ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (June 18, 2026) — The David R Collins Writers’ Conference (formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Writers’ Conference) will return to the campus of Augustana College this summer, June 24-27. We’ll be sharing complete info about the Conference here soon — please save the date and check follow us for more info so you can be among the first to get all Conference updates and info about all of our other programs and opportunities.
We will continue to offer scholarships to students, veterans/active-duty service members, and those with financial need.
Attendees will hone their craft in intimate, intensive three-day workshops and will also have the option to participate in book pitches, a faculty reading, and a keynote event featuring Conference faculty.
This year’s conference offers four three-day workshops, led by accomplished faculty members, and returning Midwest Writing Center favorites:
● “Writing the Personal” Nonfiction/Memoir Workshop with Cyn Kitchen
● “Beginning Anew” Short Fiction Workshop with Adam al-Sirgany
● “Generative Poetry Marathon” Poetry Workshop with Margaret Yapp
● “The Arc of the Novel” Novel Writing Workshop with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
Complete course descriptions as well as bios for the Conference’s distinguished faculty are available on the MWC website: mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/david-r-collins-writers-conference/.
Manuscript Critique with Faculty
Cyn Kitchen will be offering Manuscript Critiques. Five spots are available for ten to fifteen pages of Creative Nonfiction (prose). Cost is $125 and includes a private 45-minute meeting.
Adam al-Sirgany will be offering Manuscript Critiques for writers of any genre. ten spots are available for up to 12 pages of writing. Cost is $50 and includes a private thirty-minute meeting.
Margaret Yapp will be offering Manuscript Critiques for poetry. Five spots are available for ten to fifteen poems (ten to fifteen pages). $60 includes a private 45-minute meeting.
Book Pitches — by appointment with MWC Press and University of Iowa Press
Ten minutes to pitch your book to a panel from MWC Press or the University of Iowa Press. Pitch times will be scheduled with authors in advance of the Conference. Cost is $10, and pre-registration is required.
MWC Press: The panel requests each author bring a one-page summary of their pitch — brief synopsis of the manuscript, brief author bio/other publications, brief outline of marketing ideas/strategy, etc. The panel will take these summaries and their input from the pitch sessions back to the MWC Board of Directors and related committees to make a final decision. Authors whose work advances through this process may be asked to provide more detailed information.
University of Iowa Press: Anyone pitching to University of Iowa Press will be expected to be familiar with and meet the guidelines laid out on this page: uipress.uiowa.edu/resources/prospective-authors/submit-proposal.
The events below are open to the public:
Lunch and Learn (Friday and Saturday)
Allison Means from University of Iowa Press will host two one-hour brown-bag talks. Thursday she will present and answer questions on the Life Cycle of the Book and Friday she will present and answer questions on Publishing. Each session is $20 for members and $30 for non-members and open to the public.
Conference Kick Off Reading, Community Writing Workshop, and Open Mic
Wednesday, June 24, at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave, Rock Island, Illinois)
6PM — Free writing class
7PM — open mic
8PM — Featured readers Eric Baus and Andrea Rexilius, opening reader Sarah Elgatian Conference Faculty Reading and Participant Open Mic Thursday, June 25 at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave, Rock Island, Illinois)
Social at 6PM, Faculty Reading at 7pm, Participant Open Mic at 8PM
The David R Collins Writers’ Conference offers quality writing instruction at affordable prices with a dash of Midwest hospitality. Register today through PayPal at the MWC website (mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/david-r-collins-writers-conference/drc-conference-registr ation/), over the phone (309-732-7330), or via e-mail (mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org).
The 2026 David R Collins Writers’ Conference is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and grantors: Modern Woodmen of America, Founding Sponsor; the Illinois Arts Council Agency; Augustana College; and Rozz-Tox.
