ABOUT

Who We Are

Rochester Writers is a community of writers that supports one another to expand your writing voice, inspire your creative ideas, provide opportunities, and to propel your writing career forward. While mostly writers and authors, we have illustrators, photographers, editors, agents, booksellers, and others from the creative world join our meetings and attend our events.

Michigan’s Best One Day Conference!

The Rochester Writers’ Conference began in 2008 when founder & organizer, Michael Dwyer, saw a want and a need for professional development in the Southeast Michigan area for new, working, and published writers. The inaugural and second annual events were held at Rochester College (now Rochester Christian University) and then moved to Oakland University in 2010.

The Annual Fall Conference in October is a traditional writers’ conference for fiction and non-fiction writers with a variety of genres presented in Lecture, Workshop, and Panel Discussion formats. Writing is a business – professional development will help writers and authors succeed with their writing goals. More than just a Michigan writing workshop, Rochester Writers brings in successful authors, literary agents, and engaging speakers.

The annual fall conference ran as virtual events in 2020 & 2021, and returned to an in-person event in 2022.

The Annual Spring Conference began in 2014 and was put on hold in 2020. It is a focused approach – topic, genre, business – that changes for each event.

2014 – Story structure for authors of novels, short stories, and film.
2015 – Building online tools with social media, websites, and blogging for writers
2016 – Crafting and writing characters
2017 – Writing for children and young adults (YA)
2018 – The Concise Writer (brevity in action)
2019 – All about Self-Publishing

2014 Keynote Speaker Lev Raphael - Photo by Sonya Julie

Keynote Speaker Lev Raphael at the 2014 Rochester Writers’ Conference

Writer’s Night Out is an intimate evening with 2-3 speakers, food and beverage, a yummy desert, and lots of time to meet other writers. Held on a weekday evening at the Rochester Hills Museum, this event offers writers a chance to socialize, learn, and network. An optional tour of the museum teaches writers about the area’s dynamic history.

About Our Events

Many writers’ conferences are multi-day expensive events. Conference-goers may spend $200-300 per day to attend, over and above the cost of transportation and accommodations. Part of our plan is to make this an easy one-day event to attend for a reasonable rate. You don’t have to travel to New York or L.A. to find good, effective writing instruction, to meet other authors, and to move your career forward.

Refreshments all day, a full lunch, and an entertaining keynote address enhance the learning experience. Time to network is available too – bring business cards – make connections.

Presenting authors will have their books and materials available for sale.

Local writers’ groups and regional authors are involved with making the event happen each October. Most presenters are Michigan based or have a strong connection to the area. The event is truly Made in Michigan.

Keynote Speaker Stan Williams at the 2012 Rochester Writers’ Conference

Please Note: All events take place in the Oakland Center of Oakland University (2200 N Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309). Use parking lot 1 (P1) and walk East for the shortest distance into the Oakland Center. The Oakland Center is positioned between the parking lot and the Clock Tower. Look for Bright Yellow Signs. The Oakland Center is #13 on the Campus Map.