Blogs

Feeling a little blue because you can't get your Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop fix this year? Gazing out the window, just longing for the opportunity to be inspired, stimulate your brain and hang out with other writers who "get" you?

Walk away from that window and come spend a few summer days in downtown Indianapolis for the 2015 National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) Conference, June 25-28. This annual gathering of columnists and bloggers from across the country features a jam-packed agenda that will foster your creative mojo, help you grow as a writer and give you amazing stories to tell all your friends. Seriously.

This year's lineup of speakers is spectacular and includes: Chicago Tribune columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Schmich; Judith Martin (a.k.a. Miss Manners); Pulitzer Prize winner and photojournalist Bill Foley; Tony Messenger, editorial page editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; and Gene Seymour, film critic who has written about music, movies and culture for The New York Times, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly and The Washington Post. And that's only the beginning.

Attendees will enjoy excursions to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana State Museum and the Kurt Vonnegut Library, just to name a few. But perhaps the most alluring attraction comes in the form of the NSNC hospitality suite. Yes, that's right - a haven where attendees can network and exchange ideas the old-fashioned way through personal conversation. Is there anything better?

You'll also get some free time to use as you please, whether it's exploring all that downtown Indy has to offer, or soaking in the beauty of The Alexander, a boutique hotel recognized for its emphasis on art and design. Guests will enjoy stunning accommodations, inspirational meeting spaces, unparalleled views of the city and an energetic vibe that will help make the weekend unforgettable.

So get away from that lonely window and give yourself the gift of connecting with other writers and forming lasting friendships. We can't wait to see you there. To register, click here.

- Michelle Freed

Michelle Freed is a writer, humorist, journalist, social commentator, public speaker and occasional cheap therapist. Her contributions have appeared online and in a variety of publications including the Indianapolis Star, Kansas City Star, ProjectEve.com and AimingLow.com. She is also a playwright, having written, produced and performed the one-woman show, Come Dance with Me (But First Can I Borrow Your Pants?). Find her at MichelleFreed.com; Twitter @MichelleFreed; or Facebook at facebook.com/LifeStumbler.