San Francisco Writers Conference

What San Francisco Writers Conference does

The San Francisco Writers Conference (SFWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, that operates an annual four-day writers conference at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. The 23rd annual event is scheduled for February 11-14, 2027. The conference serves aspiring and published authors with 80+ sessions across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, children's/YA, poetry, screenwriting, self-publishing, marketing, and books-to-screen topics, drawing 500+ attendees and 100+ presenters including 25+ literary agents and acquiring editors from major publishing houses. Beyond the flagship event, SFWC runs four standalone summits (Poetry, Writing for Hollywood, Writing for Change, and a free Student Writers Summit), 3-hour Master Classes, Pro Appointments (paid consultations with agents, editors, coaches, and publicists), a monthly AMA Zoom series launched in 2023, writing contests, and scholarship programs.

Revenue is generated through tiered registration fees ($700-$895, with a $400 student/teacher tier), Master Classes ($99-$149), Pro Appointments ($50-$100 each), standalone summit registrations (e.g., $249 for Poetry Summit), sponsorships starting at $500, and a $10/month Patreon Foundation Partner subscription that monetizes recorded content. The organization employs 1-10 people, is led by Managing Director Lissa Provost with Director Emeritus Laurie McLean (co-founder of Fuse Literary Agency), and maintains a core venue partnership with Hyatt Regency San Francisco. There is no venture capital or institutional ownership; surplus is reinvested into programs and scholarships under the nonprofit's mission.

The technology layer is intentionally minimal — standard web platforms for registration, email marketing, Zoom for the AMA program, Patreon for subscriptions, and Discord/Facebook groups for community — and the underlying business is fundamentally human-mediated: faculty expertise, peer networking, and one-on-one industry access drive the value proposition. Geographic reach extends globally through international attendees and the Patreon channel, though the in-person event is anchored to a single San Francisco venue.

Name

San Francisco Writers Conference

Legal name

San Francisco Writers Conference

Website

https://sfwriters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The San Francisco Writers Conference is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an annual four-day writers conference at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, serving aspiring and published authors with 80+ sessions, 100+ presenters, and 25+ literary agents and acquiring editors, supplemented by standalone summits, Master Classes, Pro Appointments, and a Patreon subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Writing & Publishing Education Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Writers conference events
• Publishing industry networking
• Writing professional development
• Literary education services
• Creative writing workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Annual four-day conference registration with tiered pricing based on registration date (Early: $700, April: $765, August: $825, Final: $895) and student pricing ($400). This is the primary revenue driver.
2. Master Classes: 3-hour intensive workshops offered before and after the main conference, priced at $99-$149 per class. Open to both conference attendees and the general public, providing supplemental revenue outside the main event.
3. Pro Appointments and Consultations: Fee-based professional appointments including: Half-Hour Concierge Consultations ($100), 8-minute Agent/Editor Pitch appointments (first free, additional at $50), Professional Photo Shoots ($50), and Indie Editor Manuscript Reviews. Pro appointments generate revenue while also providing value to attendees.
4. Patreon Subscriptions: Monthly subscription at $10/month (Foundation Partner tier) providing access to conference video recordings, monthly AMA calls with agents/editors, AMA archives, and future patron discounts. Provides recurring revenue and extends engagement year-round.
5. Summit Registrations: Standalone registrations for specialized summits including Poetry Summit ($249), Writing for Hollywood Summit, and Writing for Change Summit, which can be purchased separately from the main conference.
6. Sponsorships and Exhibitor Fees: Custom sponsorship packages starting at $500, exhibitor tables, program advertising, bag sponsorship, and scholarship funding opportunities. Sponsors include publishers, literary organizations, and writing-related service companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The San Francisco Writers Conference operates an annual four-day in-person writers' conference held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, supplemented by standalone summits (Poetry, Hollywood, Writing for Change, Student Writers), 3-hour Master Classes, Pro Appointments with literary agents and editors, and a year-round Patreon subscription providing access to conference video recordings and monthly AMA calls with publishing industry professionals.

