Back by Popular Demand!
Open Mike Night

This year, the Heartland Writers Conference will reprise the popular "Open Mike Night," an informal venue for writers to read their works aloud from 9:30 p.m. to midnight (and possibly beyond) on Friday night. In this coffee-house-style setting writers will have ten minutes to read excerpts from their work -- published or work in progress -- in any genre from poetry to nonfiction. Sign-up sheets will be available at the registration desk throughout the conference until all time blocks have been filled. Come prepared to participate or just to sit back, relax and have fun, but don't miss the excitement!

Why Attend Heartland 2000?

"Writers conferences are a great way to get motivated and to learn about your craft from successful professionals. The competitions and awards are an important way to distinguish yourself and earn the attention of agents and publishers."
- Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer's Journey and 1998 Heartland Writers Conference faculty member

"I've participated in many writers conferences, and the Heartland Writers Conference is one of the very best I've seen. Its sponsors, Heartland Writers Guild, are extraordinarily successful at connecting attendees with the publishing professionals they need to meet to get published. I recommend this conference wholeheartedly." - Evan Marshall, of the Evan Marshall Literary Agency and 1995, 1997 and 2000 conference faculty member

"The money I spent on the HWG conference was the best writing investment I ever made. No matter what your writing interests are or where you are in your writing career, the HWG conference has something to offer." - Jeanie Stewart, young adult author

"When I first attended Heartland Writers, I had no idea how truly valuable this group could be to me. Heartland has been the backbone of my growing in the publishing business. Its members gave me knowledge that I needed to publish, friendship and kind words to encourage me onward, and a host of connections that have been worth their weight in gold." - Shirleen Sando, president and marketing director of Skyward Publishing and author of Beyond Low-Fat Baking: Cancer Fighting Food for the Millennium.