News Release
The Grace College Department of English, Literature, and Languages is pleased to announce it will host the 2nd annual Winona Christian Writers Conference on the Grace campus this summer from Thursday, July 16 to Saturday, July 18.
The three-day conference costs $425 and offers six workshop tracks for attendees: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, writing for children, writing for young adults, and sonnet-writing.
“We’re excited to be back for a second year, building on the fantastic inaugural conference we had last July,” said Dr. John Poch. “We already have registered a good number of returning participants along with some new faces. Instead of four workshops, this year we will have six. We expect to be completely full again this year.”
“The Winona Christian Writers Conference aims to create a nurturing environment where writers can deepen their craft, develop their creative voices and engage with like-minded individuals,” said Dr. Lauren Rich, director of the English Program. “With its rich literary and Christian history and a picturesque location, Winona Lake offers an ideal setting for writers to reflect, learn, and grow.”
The conference was born from a shared vision between Dr. Rich and Dr. Poch, to create an affordable, craft-focused writing conference that fosters creativity. Their vision has been made possible by the generosity of Luke and Dawn Grossman and many other donors.
Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, 2025-26 Karlson Scholar at Bethel Seminary and author of You Have a Calling and The Evangelical Imagination, will serve as the keynote speaker at the conference.
The conference will feature six distinguished faculty, each an award-winning author in their respective fields: Dr. George David Clark will lead the poetry track, Shemaiah Gonzalez will lead the creative nonfiction/memoir track, Sally Thomas will lead the fiction track, Shannon Anderson will lead the children’s lit course, Dr. Gary Schmidt will lead the writing for young adults workshop, and Dr. Poch will lead the sonnet-writing workshop.
In addition to the conference faculty, guest writers Marjorie Maddox, Claire Swinarski, David Marsh, and Stephen Copeland will contribute to the conference. Attendees will participate in manuscript consultations, craft talks, a keynote banquet, an open mic event and a publishing roundtable. The conference will also include a guided nature walk, a tour of the Billy Sunday Home, and book signings. The conference is open to adults 18 and older and writers of all experience levels.
“Whether you’re just starting your writing journey or you’re an experienced author, the Winona Christian Writing Conference provides a unique opportunity to grow in your craft and your faith,” said Poch.
The conference fee includes most meals, individual manuscript consultation, and a swag bag. For additional information, email wcwc@grace.edu.
