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Creativity, Community, Inspiration
Saturday, April 10
at Abeille Voyante Tea Company
303 Grant Avenue, Millvale, Pennsylvania 15209
11:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Doors open at 10:00 a.m.
Registration $75
via Ironed Words Productions, LLC
Pittsburgh Writers
Tea & Conference
Saturday, April 10, 2027
With special thanks to our Sponsors and Partners: Aurora Corialis Publishing, Lemon Tree Coffee
Super Early-Bird Registration
discounted to $45 $37.50
By registering, you agree to the Terms of Use
Confirmation of registration will be emailed to you from IronedWordsProductions@gmail.com. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
Already reserved: 3 out of 40 available seats. Get yours now before they're all taken!
A Note from the Conference Director
A Note from the Conference Director
Maria Simbra
Director and Principal at Ironed Words Productions
Hello, writing friend! Welcome to the Pittsburgh Writers Tea & Conference page and community!
I know exactly what it feels like to sit with a story inside, wondering how it should be written and if the world would want to read it.
Writing is often a solitary act, but no author should have to navigate the journey alone. I created this conference to bridge the gap between private draft and compelling, iron-clad manuscript.
Whether you are deep in the trenches of a first novel, polishing a memoir, or looking for writing inspiration, you'll find a home here.
At this conference you will find:
Expert-led Presentations. Learn about the substance and nuances of writing. You'll encounter aspects you haven't thought of before.
A Support Network. Connect with fellow writers who understand the unique rhythm of the creative process.
Actionable Strategy. Get a practical approach to moving from "aspiring" to "accomplished."
I've seen firsthand how a half-day gathering can give writers a burst of creativity and productivity and transform a manuscript. I invite you to join us, bring your questions and inquisitive spirit, and take the next step in your writing journey.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Maria
Super Early-Bird Registration
discounted to $45 $37.50
By registering, you agree to the Terms of Use
Confirmation of registration will be emailed to you from IronedWordsProductions@gmail.com. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.er.
MEET YOUR PRESENTERS
DR. JOSHUA DAVID BELLIN
Hooking Readers with Setting
Hooking Readers with Setting
Discover ways to establish mood with immersive sensory details
How to filter setting through character perspective
Captivate readers with a setting full of tension
Tips for weaving in scene details to make the enviroment active
***
Joshua David Bellin has been writing books since the age of eight (though his first few were admittedly very short). A retired English professor who taught writing at La Roche University for 27 years, he has published numerous works of speculative fiction, including the Survival Colony 9 series, the Ecosystem series, and the time-travel thriller Myriad. His published works are characterized by immersive world-building, intricate plotting, and shocking conclusions. When he's not writing, he spends his time drawing and watching monster movies.
WENDY MILLER-NORRIS
Editing Like a Professional
Editing Like a Professional
Develop a multi-pass method for catching macro-level issues and line-level mechanics
Cultivate objective distance to break familiarity bias
Audit your cadence, rhythm, and dialogue
Trim the excess to sharpen impact
***
Wendy Miller-Norris is a scholar, and prolific storyteller who bridges the gap between the commercial entertainment industry and academic excellence. Currently a PhD student in Literature and Criticism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Wendy holds an MFA in Creative Writing, with a Fiction Concentration and a BFA in Creative Writing for the Entertainment Industry. Her industry credentials include years in small press acquisitions and developmental editing, providing her with a keen eye for marketability and structural integrity.
DR. ELIADA GRIFFIN-EL
Starting Your Author Business
Starting Your Author Business
Strategies for writing as a product line
Understand distribution channels
Explore and formulate valuable author revenue streams
Define clear markets for targeted engagement and growth
***
Dr. Eliada Griffin-EL is the S. Kent Rockwell Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship at Robert Morris University and Director of the nationally recognized Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A Yale graduate, she earned her master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. With 15 years in academia and entrepreneurship, she advances experiential learning and entrepreneurial action. Her scholarship has been presented across Europe, Africa, and the United States, and she co-edited The Business of Social and Environmental Innovation: New Frontiers in Africa (Springer, 2015).
