Young Writers' Conference

Each spring since 1980, the Department of English and the Creative Writing Program host the Young Writers’ Conference for area high school students, with support from the College of Arts and Humanities and more than a dozen campus and community sponsors.

The conference provides a valuable opportunity for young writers to hear a professional author read their work and answer questions about the creative writing process and profession. It also allows young writers to meet and interact with other student writers from across Central California, to get a taste of what a university-level writing workshop might be like, and to receive feedback on their own writing.

Our department’s graduate students, as part of their commitment to community service, teach the creative writing workshops. Our undergraduate editing and publishing students serve as the editorial board of the conference’s youth journal, Spectrum, which celebrates the best work submitted by participating schools.

The conference also provides excellent training and an opportunity for an exchange of ideas among creative writing and English teachers. The conference stands as an excellent example of an ongoing collaborative effort between local school districts and the university.

By registering for the event, participants agree to comply with all health and safety protocols required by the campus and event organizers. These protocols are subject to change, depending on local health conditions.

Face coverings: All guests and members of the campus community are encouraged to wear a face covering (e.g. N95, KN95, KF94) when indoors and in crowded outdoor areas.

Reporting illness: If guests become ill within two (2) days after the event, they must notify the event organizers right away. The organizers will then contact the campus Office of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management.

Registration deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026

Registration form  |  Participant form

Registration: We accept registration between Jan. 6 and April 17. Payment arrangements are required by April 17, and payments will be accepted no later than conference day. Registration includes admission to the morning awards and keynote sessions, and afternoon workshop. It includes a copy of our youth journal, Spectrum. Participants also receive a box lunch.

Please provide a complete roster of all participants — both students and teachers — by April 17.

Payment: Cost to attend on campus is $17 per participant, both for students and for teachers. This covers lunch and supplies. Payment should be completed as early as possible. Payment options are by purchase order, by check, or online with a credit card. Let us know if you have payment questions.

Registration limit: The conference is open to students from 9th to 12th grades, with a limit of 20 students and 4 teachers per school. Please use a selection method that will allow your most talented and motivated students to attend.

Register now: Early registration provides time to adequately prepare for materials and meals. There will be no late registration permitted.

Refunds: A refund may be granted with an emailed request by April 27. No other refunds can be granted.

Additional notes

Consent to be filmed: Please note that photography and filming will be taking place at this event for promotional and archival purposes; photos and video will appear on our website and social media. By registering, participants consent to this documentation. If you would prefer to opt out, let the organizers know in advance.

Lunch preferences: We will do our best to honor box lunch sandwich preferences. Please also let us know if you have participants with additional dietary needs.

Workshop preferences: Each on-campus participant attends one workshop in the Afternoon Session. All workshops will be taught in a multigenre style. We will attempt to keep full school delegations together, including teachers, for health and safety reasons.

Payment details

For payment questions, contact jbeavers@mail.fresnostate.edu or call 559.278.1569.

Checks payable to: Fresno State
With memo: English - Young Writers

Check payments sent to:
Fresno State
Accounting Services
5150 N. Maple Ave., JA58
Fresno, CA 93740

LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A FORMAL INVOICE or a link to pay online by credit card.

PLEASE EMAIL A COPY OF YOUR P.O. to jbeavers@mail.fresnostate.edu

Manuscript submission deadline: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Submit to Spectrum journal

An important part of the conference is the publication of our youth journal, Spectrum. All participating students are encouraged to submit works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to be considered. Select manuscripts will receive awards. 

We will accept manuscripts electronically from Jan. 6 through Feb. 17. This allows us time for reading and judging, as well as layout and printing of the anthology.

Manuscript guidelines: 

• Teachers are responsible for ensuring that students submit original work. 
• Include in the document, upper left corner of the first page: 1. genre, 2. author’s name, 3. school, 4. grade, and 5. the teacher’s name. 
• Must be .doc or .docx format. 
• No graphics or unusual fonts. 
• Limit: 3 poems and/or 2 works of prose (please limit prose pieces to 7 pages each). 

Only a limited number of submissions can be published. 

PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL SUBMISSIONS WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED. Please use the Google form (link coming soon), and upload one submission per form with file attachment.

Questions? Send inquiries only to: YWCsubmissions@mail.fresnostate.edu 

Location: Satellite Student Union, Fresno State 

Event schedule:

• 8:15 - 9:00 — Registration
• 9:00 - 9:45 — Welcome and awards presentations
• 9:45 - 10:45 — Morning session, feat. keynote speaker
• 10:45 - 11:45 — Lunch
• 12:00 - 2:00 — Afternoon session, feat. workshops

Campus map: FresnoState.edu/map

Event-day questions: Call 559.278.1569.

Parking: Participants can receive a one-day free parking pass from kiosks at most university entrances using a coupon code (to come). Parking recommended in Lots P5 or P6. Buses may drop students at the Satellite Student Union.

Registration area: Teachers can pick up conference packets on the day of the event outside the Satellite Student Union entrance.