New Roads for the Santa
Barbara Writers Conference,
An Interview With Marcia Meier
Melinda Palacio -- June 12, 2005
Marcia Meier’s interest in the Santa Barbara Writers Conference began when she herself was a student of the conference. She beams when discussing the old days when the SBWC was held at the Miramar in Montecito. And she’s even more exciting about becoming the new executive director of the conference.
Although this year marks Meier’s first year at running the SBWC, she’s been heavily involved in the conference’s public relations since 1997 and has added some new features such as the Fall Environmental Writing and Poetry Conference, October 27-30 at El Capitan Ranch with two-time Poet Laureate Robert Hass as the keynote speaker and the weekend intensives(*link to my article*) at the Villa Rosa Inn.
The idea for the
weekend intensives started with Barnaby Conrad’s suggestion
that Meier open a school for writers in Santa Barbara. The ability to
take advantage of the conference’s diverse faculty resulted in
the intensive weekends, a workshop series which Meier describes as a
win-win for everybody. “The intensives would attrac
t people who
don’t know about the conference, “ she said. “It
also helps people who come to the conference who want more
individualized attention.”
The weekend intensives have been highly praised by attendees for the individual attention and opportunity to read a complete draft of a short manuscript. weekend intensives have a different theme and workshop leader. “Each one has its own personality,” said Meier. “And I’m finding that the fewer people we have, the better it is. It’s worked out very well. We’re doing them in the Fall and Winter.”
As a professional newspaper writer and editor for over 20 years, Meier knows what SBWC is all about and how valuable the weeklong event is to writers--she’s also been inspired to write some fiction and is currently working on a children’s book.
“Writing is really important to me. I love books. I love writers. I love the whole idea of helping people learn how to write. I’ve been a teacher. I love the idea of the conference. I love the energy and the experience and the excitement that people get.”
Meier is dedicated to preserving the qualities that have made SBWC so popular over the last three decades. In fact, she says she can’t think of anything about the conference she would get rid of. Some of the conference favorites such as the opening lecture by Ray Bradbury and the pirate workshops, now with three workshop leaders, won’t be compromised.
Last year, Meier made a point of attending every single workshop the conference had to offer. Don’t ask her how she did it. She was only able to stay for ten minutes at some sessions, but says she wanted to get a sense of what the conference holds for everybody.
One of Meier’s special interest is promoting young writers. Her own daughter, Kendall, is twelve years old and has inspired Meier to give special attention to writers under the age of 25. Next year, the conference will feature an official “young writers track.” This year, Meier is giving away scholarships to several local high school students. “My passion is helping young writers,” said Meier. “There’s nothing in Santa Barbara in the summer for teenage writers.”
Seasoned writers who dream of getting a chance to pitch their book to an agent will have over 28 agents to choose from during “agents day” on Tuesday.
Pulling all of the pieces of the conference together has fortified Meier’s appreciation of conference founders, Mary and Barnaby Conrad. Meier is especially proud of this year’s tribute book to Ray Bradbury and the first annual Founder’s Award--this year’s recipient is Fanny Flag. “Fannie Flag represents the kind of student who comes and experiences the conference and gets confidence,” said Meier. “She’s had two wonderful best sellers.”
Meier explains that what makes the SBWC so special is its workshop leaders--many of whom have been involved in the conference since its first years.
“Their great love of writing and their willingness to give themselves to writers, to give up their time and energy and to help writers do the best writing that they can. I don’t think there’s another conference in the country that does what we do to the extent that we do. People committed to being at the conference with the writers, being available, that’s the real heart and soul of the conference.”
Four new workshop leaders have been added to the distinguished faculty of this year’s conference, June 17--24, including John Reed, Wendy French, Rebecca Robins, Lee Wardlaw, and Bruce Hale. Inkbyte will be reporting daily from the conference. In the meantime, as conference goers have learned to say, “Write-On.”