AWN: Holiday Party
2024-12-19 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Thursday, December 19 at Bonfire Coffee Company (433 Main Street, Carbondale, CO 81623) 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join us for a festive and fun gathering. Choose a beloved book from your shelf to share with other members, or support a local business by visiting White River Books in Carbondale, Bookbinders in Basalt, or Explore Booksellers in Aspen to purchase one. Dedicate the book with your most valuable piece of writing advice, and wrap it up to share at the exchange. Refreshments provided.

AWN Meeting Thursday January 16
2025-01-16 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Connect With Your Writer Muses & Empower Your Writing
Thursday, January 16 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
In this in-person workshop, Jessica Barnum will share insights from her recently published book, Dear Writer Muses, I Am Here. You’ll discuss the “seek and receive” concepts of the writer mindset, consider the various types of Writer Muses, engage in a mindfulness activity to connect with Writer Muses, and practice the personification letter-writing strategy for empowering you and your writing. Bring a journal!
BECOME A MEMBER

Winter Words with Ayad Akhtar
2025-01-29 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Step into a thrilling exploration of AI, art, and the human psyche with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar as he unveils his new play, McNeal. This event will feature Akhtar discussing his most recent broadway debut and an actor delivering a live reading from the play, offering a glimpse into the story of Jacob McNeal—a novelist at odds with his own AI obsession— as he grapples with the limits of creativity and the haunting possibilities of artificial intelligence.
Moderated by Maurice (Mo) LaMee

About the Author
Akhtar is a novelist and playwright. His work has been published and performed in over two dozen languages. He is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Akhtar is the author of “Homeland Elegies” (Little, Brown & Co.), which The Washington Post called “a tour de force” and The New York Times called “a beautiful novel…that had echoes of “The Great Gatsby” and that circles, with pointed intellect, the possibilities and limitations of American life.” His first novel, “American Dervish” (Little, Brown & Co.), was published in over 20 languages. As a playwright, he has written “Junk” (Lincoln Center, Broadway; Kennedy Prize for American Drama, Tony nomination); “Disgraced” (Lincoln Center, Broadway; Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony nomination); “The Who & The What” (Lincoln Center); and “The Invisible Hand” (NYTW; Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award, Olivier and Evening Standard nominations). Among other honors, Akhtar is the recipient of the Steinberg Playwrighting Award, the Nestroy Award, the Erwin Piscator Award, as well as fellowships from the American Academy in Rome, MacDowell, the Sundance Institute and Yaddo, where he serves as a Board Director. In 2021, Akhtar was named the New York State Author, succeeding Colson Whitehead, by the New York State Writers Institute.

Winter Words with Kevin Fedarko
2025-02-05 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | TACAW, 400 Robinson St., Basalt, CO, 81621
In-person tickets for this event are SOLD OUT! We are offering a virtual season pass for $35, which provides access to all three Winter Words 2025 livestreams. If you would like to join a waitlist for the in-person event, please register here.
Join bestselling author Kevin Fedarko as he recounts the untamed adventure behind “A Walk in the Park,” narrating his grueling 750-mile trek through the Grand Canyon—an awe-inspiring journey across perilous cliffs, hidden histories, and breathtaking vistas. With humor, humility, and deep reverence, he transports readers to the edge of endurance and into the heart of America’s most majestic landscape. Fedarko is also the author of “The Emerald Mile.”
Moderated by Daniel Shaw

About the Author

Kevin Fedarko is a seasoned author and journalist renowned for his exploration of the American Southwest and his fervent advocacy for environmental conservation. He is the author of “The Emerald Mile,” an epic story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon and “A Walk in the Park,” the true story of a spectacular misadventure in the Grand Canyon. He has been a staff writer at Time magazine, where he worked primarily on the foreign affairs desk, and a senior editor at Outside, where he covered outdoor adventure. His writing has appeared in National Geographic, the New York Times and Esquire, among other publications. He and his wife, Annette Avery, owner of Bright Side Bookshop, live in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they spend as much of their free time as possible hiking in the Grand Canyon or in mountains just outside of town.

