The conference's purpose is to help writers grow their professional network, develop their writing skills and business knowledge, and meet with publishing-industry professionals. Attendees include
literary agents and editors from publishing houses around the country, and writers from Texas and other states. The conference offers its attendees the opportunity to meet with a literary agent for one-on-one pitch sessions, and its education program typically features more than fifty writing classes. The conference started in 2008. It is organized by members of the
DFW Writers' Workshop, a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps writers in multiple genres develop their writing to publication-level quality. The group has operated in the DFW metroplex since 1977. The DFW Writers Conference was selected by readers of
The Writer magazine in 2019 and 2020 as "The Best Writing Conference In Texas"
Events 2008: The first conference took place at the
Grapevine Convention Center in
Grapevine, Texas, attended by approximately 110 people. Its keynote speaker was entertainment journalist and romance author
Candace Havens.
2009: The second event took place at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Its keynote speaker was bestselling thriller author
Bob Mayer.
2010: The third event took place at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Its keynote speaker was
The New York Times- and
USA Today-bestselling romance author
Jodi Thomas.
2011: In its fourth year, the conference had grown to the point where it needed a larger venue. It moved to the
American Airlines Training Center in Fort Worth.
The New York Times-bestselling romantic thriller author
Sandra Brown was the keynote speaker.
2012: Forced to move again due to the size of its attendance, the conference relocated to the new
Hurst Conference Center in
Hurst, Texas. Bestselling action/adventure and techno-thriller author
James Rollins was the keynote speaker.
2013: The conference remained at the Hurst Convention Center in Hurst, Texas. The keynotes this year were
Pulitzer Prize nominee, journalist and author
Michael Capuzzo and bestselling thriller author
Deborah Crombie.
2014: DFWCon took place at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas. The keynotes this year were bestselling multi-genre author
Jonathan Maberry and literary agent
Donald Maass.
2015: For the first time, the conference moved to
Dallas and took place at the
Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Keynote speakers were bestselling mystery writer
Charlaine Harris, bestselling science fiction writer
Kevin J. Anderson, and photography writer
Me Ra Koh.
2016: The 2016 event took place April 23–24 at the
Fort Worth Convention Center in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Its keynote speakers were horror, fantasy and suspense author
Christopher Golden and veteran journalists
Tara McKelvey and
Thomas Kunkel.
2017: The 10th anniversary event featured the theme "InTENsify" and focused on rededicating oneself to one's writing goals. The conference returned to downtown Dallas and took place at the
Sheraton Dallas. Its keynote speakers were science fiction and fantasy author
Rachel Caine and memoirist and popular blogger
Stephanie Klein.
2018: After three years of trying different venues, the conference returned to the Hurst Conference Center, a move that proved popular with attendees. The keynote speaker was multi-published young adult science fiction author
Scott Westerfeld.
2019: The keynote speaker was noted science fiction author
Chuck Wendig. The conference added a trio of special guests: playwright and author
Shay Youngblood, bestselling author
Bob Mayer, who had been the keynote speaker in the event's 2nd year, and author Liara Tamani.
2020: 2020 saw the event canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: The conference was held virtually October 23–24 with a limited schedule of online classes and presenters.
2022: DFWCon will return to the Hurst Conference Center October 8–9. The keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Delilah Dawson. Registration is available at dfwcon.org. ==See also==