08/12/2026
Check out what one of last year's participants has to say about the Iota Short Forms Writing Conference and join us in October!
Curious about the Iota Short Forms Writing Conference, co-sponsored by Writers and Publishers Alliance Oct. 15-18, retreat 18-22 in beautiful Down East Maine? We posed some questions to Edwards, who last year came all the way from Texas to attend.
Why did you come to the conference?
When I first read about the Iota Conference from a Cobscook newsletter, I knew I had to attend. I spend so much of my creative energy writing for others, and Iota seemed like the perfect environment for me to give MYSELF the gift of time and focus. I came to Iota, mostly, to just be curious--about what's going on in my writer's brain, about who I am as a writer.
What did you expect and what did you receive?
I think I expected to be overwhelmed, to have my imposter syndrome confirmed. Facilitator-writers who, because they had "made it" in the writing world, would give us lectures on writing with tips that we would furiously be scribbling down in hopes we could apply them to our own writing at some wishful point in the future. Fellow attendees who would be reluctant to write beside--let alone help--a relative newbie like me.
What I received was the absolute opposite. I was blown away by the welcoming embrace of my fellow attendees and workshop facilitators. I never knew the writing community could be so encouraging, genuine, and sharing. Iota workshops were so generative that, over half a year later, I continue to frequently utilize the prompts we wrote on during sessions.
Rather than dragons hoarding their piles of gold, fellow attendees were generous, imaginative human beings, and I'm grateful for the friendships Iota breathed into life for me!
How would you describe it to someone who’s not attended?
If possible, come to Iota with your mind wiped clean of your daily work and stressors. It's a wonderful balance of group "community" time, (during the opening evening introduction, shared meals, evening "open mic" readings, and free time for hiking/writing/recharging), and focused writing generation during the workshop sessions. Sharing is optional. I never felt pressure to share if I wasn't feeling the need to verbalize specific pieces. Having said that, sharing at Iota was always a positive experience--confidence-building and useful.
What surprised you about the conference?
Again, the embracing nature of the writer community! To this day, if I text Iota friends about a rejection letter I just received, their responses range from encouraging a celebratory, cake-eating night, (I put myself out there!), to "99 more to go!", (Keep writing!).
What part did the surroundings play in the experience you had/did you take in any of the local sites of interest and what was that like?
A massive one. I'll be moving to the area in a few years, so I might be biased, but the northern coast of Maine is just breathtaking. It was so rejuvenating to be able to hike the Cobscook Shores trails or catch the first sunrise in the United States at the Quoddy Head Lighthouse and then infuse that peace into my writing.
Has anything from your time at Iota remained in your mind or work since? If so, what?
Iota set my writing on fire! I now meet online weekly with one of my Iota buddies for writing and feedback sessions, attend the Sunday Iota Writing Sessions via Zoom as often as I can, submit my work to various contests and magazines, and in May I went to the Di**le Writers' Workshop in Ireland, (led by Iota co-director, Suzanne Strempek Shea and Ann Hood)! I was doing NONE of this before attending Iota.
Anything else you’d like to say about the conference and/or your experience?
Thank you, Penny and Suzanne and all of the past and present facilitators and workshop attendees. You've created something that encouraged me to believe in myself and to prioritize my writing in a way that beats back that imposter syndrome.
Do it. Sign up for Iota. There isn't an iota of a chance you'll regret it.
***Many thanks to Audra! If she has inspired you to attend, register here! https://cobscookinstitute.org/iota/the-conference
