The 28th Napa Valley Writers’ Conference July 27—Aug 1, 2008

Participants register for either the poetry or the fiction workshops, but panels and talks are open to all. Workshops meet for two hours daily over five days. The schedule also includes talks by faculty writers, panels featuring visiting editors and agents, and readings by the faculty at Napa Valley wineries.

A typical day looks something like this:

• Breakfast: from 8 am
• Poetry lecture: 9-10
• Workshops: 10:15 - 12:30 pm
• Lunch
• Fiction lecture: 1:15 - 2:30
• Afternoons are usually free.
• Evening readings: 7 pm

Book Manuscript Critiques

For those who have completed a full-length manuscript, the Conference offers, as an additional service, a limited number of Book Manuscript Critiques. Nan Cohen, Poetry Director, will read and comment on poetry manuscripts; Andrea Bewick, Fiction Director, will read and comment on fiction manuscripts. Writers will receive detailed written comments and meet with their reader for a one-hour tutorial during the Conference.

The fee for this service will be $700 for fiction manuscripts up to 250 pages in length or poetry manuscripts up to 100 pages; $800 for fiction manuscripts between 251 and 350 pages. If you have a manuscript longer than 350 pages, please contact the Managing Director for the fee. If you are interested in having a Book Manuscript Critique, please check the appropriate box on the application form.

Location

The Conference will be held at the Upper Valley Campus located in the historic town of St. Helena, about 25 miles north of Napa, and about two hours’ drive north of the San Francisco or Oakland airports.

Housing and lodging

We offer some community housing options for our participants.

There are many lodging possibilities in St. Helena, as well as in nearby Napa and Calistoga. It’s best to make reservations as soon as you can, since beds tend to fill up during the summer. In St. Helena, the El Bonita Motel and the St Helena Inn offer good value close to campus. Also look in Calistoga and Napa if you’re on a tight budget.

In addition, the Spanish Villa Inn in St Helena offers special rates for conference participants. Normally $175–185 per night, room rates are approx. $125–135.

Those wishing to camp should look into Bothe-Napa State Park, only five miles from our campus.

We’re taking advantage of our setting in the Napa Valley and have scheduled some evening events at wineries up and down the valley. You’ll find it helpful to have a car during the week, but if you don’t, try to book rooms as close to the college as you can. We’ll arrange carpools to evening events.

Travel to the Conference

Evans Airport Service runs from the San Francisco and Oakland airports to Napa and Yountville. Call (707) 255-1559 for schedules. The shuttle runs north only as far as Yountville, about 10 miles south of St. Helena. Participants can arrange for rides from the airport or the Evans terminal through our email discussion group (see below).

We begin with check-in and orientation at the St. Helena campus Sunday afternoon, July 27, and finish with a brief closing ceremony around 1 pm Friday, Aug 1.

Roommates and ride-sharing

Once acceptance notices are sent in June, we will set up an online forum where you can offer or request rides and roommates.

Food

We will provide breakfast and lunch on campus served to us by Barbara and Christa, executive chefs of the Napa Valley Cooking School.

On Sunday night we’ll have an informal reception with light supper, wine and other beverages, and we’ll host a picnic on Thursday.

On the other nights, you can plan to dine anywhere you’d like. The Napa Valley is home to some of the finest restaurants in the country, so plan to splurge at least one night (we’ll hand out annotated restaurant lists when you arrive). There is a wide variety available, both in expense and cuisine.

Computers

We have typewriters and Internet-linked PCs at the St. Helena campus. Unfortunately, there is no student store at this campus and no other source for computer supplies nearby.

Clothing and weather

The weather in the Napa Valley can vary from the 90s during the day to the 50s at night and early in the morning, so bring a range of clothing. Dress for all events is casual.

Arrival

The Conference begins Sunday afternoon, July 27, with check-in (3:45 pm) and orientation (4:30 pm) at the Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus in St. Helena.

You’ll have a chance to meet briefly with your workshop leader. We’ll have a reception and light supper in the courtyard, and then attend the first faculty readings. Poetry and fiction workshops will begin the next morning.