Other features of the event:
Learn in a brand-new setting that's cozy and comfortable in the heart of an iconic Pittsburgh neighborhood.
Meet other enthusiastic writers from across the greater Pittsburgh area.
Enjoy delicious coffee, tea, and snacks during the breaks.
Enter a drawing and haul away fun prizes for writers and readers.
Special thanks to our sponsors and partners!
If you'd like to support this conference,
please click to get in touch.👇
Special Session
Towards a Literary Future:
An Escape from Houselessness through Education
Dr. Clayton Bradshaw- Mittal
Dr. Clayton Bradshaw- Mittal
Dr. Clayton Bradshaw-Mittal discusses their journey from unhoused teenager to soldier to houseless veteran and the ways in which a literary education lifted them into their current position as a Creative Writing professor. They reflect on the resilience required to overcome class differences and post-traumatic stress to find success as a writer and academic. In addition, they explore strategies to persevere through the challenges often faced by writers from nontraditional backgrounds.
***
Clayton Bradshaw-Mittal, PhD (they/them) is the author of the forthcoming story collection Soft Goodbyes Through Broken Veils (University of New Mexico Press, 2027). Their writing has been published in Story, Third Coast, F(r)iction, the Rumpus, The Masters Review, and elsewhere. They are the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and teach Creative Writing at Gannon University.
Super Early-Bird Registration
discounted to $45 $37.50
By registering, you agree to the Terms of Use
Confirmation of registration will be emailed to you from IronedWordsProductions@gmail.com. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.er.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where is the main meeting space located?
We will be meeting upstairs in the CommuniTEA Room. The space is located on the second floor of the historic building in the heart of Millvale. Take the main flight of stairs to the right as soon as you come through the front doors.
Will there be food at the conference?
At the three 15-minute breaks, snacks, coffee/tea, and water will be provided.
Will there be networking opportunities?
There will be a networking activity at each break so that participants can meet the other attendees and broaden their network with other writers and authors.
Are there any special opportunities for readers?
Enter the raffle featuring books from Pittsburgh area bookstores and authors. There will be multiple chances to win a bounty of new reads.
Is there an early-bird rate?
Alumni of the SWPAWC get a special 50% discount through December 31, 2026 ($37.50). Super early-bird registration is available January 1 through February 28 ($45). Early-bird registration is available from March 1-31 ($50). From April 1-9, registration remains discounted ($65). Registration at the door is available for $75, so register as soon as possible for the best rate. No matter when you register, you can feel good about part of the fee benefitting the Millvale Community Library.
Where do I park?
Street parking is available on Grant Street and on the side streets of Millvale. Consider carpooling for the sake of the planet and efficiency.
What people are saying about Ironed Words' events...
"Love getting together with authors."
"I made valuable contacts."
"A respectful and supportive atmosphere. No wasted time!"
"Quality panelists. The insights for the investment can't be beat."
"It was wonderful, helpful, informative."
"New info and new voices."
"Love the camaraderie. And the food!"
"I found [the panelists'] comments so helpful that I spent the rest of my weekend revising my WIP.
"I liked meeting new people with similar interests and goals."
"Everyone was so nice and the panel is so impressive. Amazing!"
"It was such a wonderful, information-filled afternoon! I enjoyed every minute of the event. :)"
"There are really other local writers with similar experiences. Yay! I am not in this alone! Thank you! You are my people!"
Registration $75
via Ironed Words Productions, LLC
Pittsburgh Writers
Tea & Conference
Saturday, April 10, 2027
With special thanks to our Sponsors and Partners: Aurora Corialis Publishing, Lemon Tree Coffee
Super Early-Bird Registration
discounted to $45 $37.50
By registering, you agree to the Terms of Use
Confirmation of registration will be emailed to you from IronedWordsProductions@gmail.com. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
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