I attended the San Diego Writers Festival for the first time last year. It was founded in 2019 by screenwriter-turned-writing-coach Marni Freedman and digital marketing professional Jennifer Thompson, but I was oblivious to its existence until last year. It was a fortuitous discovery. The festival is a well-organized community-based annual event for authors of all genres. And it’s totally free! The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the power of writing and storytelling.
The conference hosts a variety of author readings, panel discussions, and workshops covering a broad range of topics. Festival attendees have the opportunity to learn from published authors and industry experts. The seventh annual festival was held last month in Coronado. The Saturday schedule was jam packed from dawn until dusk with over 80 world-class speakers. Multiple sessions were held each hour on a vast array of subjects. There was something for everyone. New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult was the keynote speaker this year. She discussed her latest book, By Any Other Name, her research, and her writing practices.
According to the Festival website (https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/about/):
Research shows that storytelling
- Enhances our ability to be empathetic
- Produces neurochemicals that help us to feel safe
- Motivates cooperation
- Increases our collective desire to help one another
- Fosters resiliency and adaptation
- Inspires new modes of learning
- Has the ability to bond and strengthen communities
“Before we tell our stories, we are separate. After we tell our stories, we are family…[S]tories are our pathways, our links, our bridges to one another…We invite you to join us on our mission to hear one another, be educated and illuminated by one another, and inspired by one another—one story at a time.”
Well said.
