If you're an aspiring writer in the New York area with no plans for the end of next week, the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses is collaborating with the creative writing program at the New School, the literary agencies of Donadio & Olson and Sobel Weber Associates, the National Book Foundation, and Poets & Writers magazine to present the Literary Writers Conference, a two-day series of panel discussions aimed at "post-MFA writers of literature" who will have an opportunity to meet various movers and shakers in the professioanl and cultural realms of publishing. Although the big draw will surely be in getting tips on forming effective relationships within the industry from boldface names like author Jonathan Lethem or agent Ira Silverberg (among the dozens of participating speakers), GalleyCats Ron Hogan and Sarah Weinman will also be on hand Saturday, November 4, to discuss "the power of blogging" with Maud Newton.

Unfortunately, this isn't the sort of panel discussion you can just drop in on; registration for the two-day conference carries a fee of $350 (although, for those of you who really want to make a go at writing, that should be a legitimate deduction on your next filing). It's actually a busy week for me; on Thursday, November 2, I'll be doing a similar blogging panel at the Words and Music literary festival in New Orleans, where I'll be joined by Manuel Romas of La Bloga.