Thank you to our venue partner

Winter Words with Lauren Groff
2025-02-12 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Lauren Groff will be in conversation discussing her most recent novel “The Vaster Wilds,” which plunges readers into colonial America’s wilderness through the eyes of a young servant girl fleeing the famine of Jamestown. As she navigates nature’s brutal beauty and the edges of survival, Groff crafts an electrifying exploration of resilience, self-discovery, and the precarious line between civilization and wildness.

Moderated by Mitzi Rapkin

About the Author

Lauren Groff is a three-time National Book Award finalist and The New York Times–bestselling author of the novels “The Monsters of Templeton,” “Arcadia, Fates and Furies, Matrix” and “The Vaster Wilds,” and the celebrated short story collections “Delicate Edible Birds and Florida.” She has won The Story Prize, the ABA Indies’ Choice Award, France’s Grand Prix de l’Héroïne and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and has been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her work regularly appears in The New Yorker, The Atlantic and elsewhere. Her work has been translated into thirty-six languages. She lives in Gainesville, Florida.

AWN Meeting Thursday February 20
2025-02-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
A very special in-person workshop this Thursday, the 20th – What Prose Writers Can Learn From Screen Writers
In this in-person workshop, scriptwriter and novelist Scott Lasser will teach you the four main skills prose writers can learn from scriptwriters: structure, scene writing, concision, and dialogue. He will also share how the game is played in Hollywood. Attached are the support materials for the workshop. From Scott:
“Here’s a 17-page pdf that we’ll use for reference on the 20th. It’s mostly snippets of scripts and outlines that we’ll use to discuss various points and skills. They don’t need to read it ahead of time, BUT…if they take a look at the David Mamet memo (pages 7-11), they’ll likely find it useful.”

Scott Lasser is a scriptwriter, novelist, and journalist. He has written pilots for Sony and Fox, among others. He developed Jackson State for HBO, a project set in the world of amateur baseball and the opioid epidemic. He’s also written for HBO’s True Detective. Lasser’s first novel (Battle Creek/William Morrow) was optioned by Scott Rudin/Paramount; Lasser wrote an adaption of his fourth novel, Say Nice Things About Detroit (Norton), for Warner Brothers and Steve Carell’s Carousel Productions. His journalism has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and elsewhere.
Connect With Your Writer Muses & Empower Your Writing
Thursday, February 20 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER

Apply for Summer Words by Wednesday, February 26
2025-02-26 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
Summer Words Writers Conference (June 22-27, 2025)
Deadline to apply for juried workshops: Wednesday, Feb. 26
$35 application fee and writing sample required for all juried workshops.
Please carefully read the manuscript guidelines before applying.

Juried Workshops:

Fiction: Led by Steve Almond, Vanessa Chan,
& Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Memoir: Led by Héctor Tobar
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Led by P. Djèlí Clark

Screenwriting: Led by Christina Lazaridi
Apply for Juried Workshops Here

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announcement
2025-03-12 08:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver)
The Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist will be announced on March 12, 2025.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”) and Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.

AWN March Meeting: Memoir workshop with Marcia Butler
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Join us for the AWN third Thursday, March meeting, featuring a special memoir workshop with acclaimed author Marcia Butler. This interactive session will explore the art of personal storytelling, offering insights on structure, voice and crafting compelling narratives from real-life experiences. Whether you’re just beginning your memoir or refining a work-in-progress, this workshop will provide valuable tools and inspiration.
Connect With Your Writer Muses & Empower Your Writing
Thursday, February 20 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER

