Welcome to the 2026 Sonoran Writers Conference Panels Schedule. Below is a complete list of all the panels being offered this year. A long list, but you can also break it down into smaller lists.
Lists by Room
SWC this year utilizes FIVE rooms of programming, all producing great opportunities to improve your writing. Visit the Panels listed by room:
ROOM ONE | ROOM TWO | ROOM THREE | ROOM FOUR | ROOM FIVE
Lists by Time
Get the smaller lists of the panels that are staring at a given time. This make planning much easier.
- 9:00AM Start
- 10:00AM Start
- 11:00AM Start
- 12:00PM Start
- 1:00PM Start
- 2:00PM Start
- 3:00PM Start
- 4:00PM Start
Lists by Presenter
Coming Soon
Presentation
Room Four
12:00pm- 50 minutes
Personal appearances and other places to sell books really keep an author busy. However, it also pretty much guarantees personal book sales. Patti will talk about where to find and cultivate places to sell your books, beyond the online sources. She will also talk about sales tax licenses, the equipment needed, and when a sales location is just not worth the effort.
Panel
Room Three
12:00pm- 50 minutes
Poetry goes many place with many styles. It is as vibrant and impactful as ever. Explore the power of poetry as it develops here in this century.If you are a poet now, or ever thought about writing poetry, this panel will give you a great peek into the immersive world of verse.
Panel
Room Five
4:00pm- 50 minutes
You leave a conference feeling energized, inspired, and ready to tackle any project—only to hit a slump as soon as you return to your daily routine. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to bridge the gap between conference hype and real-world action. Together, we’ll identify your key action steps, create a personalized schedule to stay on track, and explore effective strategies to keep you focused and motivated as you transition back into your routine.
Panel
Room Three
4:00pm- 50 minutes
It's one of the hottest book festivals in 2026. Get updated on the planning and growth of the next Mesa Book Festival.
Panel
Room Five
3:00pm- 50 minutes
Anna Jones, Ben Manning, Sean Doyle
Brick Cave Media's editorial team shares their philosophies and practices in editing, be it novels, poetry and more. Open discussion of editorial style and how "house rules" can vary from press to press.
Presentation
Room Four
3:00pm- 50 minutes
What makes a great film? What makes for a dud? Why does anyone’s opinion matter? Do YOU have what it takes to be a movie critic? Join a discussion about how to analyze a film and then write about it, with Nerdvana Media’s ‘film influencer’ and Phoenix Film Critics Society board member, Bob Leeper.
Panel
Room Three
3:00pm- 50 minutes
A book coach can be a valuable part of your team. Learn about how they work in support of your writing and what questions to ask when you engage a coach for suopport.
Panel
Room Five
2:00pm- 50 minutes
Adrienne Miles, Sharon Skinner, Bruce Davis
Having been or currently being in service to your country, can that service turn around and serve your writing? Adrienne, Bruce and Sharon talk about the ways that theur respective service has entered their writing careers.
Panel
Room Four
2:00pm- 50 minutes
With the days of Lost in Space and Swiss Family Robinson long past, can good fiction still be created around the family dynamic? Bledsoe explores the subgenre and how she has navigated it with The Kelton Chronicles.
