David R. Collins Writers’ Conference – Celebrating 20 Years!

June 26, 27, and 28, 2025 (all times Central)
Workshops, Pitches, Critiques, and Luncheon
at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

Public Events: Conference anniversary Party (6/26) and Faculty Reading at Rozz-Tox (6/27) free and open to the public; livestream and recording on our MWC YouTube channel

The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference is back! With four three-day workshops, book pitches, faculty reading and participant open mic, and keynote event, there’s something for everyone.

*Downloadable copy of the DRC Conference Brochure available soon*
Please call MWC at 309-732-7330 for more information.

Download a scholarship application for the DRC Writers’ Conference here. We offer scholarships to students, veterans/active duty service members, and those with financial need.

***

***PAY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION VIA BIRDIES FOR CHARITY***

You can pay your registration for the DRC Writers’ Conference through Birdies for Charity, which helps MWC by earning a 5-10% on all contributions, so your registration goes further to support MWC programs. It’s simple:  

1. Visit the Conference Registration Page and calculate your registration fee
   (1. Required registration fee 2. Workshop Selections 3. Pitch Session – optional
   4. Manuscript critique – optional)
2. Visit the MWC Birdies page, and pay the total Conference registration fee amount:  

https://birdiesforcharity.com/donate?charity=1370#/charities  

3. Send a copy of the Birdies receipt to MWC at mwc@mwcqc.org with your workshop choices (with optional pitch session and/or manuscript critique instructor). We will email your confirmation 

Or, you can register by using our online registration below (PayPal account not required), or call us at 309-732-7330 – we’re happy to answer any questions and take your registration over the phone.  

Please register via PayPal below. A new browser window should open where you can see your selection in the PayPal shopping cart, which should update with each selection you make.

**You can use these buttons pay with a credit card even if you do not have a PayPal account (click on the gray Check Out button to pay without a PayPal account using a credit card).**

If you have any issues registering online, please call MWC at 309-732-7330 and we will be happy to take your registration over the phone.

For details, including workshop description and faculty bios, click here.

**Refund Policy: Registration Fee is non-refundable | 100% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/5 | 75% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/12 | 50% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/19 | No refunds on on workshop fees, critiques and pitches after 6/19

***

IMPORTANT: Please follow the registration steps in order, and please see notes in BOLD/ITALICS to ensure your registration is received properly. Thanks!

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ONLINE REGISTRATION,
PLEASE CALL RYAN COLLINS AT (309) 732-7330, OR EMAIL HIM AT mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org. THANKS!

STEP 1. Registration Fee — REQUIRED

If you are taking workshops and/or signing up for a critique or a pitch, you MUST pay the non-refundable registration fee, which includes the luncheon on Saturday, June 28.

Please note: If you are only attending the luncheon, you do not need to pay the registration fee — see Step 3 below.

You do not have to pay the fee if you are only attending free events (Anniversary Party on 6/26, Reading on 6/27).  

Registration Type (Member / Non-Member)

MWC Member Registration $80.00 USD MWC Non-Member Registration $100.00 USD

Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/28 (included w/ Reg. Fee)

I will attend Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/28 I will not attend Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/28

STEP 2. Workshop Selections – Early Bird (before June 5) 

Please choose either the Full Conference Registration (all 4 workshops) for the first PayPal menu below…

Full DRC Conference Registration (all 4 workshops, 1 each block)

Before June 5 $275.00 USD

OR, if you are not registering for the full conference, please skip the Full Registration PayPal button above and proceed to the second Registration Menu below to select individual workshops

You can select your workshops here, up to 3 workshops total. Please note: there is only one workshop per time block.

Choose Number of Workshops (up to 3)

1 workshop – Before June 10 $80.00 USD 2 workshops – Before June 10 $150.00 USD 3 workshops – Before June 10 $215.00 USD

Workshop Preference 8:45am

Short Fiction Workshop No workshop for this time slot

Workshop Preference 10:30am

Nonfiction/Memoir Workshop No workshop for this time slot

Workshop Preference 1:45pm

Poetry Workshop No workshop for this time slot

Workshop Preference 3:30pm

Novel Workshop No workshop for this time slot

STEP 3. Concluding Luncheon – Saturday 6/28, 12-1 p.m. CDT (Optional) 

Free with Paid Registration Fee, or $15 for MWC members without paid registration fee, and $20 for non-MWC members without paid registration fee

Conference sponsors will be recognized, and the faculty will reflect on their workshops over a catered lunch. Cost is included with your Conference Registration fee, or $15 for MWC members without paid registration fee, and $20 for non-MWC members without paid registration fee. Please confirm or register on or before June 19 (Optional):

Luncheon – No Reg Fee – June 28

Price for MWC Members $15.00 USD Price for Non-MWC Members $20.00 USD

STEP 4. Pitch Sessions to MWC Press   

Pitch Sessions – Scheduled in advance of, or during, the Conference for author convenience and to avoid schedule conflicts with other events. During the allotted times prior to the first day of the Conference. $15/pitch (Optional):

Select Publisher You Would Like to Pitch

MWC Press $15.00 USD

STEP 5. Manuscript Critiques from CWC Faculty

Manuscript Critiques from CWC Faculty – Dates and times will be scheduled during the Conference

Conference faculty offer a limited number of manuscript critiques. Please not the difference in manuscript lengths/requirements, duration of critique meetings, and pricing for critique sessions with each instructor. Prices set by instructors, and 100% of fees for critiques go to the instructor. See the Conference main page for details on pricing and page/word count limits. The critique time will be mutually agreed in advance of the conference upon during the conference. (Optional):

Choose a faculty member

Marguerite Harrold – 10-15 pages of prose (ds) or poetry $100.00 USD Skylar Alexander – 10 pages of prose (ds) or poetry $50.00 USD Rebecca Entel – up 20 pages of prose $125.00 USD

Conference Sponsors:

Modern Woodman of America,
Founding Sponsor of the David R. Collins Writers’ Conference

The Figge Art Museum

Augustana College

Illinois Arts Council

Rock Island Public Library

Rozz-Tox