3rd Annual Upper Peninsula Writer’s Symposium

Join fellow writers for the 3rd Annual Upper Peninsula Writer’s Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT in Hessel, Michigan. This inspiring day of creativity, craft, and community features a keynote address by renowned author Karen Dionne, along with your choice of three breakout sessions designed to help writers strengthen their voice, expand their storytelling skills, and gain practical tools for the writing life.

Participants will enjoy interactive workshops on topics such as narrative possibility, poetry, writing style, image and tone, book cover design, and place-based storytelling. The ticket includes the keynote address, three breakout sessions, a catered lunch, and refreshments. Attendees are encouraged to select one session from each breakout block in advance to reserve their preferred workshops.

Whether you write fiction, memoir, poetry, or nonfiction, this symposium offers a welcoming space to learn, connect, and leave with renewed creative energy.

$75 per person. Includes keynote address, 3 of 6 breakout sessions, lunch, and snacks throughout the day to ensure you can focus and stay energized during this highly informative day for writers of all skill levels.

TO REGISTER: Call 906-484-1333 or register online at https://www.eventeny.com/events/ticket/?id=30530

Keynote Session presented by Karen Dionne

Karen Dionne is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of the acclaimed psychological suspense novel The Marsh King’s Daughter, a gripping thriller that became a major motion picture starring Daisy Ridley and Ben Mendelsohn. Her novels have been translated into more than 25 languages and have earned numerous honors, including the Barry Award for Best Novel and recognition as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and other national publications.

A longtime advocate for writers, Dionne is also the cofounder of the influential online writing community Backspace and has served on the board of directors for International Thriller Writers. Drawing from her own publishing journey—from aspiring writer to internationally recognized novelist—she inspires writers to persevere, trust the creative process, and continue pursuing their stories with dedication and resilience.

Dionne lives in Michigan, where the wilderness landscapes surrounding her home continue to shape the atmosphere and emotional depth of her fiction.

Choose Three Breakout Sessions

SESSION 1: 10:10 – 11:00 AM (Choose one of these two session) 

The Infinite Possibilities of Narrative
Presenter: Joseph D. Haske

This session will include a writing exercise and a philosophical discussion that addresses potential writing strategies. From the inception of a project to the revisionary stages, an author must remain open to every opportunity for improvement. This workshop/discussion will enable writers to consider multiple approaches to plot, subplot, character development, and many other aspects of narrative conception.

Finding Your Voice Through Poetry
Presenter: Ellen Lord

In this interactive workshop, poet Ellen Lord will guide participants through the creative process of writing poetry inspired by themes from Vigil. Attendees will explore imagery, emotion, rhythm, and personal storytelling while learning practical techniques for crafting meaningful poems. In a time when many seek connection, reflection, and healing, poetry offers a powerful way to process experiences and express authentic thoughts and feelings. Whether you are new to poetry or already writing, this session will encourage you to discover and strengthen your unique voice.

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SESSION 2: 11:10 – 12:00 PM (Choose one of these two session) 

Break Through the Familiar: New Approaches to Image, Tone, and Subject Matter
Presenter: Daniel Mendoza

Learn how to move beyond clichés and your own predictable writing patterns. Through generative exercises and guided shifts in perspective, workshop participants will explore how to disrupt their common writing habits and approach their poetry with greater flexibility and surprise. Ideal for poets looking for tools to keep their writing dynamic and engaging.

Success Signals for Writers: Know Your Writing-Style Color and Make It Help You Write Better
Presenter: Jule Covert

An interactive presentation to identify your writing and communication style so you can make your time at the keyboard more productive.

• Do you get frustrated when can’t write as easily as you’d like?
• Does something hold you back, that you can’t put your finger on?
• Come learn what your Writing-Style Color is. 

When you can identify your style then you can learn how to make it work to your advantage, minimize its weaknesses, and incorporate wearing a different color hat to get you out of the jam jar, resuscitate your muse, and get your writing back on track.

Take the quiz in advance at hjwords.com/resources then come learn about your writing-style color. The Success Signals for Writers quiz will also be available at the symposium.

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SESSION 3: 12:50 PM – 2:00 PM (Choose one of these two session) 

Designing Book Covers That Work: Understanding Your Genre and Avoiding Common Mistakes
Presenter: Daniel Mendoza

Create book cover ideas that communicate with readers and stand out in a crowded marketplace. This workshop will explore common, but fixable design issues. It will also consider the visual language of different genres, helping authors make insightful decisions when designing their book covers. Discover how to balance originality with clarity to ensure your cover connects to your target audience.

Place-Based Writing: Using Landscape and Memory to Shape Story
Presenter: Helen Raica-Klotz 

This breakout session explores how landscape, memory, and lived experience can deepen and shape compelling storytelling. Participants will learn techniques for using setting as more than background—transforming place into a living part of narrative and character development. Through guided prompts and discussion, writers will discover how personal memories, sensory details, and emotional connections to place can inspire authentic and powerful writing. Whether crafting fiction, memoir, or poetry, this session will help writers create stories grounded in atmosphere, meaning, and a strong sense of place.