Eig Heads In the Trenches Writers Conference in Evanston

Jonathan Eig, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, will headline the Workshop's In the Trenches 2026 Writers Conference, a two-day writers conference set to take place in Evanston from November 14-15. The conference, which features craft sessions, a master class, and pitches with agents and editors, is designed to provide writers with valuable insights and networking opportunities.

The conference will feature more than twenty sessions covering various aspects of writing, including craft, publishing, and the writing life. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics such as characterization, building worthy antagonists, and sustaining conflict, as well as sessions on interiority and the current state of children's book publishing. Additionally, there will be panels and workshops on memoir, worldbuilding, and comedy, as well as sessions on indie publishing, querying, submitting to literary journals, and public readings.

Writers can also book one-on-one pitch appointments with literary agents and editors from various publishing houses, including Trident Media Group, Sourcebooks, Dafina/Kensington Books, Thompson Literary Agency, Talcott Notch, Neon Literary, The Purcell Agency, and Page Turner Literary Agency, among others. These appointments offer writers the chance to present their work to industry professionals and receive personalized feedback and guidance.

The conference is open to both new and experienced writers, with full conference passes priced at $150 for non-members and $135 for Evanston Writers Workshop members. Single-day passes are available for $90, with a discounted rate of $80 for members. The Evanston Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary organization based in Evanston, Illinois, has been nurturing writers and building community since 2007. The organization offers both online and in-person critique groups, workshops, and special events for writers across all genres.

The Evanston Writers Workshop will be hosting the Workshop's In the Trenches 2026 Writers Conference, a two-day event featuring craft sessions, a master class, and pitches with agents and editors. The conference, which will take place in Evanston from November 14-15, will provide writers with valuable insights and networking opportunities. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics such as characterization, building worthy antagonists, and sustaining conflict, as well as sessions on interiority and the current state of children's book publishing. Additionally, there will be panels and workshops on memoir, worldbuilding, and comedy, as well as sessions on indie publishing, querying, submitting to literary journals, and public readings. Writers can also book one-on-one pitch appointments with literary agents and editors from various publishing houses, including Trident Media Group, Sourcebooks, Dafina/Kensington Books, Thompson Literary Agency, Talcott Notch, Neon Literary, The Purcell Agency, and Page Turner Literary Agency, among others. These appointments offer writers the chance to present their work to industry professionals and receive personalized feedback and guidance. The Evanston Writers Workshop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary organization based in Evanston, Illinois, has been nurturing writers and building community since 2007. The organization offers both online and in-person critique groups, workshops, and special events for writers across all genres.