AWN April Meeting: Pitch Workshop
2025-04-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Connect With Your Writer Muses & Empower Your Writing
Thursday, April 17 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Perfect Your Pitch a.k.a. Find the Heart of Your Story
Third Thursday – April 17, at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Not sure why you need to pitch a story if it’s not even finished yet? Identifying and being able to clearly articulate the heart of your story is key to writing and finishing your book, as well as selling it (to a publisher or the public). This workshop will help you tighten up your narrative arc to make your story more readable and more publishable. Members will have the chance to workshop their projects.
This workshop will also help you feel confident about entering a conversation with an agent or editor at the Summer Words writers conference.
BECOME A MEMBER

Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony
2025-04-23 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
WINNER ANNOUNCED: APRIL 23
at the Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
Program runs: 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Moderated by Bilal Qureshi
JOIN US!
General Admission (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– First come, first served seating at the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
Register here
Livestream Access (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Access includes:
-A link to view the event in real-time 4:30-5:30 p.m. MT/6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Register here
VIP Ticket & Tour
Your ticket includes:
– Docent tour of the secrets and rarities of the Morgan Library & Museum
– A prosecco toast
– Premium reserved seating for the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
– A copy of a finalist book
If you select a VIP ticket, please arrive at the Morgan by 5:15 p.m. ET.
Purchase tickets here
Livestream Party at Pitkin County Library (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– Real-time viewing party of the Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony 4:30-5:30 MT
-Light refreshments and mingling
Register to attend the livestream party here!

The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”) and Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
This event is moderated by Bilal Qureshi. Bilal Qureshi is an independent essayist, broadcaster and critic. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, Foreign Policy and the Criterion Collection. He wrote the column “Elsewhere” for the journal Film Quarterly from 2016 – 2023. Bilal’s radio reporting has aired across NPR’s flagship news magazines and podcasts – and on the “BBC Arts Hour”.  Bilal graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 2004 and earned an M.S. in Broadcasting from the Columbia School of Journalism in 2007. He’s a recipient of the USC Getty Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the Robert Bosch Fellowship, and has served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio and Criticism. Bilal was born in Kohat, Pakistan, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and currently divides his time between Accra and Los Angeles.

AWN May Meeting: The State of the Publishing Industry With Super-Agent Alia Hanna Habib
2025-05-15 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Thursday, May 15 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The State of the Publishing Industry With Super-Agent Alia Hanna Habib
Third Thursday – May 15, at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Alia Hanna Habib is a literary agent and Vice President at The Gernert Company, which she joined in 2017 after starting her publishing career as a publicist at HMH and working as an agent at McCormick Literary.
Among the New York Times-bestselling and prize-winning clients she represents are Clint Smith, Nikole Hannah-Jones and the New York Times’ 1619 Project Book Series, Nathan Thrall, Merve Emre, Adam Serwer, Judy Batalion, and Hanif Abdurraqib. Her authors have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the LA Times Book Prize, among many others, and have been shortlisted for the Edgar Awards, PEN Awards and National Book Award.
She is on the board of n+1 literary magazine and on the creative council of Aspen Words. She was profiled by New York Magazine for their special issue on “The 49 Most Powerful New Yorkers (You’ve Never Heard Of).”
BECOME A MEMBER

2025 Book Ball
2025-06-13 17:45 - 21:30 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words’ 2025 Book Ball promises to be a real page-turner! Join author and keynote speaker Hampton Sides for an unforgettable experience with fellow literature lovers while enjoying cocktails and dinner at the historic Hotel Jerome. Book Ball raises critical funds to support Aspen Words programs, including writers in the schools, scholarships for aspiring writers and community talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.
THANK YOU TO OUR HOST COMMITTEE
Suzanne Bober and Steve Kahn | Chris and Andrea Bryan | Sue and Ron Hopkinson | Beth and Josh Mondry | Dave and Sian Oberman

About the Keynote Speaker

HAMPTON SIDES is best-known for his gripping non-fiction adventure stories set in war or depicting epic expeditions of discovery and exploration. He is the author of the bestselling histories “Ghost Soldiers,” “Blood and Thunder,” “Hellhound On His Trail,” “In the Kingdom of Ice,” and, most recently, “The Wide Wide Sea.”

