Live Conference

April 29, 2025, 12:00 PM – May 1, 2025

Catholic Writers Guild

CWCL is Going to Naperville, IL!

The Catholic Writers Guild will hold its annual live conference April 29, 2025, 12:00 PM – May 1, 2025, in conjunction with the Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) and the Protestant Church Owned Publishers Association (PCPA). We’ll be meeting at the Mariott Naperville, 1801 N Naper Blvd, Naperville, IL 60563.

Registration for the conference and info about the hotel room block are forthcoming. Registration is made through the Association of Catholic Publishers. (You do not have to join the Association of Catholic Publishers to register; proceed to register as a guest.)

2025 Registration TBA

“The CWG has been a blessing at both local and national levels. With the encouragement and support from you, I have truly grown as a fledgling writer. I look forward to next year!”

Paula Babadi

“Through all this week’s seminars I was so encouraged by such friendly members, and especially the liberty to express our faith throughout the writing process.”

Colleen Blevins

The 2024 Schedule

audience at CWCL2024

2025 Coming Soon!

Tuesday, May 30

12:30 – 1:00 Check-in
1:00 – 1:45 Opening Session (led by Antony Barone Kolenc and CWG Board members)
2:00 – 2:45 Podcasting Breaks and Mistakes for Authors (Antony Barone Kolenc)
3:00 – 3:45 The Importance of the Best POV (Michelle Buckman)
4:00 – 4:45 A Crash Course in Course Creation (Erin McCole Cupp)
5:00 – 5:45 KEYNOTE: Write to Change the Culture (Alexis Walkenstein)
7:30 – 9:00 Fine-tune Your Elevator Pitch (Karina L. Fabian & Ann Margaret Lewis) – Erie Room, Second Floor

Wednesday, May 31

9:00 – 9:45    Nature Prompts: Seeding Your Writing Skills and Growing in Faith (Margaret Rose Realy, Obl OSB)
10:00 – 10:45    Panel: Self-Publishing (Moderator: Annie Harton; Panel: Kate Frantz, Maria Riley, Phillip Campbell, G.M. Baker)
11:00 – 11:45    Who Is Your Ideal Reader? (Stephanie Landsem)
12:00 – 1:00    Meals with Mentors
1:30 – 2:15    KEYNOTE: Beyond the Memoir: Turning Life Experiences into Books That Help Others (Vinita Hampton Wright)
2:30 – 3:15    How Being Trendy Builds Engagement (Allison Gingras)
3:30 – 4:15    Panel: Traditional Publishing (Moderator: Amanda Lauer; Panel: Antony Barone Kolenc; Amy Cattapan; Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB; and Ann Margaret Lewis)
4:30- 5:15    Becoming a Resilient Writer (Jennifer Thomas)
5:30 – 6:00    Closing Session & Book Raffle

Thursday, June 1

8:00 – 12:00 Pitch sessions – Erie, Ontario, & Huron Rooms, Second Floor (by appointment only)