Testimonials
““Thank you for an amazing 3+ days of Nonfiction “nerdvana” in Flagstaff. It was a truly exceptional conference-well-planned and executed—and just a damn good time filled with inspiration and laughter.” ”
Photo by Scott Morris
“Imagine a biennial reunion of 500 of your chosen family members—ones who read Baldwin, Rankine, and Nelson as devotedly as you do; ones who are as eager to talk craft as they are to pub- crawl across whatever fabulous city you are convening in (Flagstaff, Melbourne, Reykjavik); ones who play gameshows where the default answer is always Montaigne; ones who will listen to your latest life dilemma and help you find the essay in it. That’s NonfictioNow. See you in Wellington!” Stephanie Elizondo Griest (keynote speaker, Phoenix 2018)
Every two years I am deeply ambivalent (the essayist’s occupational hazard) about attending the NonfictioNow conference, and every two years I come away knowing I have found/refound my peeps and am utterly galvanized by my devotion to our particular(ly thrilling) form of art.” David Shields (2018)
“NonfictioNOW was truly inspiring for me. I learned a lot and made some great connections. Above all I loved how the conference celebrated the beautiful work that can be produced in the nonfiction genre.” Pepi Reynolds (2012)
“NonfictioNOW is my very favourite conference in the world. If I only had to choose one conference to attend, it would be NonfictionNOW. I loved every minute of it!” Sean Prentiss (2015)
Photo by Scott Morris
"NonfictioNOW involves mingling with a small multitude of kind, thoughtful, articulate people who seek to live and share meaning with others. As someone who goes for that sort of thing, I found this one of my year's highlights. I'd often heard it preached that essayists - folks who explicitly aim to sense the wonders of the everyday--tend to be particularly pleasant people. My experience a few weeks ago confirmed it. Even the all-stars (at least the ones I met) were very down to earth, taking time to visit with anyone who hoped for some of their time. I'm so glad I went--that's the bottom line. I had a wonderful, wonderful time." Bentley Snow, 2015
“I can say, without a doubt, that#NonfictioNOW2015 was the BEST CONFERENCE EVER. I met so many new people, got to express my gratitude to people who have helped me, and got to hang out with some of my favorite writers who also happen to be my friends.” Lynn Kilpatrick, 2015
"Had a great time at the NonfictioNOW conference. Met a couple of hundred awesome people. Heard a number of tremendous presentations. Did a panel on the lyric moment in essays and poems alongside Justin Robert Lightfoot Bigos, Sejal Shah, and Bojan Louis. Drank some kind of rhubarb Old Fashioned concoction." Matthew Olzmann
Photo by Alison Barker
"NonfictioNOW was utterly unlike any other conference or festival experience I’ve had - and NonfictioNOW seems to be a great balance between the two. It brings together a deep interrogation of writing practice - its methods, as well as its significance and impact - with the curiosity that comes from sharing work and appreciating other writers’ ideas. The conference felt so positive - everyone came with openness, excitement, and a love for the form. Risky work was celebrated, and attendees were so ready to meet like-minded writers. Flagstaff’s hospitality was arms-wide-open and deeply generous - I felt quite at home despite being so far from Melbourne. It’s refreshing to have been in the company of some 400 people working on exciting nonfiction projects. I was proud to help represent Melbourne’s contribution to the creative nonfiction world, and I feel like my eyes have been opened (again - as they were at the 2012 conference!) as to just how expansive and alive a form it is - these across-the-oceans connections, discussions and intermingling of ideas are hugely useful. I’ll be returning home inspired, energised, and with lasting friendships with writers on the other side of the world." Samantha Van Zweden (2015)