AWN June Meeting: Member Readings
2025-06-19 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Thursday, June 19 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER
Member Readings with Optional Feedback
Third Thursday – June 19, at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This month’s meeting is one of the more important ones in our schedule. It provides the opportunity for you to support your fellow writers and/or be supported. We will be having member readings with optional feedback.

Reading Rules:
· Sign up in person at the meeting
· Readings are 4 minutes max (yes, we enforce this). Please practice and time yourself.
· Constructive feedback (1 minute max) per reviewer = what you liked best + one area you suggest the writer take another look at.

2025 Summer Words Writers Conference
2025-06-22 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00 (America/Denver)
Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
General admission workshops including Book Branding, Generative Writing and a Readers Retreat are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available.
Learn more about Summer Words here.

Book Branding: From Manuscripts to Momentum with Taryn Roeder -- Register Today!
2025-06-22 09:00 - 2025-06-27 11:00 (America/Denver)
Registration for general application workshops is open now!

General admission workshops including Book Branding and Generative Writing are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Daily workshops Monday – Friday from 9-11am.

Taryn Roeder is executive director of publicity at Abrams Books, leading the publicity departments for the Adult and Children’s divisions. Taryn has 20+ years of experience in book publicity and has worked with major figures in politics, science, art, and music, as well as on literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Taryn was previously senior director of publicity at HarperCollins. While managing a team of publicists there, Taryn worked on many titles, including the instant New York Times bestseller “A Sacred Oath” by former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and “Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times” by Azar Nafisi. Prior to that, Taryn was at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for 17 years, rising in leadership to become the vice president, director of publicity. She worked with New York Times bestselling authors Temple Grandin, Guy Raz and Sinead O’Connor, and on Lori Gottlieb’s “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.” She led the publicity campaigns for many beloved debut novels, including instant New York Times bestsellers “Black Buck” by Mateo Askaripour and“Friday Black ”by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, as well as on Adrienne Brodeur’s highly acclaimed memoir “Wild Game.” While it is true that some books are easier to promote than others, Taryn swears she loves all of her authors equally
REGISTER NOW
Workshop Description
From Manuscript to Momentum: Elevate Your Book’s Success
You’ve written (or nearly completed) your book—so what’s next? How can you set yourself up for success and best shepherd your book into the world? And what does success truly mean for you? In this dynamic and interactive workshop, we’ll demystify the world of book publicity and promotion and equip you with actionable tools to navigate the process confidently. You’ll receive personalized guidance to craft a compelling elevator pitch and uncover your most engaging hooks and talking points. We’ll explore strategies to amplify your author platform, strengthen your media savvy, and build your press contacts. You’ll gain insider insights into the book publicity timeline, learn how to create impactful press kit materials, and discover opportunities to write and place book-adjacent content such as opinion pieces and curated reading lists. We’ll also dive into the value of author tours, festival appearances, and other events, and how to make them work for you. Through hands-on exercises and tailored assignments, you’ll leave this workshop with clear strategies to confidently promote your book while staying true to your goals and values as an author.
This is a 5-day workshop, meeting for 2-hours a day.
2025 Tuition:
2025 5-Day Inside the World of Book Publishing & Book Branding: $1,150
Tuition Includes:

Faculty instruction and materials
Access to all public panels throughout the week
Breakfast and lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
Opening and closing receptions
Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Social activities such as guided hikes, an open mic evening and informal gatherings.

More About The 2025 Summer Words Writers Conference

June 22-27 in Snowmass Village, CO

Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available, and applications are open!

Generative Writing with Laura Zigman -- Register Today!
2025-06-22 09:00 - 2025-06-27 12:00 (America/Denver)
Registration for general application workshops is open now!

