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Belmont University

November 21-22, 2025

Buy Early Bird tickets before June 30th and get Free WriterFest Merch when you arrive in November!

What to Expect

  • 25+ Expert Panel Sessions and presentations

  • 50+ industry professionals

  • 3 keynote addresses

  • "Ask the Expert" 1-on-1 Appointments

  • 1 “practice your pitch” session for aspiring authors

  • 2 lunch with networking opportunities

  • Optional dinner group networking opportunity at local Nashville restaurants

  • Two-day ticket holders gain included access to “A Dolly Good Time”

  • 4 Belmont Student Symposium presentations

WriterFest 2024 Keynotes:

  • New York Times Bestselling Novelist

    Author of The Shack, Cross Roads, Eve, and Lies We Believe About God. The film adaptation of The Shack debuted in theaters nationwide and is now streaming. The soundtrack includes performances by Dan + Shay, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Lady A, Kelly Clarkson, LeCrae and more.

  • Podcaster, Author

    Anne Bogel is the creator of the literary podcasts What Should I Read Next? and One Great Book, as well as the long-running blog Modern Mrs Darcy and its associated bookclub. She is also the author of several nonfiction books.

  • Screenwriter, Podcaster

    Aaron Covington co-wrote the Rocky sequel blockbuster, Creed, directed by Ryan Coogler. He is a writer on NBC's Grand Crew, the writer and director of the short film The Last Real Magical Negro, and creator/co-host of the podcasts Black Guys on White Movies and The 40, Black, and Dad Show. 

Former Keynote Speakers Include:

  • Patti Callahan Henry

    New York Times Bestselling Author & Podcast Host

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  • Tyler Merritt

    Author, Actor, Speaker, Musician, & Content Creator

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  • Julia Whelan

    Bestselling Author, Actor, & Audiobook Narrator

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  • Tara M. Stringfellow

    Poet, Attorney, & National Bestselling Author

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  • Tim Reid Jr.

    SVP at BMG Music

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  • Tom Douglas

    Nashville Hall of Fame Songwriter & Author

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  • JT Ellison

    New York Times Bestselling Author & Emmy-Award Winning Host of A Word on Words

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  • Aimee Nezhukumatahil

    New York Times Bestselling Author

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  • Ruby Amanfu

    Grammy & BET-Nominated Songwriter & Performer

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  • Liz Cackowski

    Comedian, SNL Writer, & Screenwriter

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  • Alice Randall

    Songwriter, Screenwriter, & Novelist

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  • Liane Moriarty

    New York Times Bestselling Author

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WriterFest Presents:

A Dolly Good Time

A Benefit for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating Dolly Parton's Imagination Library with music, food, cash bar, silent auction, and more!

November 20, 2025

Connect with book, music, and film industry leaders to elevate your craft and career.

  • “A truly peerless conference. I loved the interdisciplinary aspect, which welcomes writers and creators across three mediums that don't often find opportunities to intersect. The size is perfectly intimate, allowing the time and space for every attendees' questions to be answered while still providing bountiful networking and mingling. There's not another conference like WriterFest Nashville.”

    Julia Whelan, actor, award-winning audiobook narrator, internationally bestselling novelist, WriterFest 2023 Keynote Speaker

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WriterFest partners help create a safe and diverse space for book, song, and screenwriters to grow, learn, and find community.

WriterFest is proudly Women Owned.

Meet founder/director Ami McConnell and director Sara Wigal as well as their amazing team of WriterFest Women who help operate the conference and all other WriterFest endeavors.