Sinclair Lewis Writers’ Conference 2026 Agenda

THE SINCLAIR LEWIS FOUNDATION OF SAUK CENTRE PRESENTS:

The 36th Annual Sinclair Lewis Writers’ Conference

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Agenda:

8:30 am REGISTRATION

9:15 am WELCOME and OVERVIEW

9:30 am PANEL DISCUSSION:  Basics of Writing and Publishing

                                               Marcie Rendon, Douglas Wood, Payal Doshi, Peter Geye; moderated by Taylor Garthus

10:45 am SESSION ONE

Douglas Wood: A Writer’s Path

Payal Doshi:  Creating Immersive Worlds with Authentic Cultural Representation

Peter Geye: Ten Question 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

Each topic from Session One will be repeated

3:15 pm SESSION THREE

Each topic from Session One will be repeated

4:30 pm Reception at the Palmer House Hotel (door prizes/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.