General admission workshops including Book Branding and Generative Writing are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Daily workshops Monday – Friday from 9am-12pm.

Laura Zigman is the author of six novels, including “Small World,” “Separation Anxiety”(which was optioned by Julianne Nicholson and the production company Wiip (“Mare of Easttown”) for a limited television series); and “Animal Husbandry”(which was made into the movie “Someone Like You,” starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd). She has ghostwritten/collaborated on several works of non-fiction, including Eddie Izzard’s New York Times bestseller, “Believe Me”; been a contributor to The New York Times,and was the recipient of a Yaddo residency.  She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she consults for bookstores and literary events, and helps clients via Zoom, phone and sometimes in person with their writing. She is also at work on two new novels
Workshop Description
Most workshops focus on polishing and fine-tuning finished work (a short story, chapters of a novel). This workshop starts at the opposite end of the process– at the beginning–with an idea, a first line, a voice, an exchange of dialogue. Stories are built, sentence by sentence, scene by scene, and this workshop will cover some of the fundamental elements of storytelling: point of view, conflict, character arc, narrative structure, why a story begins where it does. Who is telling the story and can they be trusted? What do they want? What are the points of conflict? Where is the heart and soul of the story and what do we want the reader to feel? Whether you’rejust starting out or are a more experienced writer looking to gain new insight into the craft and process of writing, this generative workshop intends to inspire you to explore new work without fear of judgment, to embrace the joy and freedom of creativity in order to spark fresh ideas, and ultimately to help you find your way into the story you most want to tell.
This is a 5-day workshop, meeting for 3-hours a day.
REGISTER NOW

2025 Tuition:
2025 5-Day Generative Writing:  $1,925
Tuition Includes:

Faculty instruction and materials
Access to all public panels throughout the week
Breakfast and lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
Opening and closing receptions
Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Two professional consultations with an agent and/or editor for most juried and book branding workshop participants (*generative writing and screenwriting students will have two alternative activities instead of one-on-one consultations)
Social activities such as guided hikes, an open mic evening and informal gatherings.

More About The 2025 Summer Words Writers Conference

June 22-27 in Snowmass Village, CO

Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available, and applications are open!

Attend the Summer Words 2025 Panels
2025-06-23 13:30 - 2025-06-26 17:30 (America/Denver)
The Viewline Resort | Snowmass Village, CO
100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
Tune In to the Summer Words 2025 PanelsJoin us at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village for an exciting lineup of panels featuring acclaimed Summer Words faculty, literary agents, and editors.
Purchase your Panel Pass here!Your Panels Pass includes access to six engaging panels designed to inspire and inform writers at every stage.
View the full schedule and your order summary below:
Panel ScheduleMonday, June 23 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.Publishing Unpacked: What Every Writer Needs to Know
From landing an agent to shaping your manuscript, to making sense of marketing, this panel pulls back the curtain on the publishing process. Expect candid insights, smart strategies, and a few myths busted along the way.
Speakers: Amy Guay, Kayla Lightner, Rakesh Satyal, Michael Taeckens
Moderator: Sally Wofford-Girand
Tuesday, June 24 | 3:30–4:30 p.m.Narrative Architecture: Structure and POV
Structure and POV shape every story, but how do you choose the right approach? This panel explores how structure enhances theme, how POV builds intimacy and tension, and how both work together to keep readers hooked.
Speakers: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Joshua Mohr, Héctor Tobar
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Wednesday, June 25 | 3:30–4:00 p.m.How to Make Plot Your Friend
Plot doesn’t have to be a struggle! In this talk, Steve Almond will demystify how stories build momentum, tension, and emotional payoff—without feeling forced. Expect practical tools and a new perspective on storytelling’s most essential element.
Speaker: Steve Almond

