Sinclair Lewis Writers’ Conference 2026 Agenda

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Sauk Centre High School
903 State Rd.
Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Agenda:

8:30 am REGISTRATION

9:15 am WELCOME and OVERVIEW

9:30 am PANEL DISCUSSION:  Basics of Writing and Publishing, featuring Marcie Rendon, Douglas Wood, Payal Doshi, and Peter Geye; moderated by Taylor Garthus

10:45 am SESSION ONE (select one)

Douglas Wood: A Writer’s Path

Payal Doshi:  Creating Immersive Worlds with Authentic Cultural Representation

Peter Geye: Ten Questions to Get You Started on Your Novel

11:45 am LUNCH

12:45 pm KEYNOTE TALK:  Marcie Rendon: Writing Rural

2:00 pm SESSION TWO (select one)

Douglas Wood: A Writer’s Path

Payal Doshi:  Creating Immersive Worlds with Authentic Cultural Representation

Peter Geye: Ten Questions to Get You Started on Your Novel

3:15 pm SESSION THREE (select one)

Douglas Wood: A Writer’s Path

Payal Doshi:  Creating Immersive Worlds with Authentic Cultural Representation

Peter Geye: Ten Questions to Get You Started on Your Novel

4:30 pm Networking Event & Reception at the Palmer House Hotel, including door prizes and cash bar

NOTE: Each Session will be one hour in length, followed by a 15-minute break.

The Sinclair Lewis 2026 Writers Conference is made possible by the financial sponsorship of the following organizations: Minnesota National Bank of Sauk Centre, Pine Country Bank of Sauk Centre, Magnifi Financial Credit Union, Stearns History Museum, Sauk Centre Community Legacies, Sauk Centre Community Connection, the Dave Simpkins Stewardship Fund, the Sinclair Lewis Society and the Sinclair Lewis Foundation.  Private donors include Pat Hanauer, Sally Parry and Dick and Pat Lewis. Sauk Centre Community Education is a co-sponsor of the event.