I don’t have many writing conferences to compare to because I rarely take the time to attend any at all. So I count it as a blessing that I took a moment out of my schedule and went to Fort Myers, to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), to attend what is called the Sanibel Island Writers Conference.
The name is obvious—“Sanibel”—but you may have noticed that it was held on the college campus rather than on the island itself. If you are aware of the current state of the island, there are still many improvements being made after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Hopefully, by next year or within a few years, the conference will return to Sanibel Island as it used to be.
Now, as for the event itself:
Friday night began with an introduction to Stephanie Elizondo Griest, an American author, journalist, and activist known for exploring themes of identity, borders, and belonging. A Mexican American writer from South Texas, she is the author of Around the Bloc, Mexican Enough, and All the Agents and Saints, books that beautifully blend memoir, travel writing, and social commentary.
During her talk, she was asked how she conducts her interviews. She replied, “My goal is not to spend hours with the subject but to go home with them—to live on their couch for months.” We laughed, but she was serious. As an interviewer, she immerses herself in people’s lives to understand what makes them tick and thrive in their art. I thought that was such a bold approach. I love her determination to get the story written—she goes to extraordinary lengths to bring truth and depth to her readers. Her speech was a beautiful opening to the conference.
Day 2
The Path to Publishing by M.J. Fievre was packed full of nuggets that put the publishing journey into perspective for any author. What I gathered from M.J. is that in the literary world, you cannot do it alone—not as an author, publisher, agent, editor, or bookseller.
Authors, whether self-published or traditionally published, still need assistance getting their books into the hands of the right readers. Publishers need talented authors writing books that people want to read. Agents have close connections with publishers and understand what they’re seeking, so they filter through the authors they meet. Editors are the critical eyes who catch and correct errors, ensuring the book is polished before publication. And booksellers wouldn’t have any books to sell without everyone’s collective work beforehand.
Flash! Stories by John Dufresne
I was glad to attend this course last because it involved hands-on writing exercises, which I found entertaining and inspiring. I’ve always enjoyed short stories—especially anthologies—but I loved learning about Flash Fiction, and I’m glad it’s gaining popularity.
John shared several sources of inspiration: grocery receipts, restaurant tickets, newspaper ads, people waiting at bus stops or train stations—pretty much the entire world around us. I even found myself inspired on my way back from Fort Myers, sitting at the airport. It was impossible not to think of several stories just by observing the people next to me or those walking by. God bless each one of them, because I had a new story idea pop into my mind every minute.
“A story is created every minute.” – Majestic Dove Publishing, LLC
Here is a story I create during class based on this stick note with a grocery list (Note: some words may be misspelled on list)
Missing Bourbin
The man rushes to the checkout counter because his wife keeps calling his phone. She’s blowing up his text messages. When he checks his phone, the latest message reads:
“The twins are still up. WHERE ARE YOU??”
He pauses. The cashier has already finished ringing up the nuts—the last item on his list. She looks up, wondering why he hasn’t moved to make his payment yet. He scribbles something on his yellow sticky note and then looks at the cashier.
“Can you have someone bring me a bottle of bourbon?”
Closing Thoughts
As a writer and publisher, I believe moments like these remind us why storytelling matters. It’s not just about words on a page—it’s about connection, courage, and finding truth in the stories we tell. Thank you for being part of this creative journey with Majestic Dove Publishing.
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