Wednesday, June 25 | 4:10–4:40 p.m.12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving as a Writer (That Have Almost Nothing to Do with Craft)
Writing is an art, but sustaining a writing life is another challenge. Laura Zigman shares twelve hard-won lessons on overcoming self-doubt, redefining success, and staying inspired—even when the words won’t come.
Speaker: Laura Zigman

Thursday, June 26 | 3:00–4:00 p.m.Setting the Hook: Creating Characters That Keep Readers Turning the Page
What makes a character unforgettable? This panel explores how to craft multidimensional, flawed, and compelling protagonists (and antagonists!) who linger in readers’ and viewers’ minds long after the last page.
Speakers: Vanessa Chan, P. Djèlí Clark, Christina Lazaridi,
Moderator: Breeze Richardson

Thursday, June 26 | 4:15–5:30 p.m.Next Chapters: Staying Inspired After Summer Words
What happens after the conference ends? In this closing session, faculty members will reflect on key takeaways from the week, share their own creative routines, and offer advice on maintaining inspiration, discipline, and community in your writing life.
Speakers: Faculty
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur

AWN July Meeting: Summer Soiree
2025-07-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Thursday, July 17 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Summer Soiree & Agent AMA (Ask Me Anything)
Third Thursday – July 17, at The Village Smithy – only 530 ft down Main St. from Bonfire Coffee (26 S 3rd St, Carbondale, CO 81623), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Featuring power agent Seth Fishman for an in-person AMA.
Head of the Los Angeles office, Seth is a Vice President and agent at The Gernert Company, which he joined in 2010 after beginning his career as an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. Born in Midland, Texas, he graduated from Princeton University and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.
His interests are wide-ranging, but in particular he represents authors with a new voice, an original idea, an entirely breathtaking creative angle in both fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children, and is the author of the award-winning picture book, “A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars”, along with “Power Up” and “The Ocean In Your Bathtub”, as well as two YA books
BECOME A MEMBER

Aspen Words Literary Prize Book Distribution Party
2025-07-22 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Denver)
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | Pitkin County Library | 5:00 p.m.
Join us in celebrating the winning title of the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize! Swing by our community book distribution party at the Pitkin County Library to pick up a free copy of “Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange and enjoy complimentary refreshments and snacks.
Register Here

Special Lit Lounge Book Club: Aspen Words Literary Prize Celebration
2025-08-19 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver)
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 5:00–6:00 PM | Pitkin County Library
Join us for a special edition of The Lit Lounge as we celebrate the winner of the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize! This month, we’re spotlighting “Wandering Stars“ by Tommy Orange—a remarkable and unforgettable novel exploring the Native American experience across generations.
RSVP Here
About the novel:
Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion prison castle, where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who will go on to found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution dedicated to the eradication of Native history, culture and identity. A generation later, Star’s son, Charles, is sent to the school, where he is brutalized by the man who was once his father’s jailer. Under Pratt’s harsh treatment, Charles clings to moments he shares with a young fellow student, Opal Viola, as the two envision a future away from the institutional violence that follows their bloodlines. In a novel that is by turns shattering and wondrous, Tommy Orange has conjured the ancestors of the family readers first fell in love with in There There—warriors, drunks, outlaws, addicts— asking what it means to be the children and grandchildren of massacre. Wandering Stars is a novel about epigenetic and generational trauma that has the force and vision of a modern epic, an exceptionally powerful new book from one of the most exciting writers at work today and soaring confirmation of Tommy Orange’s monumental gifts.
Come together with fellow readers for an engaging discussion of this remarkable book, and enjoy light refreshments as we reflect on its themes and celebrate the community it brings together.
Let’s honor these powerful stories—and each other.

AWN August Meeting: Craft Workshop
2025-08-21 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Thursday, August 21 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
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Award-winning author Daryl Gregory will be in person to talk about surviving the ups and downs of publishing.

