David R. Collins Writers’ Conference 2026

June 25, 26, and 27, 2026 (all times Central)
Workshops, Pitches, Critiques, and Luncheon
at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference is back! With four three-day workshops, critiques, brown bag sessions, book pitches, faculty reading and participant open mic, 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.

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*BOOST MWC & PAY YOUR 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:  

• STEP 1: Visit the Conference Registration Page and calculate your registration fee

  (1. Required registration fee 2. Workshop Selections 3. Manuscript critique – optional, 4. Pitch Session – optional, 5. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions – optional). See price list below:

CONFERENCE PRICING INFO for BIRDIES FOR CHARITY REGISTRATION (preferred)

   1. Non-Refundable Registration Fee (REQUIRED): $80 for MWC members // $100 for non-members
(Registration Fee includes Concluding Luncheon on 6/27)

   2. Workshop Fees (REQUIRED):
1 workshop = $80 // 2 workshops = $150 // 3 workshops = $215 // all 4 workshops = $275

   3. 1-on-1 Critiques (OPTIONAL):
Cyn Kitchen = $125 // Adam al-Sirgany = $50 // Margaret Yapp = $60 (limited availability)

   4. Pitch Sessions (OPTIONAL): $10 (for Univ. of Iowa or MWC Press – please indicate)

   5. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions (6/25 and 6/26 – registration fee not required) (OPTIONAL): $20 each for MWC members & Conference attendees // $30 each for non-members (limited availability)

   6. Concluding Luncheon: $20 for MWC members / $25 for non-MWC members (for those not attending the Conference – Lunch is free with paid registration fee)

• STEP 2: Visit the MWC Birdies page, and pay the total Conference registration fee amount:  

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

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

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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. (Note: 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).**

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

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***IMPORTANT: Please follow the registration steps in order, and please see notes in BOLD/ITALICS to ensure your registration is received properly, and contact us with any questions. 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 27.

Please note: If you are only attending the luncheon, you do not need to pay the registration fee — see Step 6 below.

Registration Type (Member / Non-Member)

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

Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/27 (included w/ Reg. Fee)

I will attend Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/27 I will not attend Final Day Luncheon Sat. 6/27

STEP 2. Workshop Selections — Early Bird (before June 8) 

You can select your workshops here, up to 4 workshops total. Please note: there is only one workshop per time block.

Choose Number of Workshops (up to 4)

1 workshop – Before June 8 $80.00 USD 2 workshops – Before June 8 $150.00 USD 3 workshops – Before June 8 $215.00 USD All 4 workshops – Before June 8 (best value) $275.00 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. Brown Bag Lunch Sessions — Thursday 6/25 and Friday 6/26, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Optional) 

No Registration Fee Required! $20 for MWC members and Conference attendees, and $30 for non-MWC members and those not attending the Conference

University of Iowa Associate Director/Marketing Director Allison Means will lead a one-hour session on Thursday 6/25 (How to Prepare A Pitch) and Friday 6/26 (From Pitch to Publication). Space is limited for each session (Optional):

Brown Bag Lunch Sessions, 6/25 & 6/26 (No Reg Fee Required)

June 25 – MWC Member & Conference Attendees $20.00 USD June 25 – non-MWC Member $30.00 USD June 26 – MWC Member & Conference Attendees $20.00 USD June 26 – non-MWC Member $30.00 USD

STEP 4. Pitch Sessions to University of Iowa Press or MWC Press   

Pitch Sessions – Scheduled in advance of, or during, the Conference for author convenience and to avoid schedule conflicts with other events. $10/pitch (Optional):

Select Publisher for Your Pitch Session

University of Iowa Press (fictions and nonfiction only) $10.00 USD MWC Press (open to various genres) $10.00 USD

STEP 5. Manuscript Critiques from CWC Faculty

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

Three of the Conference faculty members are offering 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):

1-on-1 Critiques – Choose a faculty member

Cyn Kitchen – 10-15 pages of cr. nonfiction (5 available) $125.00 USD Adam al-Sirgany – up to 12 pages (10 available) $50.00 USD Margaret Yapp – 10-15 poems (5 available) $60.00 USD

STEP 6. Concluding Luncheon — Saturday 6/27, 12-1:30 p.m. CDT (Optional) 

Free with Paid Registration Fee, or $20 for MWC members without paid registration fee, and $25 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 $20 for MWC members without paid registration fee, and $25 for non-MWC members without paid registration fee. Please confirm or register on or before June 24 (Optional):

Luncheon – No Registration Fee – June 27

Price for MWC Members $20.00 USD Price for Non-MWC Members $25.00 USD

**Refund Policy: Registration Fee is non-refundable | 100% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/8 | 75% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/12 | 50% refund on workshop fees, critiques and pitches before 6/24 | No refunds after 6/24

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