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We're seeking top-notch faculty and session ideas for the 2016 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.

Deadline for proposals is April 1, 2015, with prospective faculty notified by June 1 if their sessions have been selected. To submit a proposal, click on Call For Faculty Proposals, fill out the form and email it to erma@udayton.edu.

The vast majority of writers surveyed after the 2014 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop told us they loved it, but a number said they'd appreciate more writing exercises in workshops and greater focus on the craft of writing. Some recommended tracks for beginners and more established writers. Others requested tips on how to navigate the myriad ways available to publish and market your writing today.

Among the hundreds of helpful write-in survey comments: "I'd love to hear more about the mechanics of the writing - the butt-in-chair, deadline-aware, professional approach," one writer said.

Attendees want to learn from high-quality, experienced faculty. "I was amazed at the high caliber of speakers. Keep that! I also liked the accessibility of writing rock stars," another writer noted.

We are committed to maintaining the workshop's supportive atmosphere for writers from all levels of experience.

"The feel of the EBWW conference is very much like going to visit family, even though it was my first time and I hadn't met anyone attending before. I like that it's relatively small. It feels like a warm hug," one wrote.

If you're an established writer and teacher with an enthusiasm for helping others become stronger writers, we'd love to hear from you. The next Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop will be held March 31-April 2, 2016, at the University of Dayton, Erma's alma mater. It's the only workshop in the country devoted to the craft of humor and human interest writing.

— Teri Rizvi

Teri Rizvi is the founder and co-director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at the University of Dayton.