AWN September Meeting– Flex Your Creativity & Expand Your Skill + A Free Journal
2025-09-18 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
September AWN Meeting – Flex Your Creativity & Expand Your Skill + A Free Journal
Third Thursday – September 18 at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Writing prompts are a fantastic way to expand your creativity, explore new genres, and find your unique voice. So, whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just dipping your toes into the world of writing, come expand your artistic chops. Sharing is optional.
All attendees will receive a free journal! It’s bright red and full of blank pages to inspire you!
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Aspen Filmfest Presents: The Librarians
2025-09-19 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words is proud to partner with Aspen Filmfest 2025 to present a special screening of The Librarians, directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Kim A. Snyder. This powerful new documentary follows librarians across the U.S. as they stand up against unprecedented waves of book bans, fighting to protect intellectual freedom and access to knowledge.
Friday, September 19, 5:00 p.m.Aspen Film Isis TheaterQ+A with the director to follow
Purchase tickets here
For questions, please contact admin@aspenfilm.org
The Librarians
Logline:As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy.
Synopsis:Librarians unite to combat book banning, defending intellectual freedom on democracy’s frontlines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond. Directed by Oscar®-nominated and Peabody Award–winning filmmaker Kim A. Snyder, The Librarians sheds light on the resilience and courage of those fighting to keep books accessible to all.

Homegrown Stories – A Celebration of Aspen's Local Literary Voices
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Denver)
Local Authors Night at Explore Booksellers
Kick off the Aspen Literary Festival with an evening dedicated to Aspen’s own writers. From fiction to memoir, discover the voices shaping stories right here at home.
Featuring authors: Scott Lasser, Cathy O’Connell, T.A. Stevens, Lorenzo Semple, Jill Sheeley, Mark Tompkins, and Nathanial White.
Explore Booksellers — 221 E Main St, Aspen, CO6:00–7:30 pm
Free and open to all!
Learn more about the Aspen Literary Festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org

Aspen Literary Festival Presented by Book of the Month
2025-09-26 08:00 - 2025-09-28 17:00 (America/Denver)
Celebrate the books and people who drive culture.

Taking place Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, 2025 in downtown Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen Words, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, will welcome more than 40 nationally recognized, regional and local authors to downtown Aspen, CO for engaging conversations, book signings and other literary activities.
Open to the public, the festival, presented in partnership with Book of the Month, will include an onsite bookstore, art activations, food trucks, parties and other public programming for adults and families alike.
Learn more about the festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org

Aspen Literary Festival After Hours: Downtown Aspen Block Party
2025-09-26 18:30 - 22:00 (America/Denver)
September 26, 2025

6:30 PM-10:00 PMMT

Perks & Parties
Hyman Ave. & Mill St.

Local authors will give readings and sign books at local businesses. Aspen Public House and Stranahan’s Whiskey will provide drink specials for festival-goers who show their wristband or badge. Aspen Collective and D’Angelico Guitar Shop will provide an open bar for festival-goers during local author readings.
Participating local businesses
Aspen Collective Gallery | 213 S. Mill St
Hosted by artist, author, and publisher D.J. Watkins, the gallery will transform into a lively party space featuring live music, a bar, and book displays. D.J., known for his work on Hunter S. Thompson and the Freak Power movement, will showcase his art and books and welcome other authors to display and sign their work.
D’Angelico Guitar Shop | 240 S. Mill St
Local musician Garland Burton, who regularly headlines venues like Belly Up and Snowmass concerts, will set the vibe with live music inside and outside the shop. Garland will also host a bar and create space for local authors to sign and share their books—blending music and literature in one of Aspen’s most unique spaces.
Aspen Public House | 328 E. Hyman Ave
Located inside the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen Public House is offering festival drink specials all weekend for wristband and ticket holders. The venue is also opening its doors to local authors for book displays, signings and casual meet-and-greets.
Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge | 307 S. Mill St
Stranahan’s will debut a specialty literary cocktail alongside food and drink specials all weekend. On Friday night, local DJ Alex Brough will spin vinyl records as part of the Block Party. The Whiskey Lodge will also host author displays and signings, creating another lively hub for festival-goers.
Learn more about the Aspen Literary Festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org
ALF block party

