Who knew such a high-quality, high-powered event would take place right in our own backyard, or rather a 45-minute flight away?
I did, after I attended the Kaua‘i Writers Conference in 2019 — the before times of the pandemic. Launched in 2014, the in-person event was canceled for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. In the meantime, Kaua‘i Writers Conference (KWC) went online in mid-November 2020. Every Sunday for an hour, we listened to and engaged with the best writers, teachers, publishers and agents in the book business.
This year, I physically attended KWC 2022 at the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort in Lihu‘e. Many of us recognized each other from our faces in Zoom squares and renewed our bonds in-person. Sixteen offerings of master classes ran from Nov. 7-10 and the conference followed with over 35 workshops and sessions throughout the Veteran’s Day weekend on Nov. 11-13. Writers were thrilled to be physically back together again as some of the most successful authors, screenwriters and producers generously shared their time, talents, humor and wisdom.
I attended a master class called Inside the World of Publishing, taught by Lisa Sharkey, senior vice president of creative development at Harper Collins Publishers. I’d met Lisa at the KWC 2019. She encouraged me to write the memoir I’ve been working on ever since.
Lisa’s creative genius was on full display in an intimate setting with 14 students. She guided us through the life cycle of two books. Lisa made plenty of room for questions and answers.
She facilitated each participant’s discussion of their own work in progress. Through revealing and emotional discovery, our group supported and uplifted each other. Some of us will continue our writing journeys together in a newly formed writers group.
In an agent pitch session, I met Jeff Kleinman, founding partner of Folio Literary Management LLC in New York. After a pleasant chat about the Lanikai Pillbox trail, Mount Olomana and Maunawili Valley, he read page one of the 20 pages I’d poured my heart onto for two and a half years.
In his New-York-style direct way, Jeff asked, “Where’s the emotion, What are the stakes?” Then he checked my verbs —good active verbs, oops here’s a passive voice on page nine. The writing is strong (that line I’ll frame), but he would pass on this. Then he returned to praise the beauty of Hawai‘i and how lucky I am to live here.
In a later session led by Meg Wolitzer (The Female Persuasion), Paula McLain (The Paris Wife) and Priya Parmar (Venessa and Her Sister), I was the first one to blurt out my burning question: How do you get emotion and stakes crammed onto the first page?
Meg circled around the word “crammed” and suggested a “filled in” perspective. She gave sage advice that only a veteran writer could: without looking at the page, rewrite it, giving yourself permission to let go of all the work on that page. The class of 50 sat in awe through discussions, questions and answers filled with grace and reality checks.
Jim Burke (president of production at Focus Features) talked about adapting a book to film as he did with “The Descendants.” He compared the process to the game Jenga — what pieces can be removed and the story structure still stand?
At a beachside lunch buffet, Hawai‘i’s own “local haole” Stuart Coleman spoke about his life journey and process for writing Eddie Would Go. One night, attendees experienced an exclusive film showing of “Mission: Joy — Finding Happiness in Troubled Times”— the story of the enduring and deep friendship between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Spiritual writing — a session with Alan Cohen (A Deep Breath of Life) and Debra Engle (The Only Little Prayer You Need) revealed what is driving this fast growing genre. People around the world are searching for meaning. These are just a few examples of intriguing takeaways from my perspective.
David Katz, director of the Kaua‘i Writers Conference, once again pulled off an event extraordinaire. He said this year, 40 faculty and 320 writers — aspiring, emerging, seasoned and best-selling — gathered from across the USA, including 90 Hawai‘i residents.
Prior to the pandemic, writers came from Australia, Canada, Europe and as far away as Mongolia. I’m certain, in time, international attendees will return.
The next in-person Kaua‘i Writers Conference is scheduled for Nov. 6-12, 2023 in Lihu‘e. KWC Online started up again on Nov. 20.
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Betty Bowen Vega grew up in the deep South, USA. Lucky to live Hawai‘i for 20 years, she calls Kailua home and resides with her husband and energetic terrier. During her 33 years of federal service, Betty traveled the world and visited more than 20 countries. She is mother to four grown sons and yutu to 10 grandchildren. Betty captures her experiences in memoir and short stories.
