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Registration for the Writers' Workshop closes October 1 

Since its beginning, the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference has nurtured a sharing environment for writers by encouraging conversation with some of the nation's best practitioners of the craft. This year, you can deepen your Mayborn Conference experience by sharing your work in a writers' workshop led by a noted professional. 
 
Whether you're writing a memoir, reported nonfiction, an essay, or a nonfiction book, when you attend a Mayborn Conference workshop you'll receive and share helpful feedback within a circle of your fellow writers. 
 
Before the workshop, members will submit their work and receive and read other members' submissions. You'll read others' submissions in advance. 
During the workshop, which occurs on the Mayborn Conference's opening day, your leader will help each writer improve and refine their own and others' work. 

Advantages of a Mayborn Conference Workshop 

  • Small, intimate groups  
  • Experienced leaders
  • Constructive, supportive discussions
  • Respect for each writer's confidentiality
  • A chance to grow as a writer 

Separate workshops for: 

  • Short nonfiction (maximum 5,000 words) — Can be a freestanding piece or one or more book chapters.
  • Book Projects (maximum 5,000 words) — Can be one or two short chapters. 

Requirements 

  • Submissions must be your own original, unpublished work. To protect literary integrity, workshop organizers will check submissions for plagiarism.
  • Work created by or with the assistance of generative AI is prohibited. Use of formatting and proofreading tools (Grammarly, etc.) is allowed. Workshop organizers will check submissions for AI use.
  • All workshop members agree to read other members' work before the workshop and be prepared to offer informed and constructive feedback on the work itself.
  • All workshop members agree to treat other writers and their work with courtesy and respect.
  • All workshop members agree not to share any other writer's work outside the workshop without the writer's permission. 

Schedule

Before workshops 

  • Aug 15: Registration opens. When registered, workshop members will receive access to the Mayborn Conference secure submission portal to submit their work.
  • Oct 1: Writer’s Workshop registration closes
  • Oct 3: Last day for registered workshop members to submit their work
  • Oct 10: Workshop members will receive access to other members' work
  • Oct 24: Workshops in Sycamore Hall on the UNT Campus   

Workshops in Sycamore Hall, UNT Campus 

  • Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 on the UNT Campus, locations TBA.
  • 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Check in
  • 12:00–2:30 p.m. SESSION 1
  • You'll be in either the short nonfiction workshop or the book-length manuscript workshop. (Get lunch in advance on your own -- many choices in the UNT Union and just off campus)
  • 2:30–3:00 p.m. BREAK
  • 3:00–5:00 p.m. SESSION 2
  • 5:00 p.m. Workshops Conclude  
  • Participants then join the Mayborn Conference afternoon and evening activities. 

Registration Details

  • Registration for the full Mayborn Conference is required for writers’ workshop registration at https://themayborn.com. 
  • Workshop registration is an add-on for the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference through the same registration portal. 
  • Workshop add-on registration is $50. (Mayborn students can register at a discounted price.)