-one to make your pitch, get advice & feedback, or learn more about the querying and publishing processes!
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