Hampton Roads Writers Timeline
A few key events in our organization’s history:
2006 - 07
- Lauran Strait and a large group of her writing workshop students begin planning for a new literary organization in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
2008
- HRW officially gets a name, a mission statement, non-profit status, and is incorporated by the commonwealth of VA. (FEB)
2008
- HRW's first event—a free open mic at VB’s central library. (MAY)
2008
- HRW’s first paid event—an author meet and greet occurs with New York Times best-selling authors Lenore Hart and David Poyer. (SEPT)
2009
- Monthly Traveling Pen Series (TPS) of Writers Workshop begin (APR)
2009
- 1-day Inaugural conference at VB Central Library with New York Times best-selling writer Sharyn McCrumb as Keynote speaker and workshop presenter. (SEPT)
2010
- HRW’s first 2-day annual conference, with New York Times best-selling author Jill McCorkle and literary agent Jeff Kleinman as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2011
- HRW’s first 3-day annual conference, with New York Times best-selling author Michael Palmer and New York-based Literary Agent Marisa Corvisiero as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2012
- Partnership with Barnes & Noble for celebration of literature and writing throughout black history month. (FEB)
- Establishment of monthly Show and Grow Your Prose with Professional Critiques events. (MAY)
- 4th Annual conference, with international best-selling author Rick Mofina and author Patricia Hermes as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2013
- Establishment of a Children’s Poetry Explosion events at Barnes and Noble and Chrysler Museum. (FEB - MAY)
- HRW wins the Emyl Jenkins annual community service award. (MAY)
- 5th Annual Conference with New York Times best-selling writer Lisa McMann as keynoter and workshop presenter. (SEPT)
2014
- 6th Annual Conference, with best-selling authors Brad Parks and Janet Burroway as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2015
- 7th Annual Conference with best-selling authors DeWitt Henry and Ellen Meister as keynoters and workshop presenters
- First pre-conference master class and pre-conference writers boot camp initiated. (SEPT)
2016
- 8th Annual Conference with best-selling authors Mary Burton and Robert J. Crane as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2017
- 9th Annual Conference with John DeDakis and Austin Camacho as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
2018
- 10th Annual Conference—canceled due to a hurricane. (SEPT)
2019
- HRW's conference named best conference in Virginia by The Writer. (JUN)
- HRW's conference featured in Writers Digest. (SEPT)
- 11th Annual Conference SOLD-OUT—with New York Times best-selling writer Sharyn McCrumb and international best-selling author Laurence O’Bryan as keynoters and workshop presenters. (SEPT)
- Began work on revised bylaws. (OCT)
2020
- HRW's conference again named best conference in Virginia by The Writer. (JUN)
- 12th Annual Conference —Canceled due to COVID but was replaced with a virtual Convergence of Writers consisting of 10 workshops and 10 presenters. (SEPT)
- Began redesign planning for our new website. (OCT)
2021