AWN October Meeting - Annual Halloween meeting
2025-10-16 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
October 16 – Annual Halloween meeting. Patrick Kitson will be conducting a talk on: How to build more tension in your writing.
Patrick has been a lifelong student of the macabre, the satirical, and the intellectually dubious. Born and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley, he coined the term “Valley Horror” in reference to his particular brand of homebrewed speculative fiction, which largely takes place in and around the snowy climes of Colorado. He has published three short story collections and has a novel coming out soon.
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Youth Poetry Project 2025
2025-10-20 10:00 - 2025-11-21 17:00 (America/Denver)
Teaching Artists in RFV middle schools for week-long intensives
Oct.-Nov., 2025
This fall, Aspen Words is thrilled to once again partner with the Aspen Education Foundation to bring renowned teaching artists and performance poets into Aspen middle school classrooms.
For the fourth year in a row, professional poets will lead a week-long poetry intensive in every English Language Arts classroom at Aspen, inspiring students to explore creativity, self-expression, and the power of language.
The poets will also return to the classrooms at Carbondale and Basalt middle schools. 2025 is the third year working with students in Basalt and the second year returning to Carbondale.
The Aspen Words youth poetry project will encompass three weeks of in-classroom instruction – one at each school – and a Student Showcase hosted by Basalt middle school where students from all three schools will perform their original work.
The 2025 Poetry Project

Aspen Middle School: October 20–24

Carbondale Middle School: November 10–14

Basalt Middle School: November 17–21

Student Showcase: November 20

Learn more and support the Youth Poetry Project here

FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
2025-11-02 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver)
JOIN US FOR AN ALL-DAY FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
MAKING MEANING IN YOUR PERSONAL ESSAY
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 10AM to 3PM
Pitkin County Library
120 N Mill St, Aspen, CO 81611
REGISTER HERE
This all-day workshop with award-winning novelist and essayist Peter Mountford runs 10 AM–3 PM, with a lunch break from 12–1 PM.
Attendees will learn the most difficult and important skill in personal essay writing: how to make your personal story relevant to a perfect stranger. Hilary Mantel, on the difficulty of writing about oneself, said: “If other people are to care about your life, art must intervene.”
“Aboutness” is fundamental to a successful essay, yet both literary and general-publication editors frequently complain of receiving writers’ essays that don’t seem to be “about” anything. In this workshop, attendees will figure out how to select a topic, then focus and refine an essay to arc toward theme and meaning.
In the morning, the workshop will focus on choosing an essay’s seeds. These ideas should be inherently engaging from a story standpoint but also contain focused opportunities for rich thematic meaning. We will generate new writing for a few topics. Attendees will assess different ideas and talk about what each might offer in terms of story and meaning.
In the afternoon, the workshop will focus on developing one or two ideas further into a publishable work that appeals to readers. Specifically, we’ll work toward making meaning—how to write/revise toward your essay’s “aboutness.” Attendees will learn how there are several different approaches for seeking and demonstrating meaning, as we work through ideas generated in class. We’ll also learn secrets to successful essay structure.
Come prepared to brainstorm new essay ideas, bring ones you’ve been mulling over, or essays you’ve written that just aren’t working. Attendees will look at examples of how other authors have done this, including Melissa Febos, and Leslie Jamison. We will look at the first draft vs the published draft of the instructor’s Modern Love essay.
About the Instructor:

Peter Mountford is the author of A Young Man’s Guide to Late Capitalism (winner of the Washington State Book Award) and The Dismal Science (a New York Times Editor’s Choice), as well as the short story collection Detonator. His essays and fiction have appeared in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Sun, and more. He teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe’s MFA program and through Mountford Writing.