Product overview

The San Francisco Writers Conference operates a platform-plus-events model centered around its annual four-day conference (the 23rd annual scheduled for February 11-14, 2027), supplemented by standalone summits, Master Classes, and a subscription Patreon program. The core product is the main conference featuring 100+ presenters, 25+ literary agents/editors, and 80+ sessions. Add-on modules include the Poetry Summit, Writing For Hollywood Summit, Writing For Change Summit, Student Writers Summit, and Sips & Stories After Dark events. Master Classes offer 3-hour intensives available separately from the main conference. The organization also provides year-round value through monthly AMA video calls and a Patreon subscription offering video recordings—all tied together by Pro Appointments that connect attendees with industry professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SFWC Annual Conference The main four-day annual San Francisco Writers Conference featuring 100+ presenters, 25+ literary agents and acquiring editors, and 80+ sessions covering fiction, nonfiction, traditional and self-publishing, memoir, children's/YA, poetry, marketing, business, tech, and books-to-screen topics. Includes meals, summits, gala, and one free agent/editor pitch appointment.
• Master Classes 3-hour paid intensive workshops offered before and after the main conference, taught by industry professionals and open to both registered conference attendees and the general public at $99-$149 per class.
• Writing For Hollywood Summit One-day summit focused on screenwriting craft and career guidance, featuring panels on story structure, pitching Hollywood agents and executives, and screenplay fundamentals. Available as standalone registration or included with full conference.
• Poetry Summit One-day poetry summit featuring panels, poet readings, and networking opportunities, culminating in a Poetry & Jazz evening event. Standalone registration at $249 or included with full conference.
• Writing For Change Summit One-day summit for authors writing about social change, covering craft, publishing, platform building, and promotion for change-related books. Open to the general public without full conference registration.
• Student Writers Summit Free one-day event for high school and college students (13+), providing professional feedback from literary agents, editors, and publishing professionals on writing and getting published.
• Sips & Stories After Dark Evening author signing event featuring wine, live music, and book sales, open to the public with authors from multiple genres.
• AMA (Ask-Me-Anything) Series Monthly interactive Zoom video meetings where attendees ask questions to publishing industry professionals. Launched in May 2023 under the San Francisco Writers Foundation and included with Patreon subscription.
• Pro Appointments One-on-one consultations with literary agents, acquiring editors, indie editors, book coaches, publicists, and self-publishing service providers. Includes a free 8-minute pitch appointment with registration, plus paid options: additional pitches ($50), Half-Hour Concierge Consultations ($100), Professional Photo Shoots ($50), and Indie Editor Manuscript Reviews.
• Patreon Subscription Foundation Partner subscription at $10/month providing unlimited access to conference video recordings, monthly AMA calls with agents/editors, AMA archives, and patron discounts. Provides recurring year-round access to SFWC content.
• Writing Contests Annual writing contests offering opportunities for writers to gain recognition and prizes across multiple genre categories.
• Scholarships Financial assistance programs for writers to attend the conference, including various scholarship opportunities open to applicants including international students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ presenters and 25+ literary agents/editors available for networking and pitch appointments
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 826 NationalminorOthersSFWC has donated to 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students ages 6-18 with their creative writing skills.
• BINC (Better Together, Inc.)minorOthersSFWC has donated to BINC, which supports independent bookstores and the communities they serve.
• Children's Book ProjectminorOthersSFWC has donated to the Children's Book Project, which helps get books into the hands of children who need them.
• EveryLibraryminorOthersSFWC has donated to EveryLibrary, a political action committee dedicated to library funding and advocacy.
• LitquakeminorOthersSFWC has donated to Litquake, San Francisco's annual literary festival.
• WNBA (Women's National Book Association)minorOthersSFWC has donated to the Women's National Book Association SF Chapter, supporting women in the book industry.
• Mount St. Mary's UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of the San Francisco Writers Conference, supporting the organization's mission.
• DLA EditorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor providing editorial services to conference attendees.
• baipa (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor supporting independent publishing in the Bay Area.
• New AlexandriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor providing writing/publishing services.
• Swell (Books on Swell)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor providing audio publishing platform services.
• LaunchMyBookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor providing book launch services to authors.
• Gatekeeper PressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor providing self-publishing services.
• Hyatt Regency San FranciscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe primary venue partner for the annual conference and Master Classes. Located on Market Street across from the Ferry Building and next to the Embarcadero BART station. Offers room block discounts for conference attendees.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Survivor's Summit by Killer Nashville: Killer Nashville is a writers conference focused on crime, thriller, and mystery genres, offering agent pitches and craft workshops in the same multi-day format as SFWC. It overlaps with SFWC's books-to-screen and broader publishing tracks while being more genre-specialized.

Broad incumbents

• Romance Writers of America (RWA) Annual Conference: RWA's annual conference is a large industry event for romance writers featuring agents, editors, and intensive craft workshops. While genre-specific, it operates the same conference-plus-pitch model as SFWC and competes for romance-oriented attendees in the broader writing community.
• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference: AWP runs one of the largest annual writing conferences in North America (typically 12,000+ attendees), with broad coverage of creative writing, MFA programs, and literary publishing. While much larger and more academic/creative-writing focused than SFWC, it is the most prominent peer for writers' conferences and competes for similar faculty and attendee attention.

Direct peers

• ThrillerFest (International Thriller Writers): ThrillerFest is an annual writers conference with strong agent/editor access and craft focus, similar to SFWC's pitch-appointment model. It is genre-specific but otherwise comparable in structure, pricing, and target attendee.
• Writer's Digest Annual Conference: Writer's Digest hosts an annual writers conference featuring agents, editors, and craft workshops, with a similar pitch-appointment model to SFWC. It serves the same aspiring and traditionally-publishing author segment and competes directly for the same agent/editor faculty.
• Pacific Northwest Writers Conference: Pacific Northwest Writers Conference is an annual multi-day event offering workshops, agent pitches, and craft sessions for aspiring authors. It targets the same writing-pipeline attendees as SFWC, with similar tiered registration and agent-editor appointment offerings.

Emerging players

• The Loft Literary Center: The Loft is a nonprofit literary arts organization offering classes, workshops, conferences, and community programs for writers. It is comparable to SFWC in nonprofit mission and educational offering, though with a year-round classroom model rather than a single annual conference.
• Hugo House: Hugo House is a Seattle-based nonprofit literary center offering classes, workshops, and conferences for writers at all levels. It overlaps with SFWC in mission and craft education, but operates as a year-round community rather than annual conference.
• Capclave (Washington Science Fiction Association): Capclave is a smaller regional writers conference with author panels, agent/editor access, and craft sessions. While significantly smaller than SFWC and focused on speculative fiction, it shares the nonprofit, multi-day, pitch-appointment conference format.

Others

• BookExpo / BookCrave: BookExpo (and successor trade events) is the major publishing industry trade show connecting authors, agents, editors, and publishers. While more trade-focused than SFWC, it addresses the same author-to-agent-to-publisher pipeline that SFWC's pitch appointments facilitate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SanFranciscoWritersConference
• Xx.com/sfwc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-francisco-writers-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Writers Conference