AAN’s 2010 Writers Workshop features a program jam-packed with valuable lessons and reporting tools for writers. Las Vegas will be scene of the crime, with the opening session starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 29.

(CLICK HERE TO REGISTER)

On Saturday morning, award-winning magazine journalist Dan Baum will discuss why writers need to dream big and swing for the bleachers in their reporting. Baum has been a staff writer for the New Yorker and has also written for numerous national magazines such as Rolling Stone and Playboy.

In an afternoon session, bestselling author Mike Sager — who has interviewed the likes of Angelina Jolie, Jack Nicholson, Snoop Dogg, and Ray Charles — will share stories and tips for interviewing and profile writing. Sager has the distinction of working with both investigative reporter Bob Woodward at the Washington Post and the legendary Hunter S. Thompson while at Rolling Stone.

Attendees of this year’s workshop will also have the opportunity to:

Brush up on fundamental skills such as writing ledes and establishing a beat.

Learn about new electronic tools and websites that make it easy to embed databases and other interactive documents into a story.

Gain ideas on how to attack the medical marijuana beat from the pioneering Denver-based Westword.

Participate in the always popular — and tremendously valuable — story generating session.

A complete list of detailed session descriptions can be found here.

Make no mistake, these sessions will be interactive and hands-on, and attendees will be pushed to participate and engage. This will not be one of those conferences where attendees can expect to sit in the back of the room nursing a hangover while a speaker drones on in front of a Powerpoint presentation.

In addition to Baum and Sager, the list of speakers includes Peabody and Emmy award winning George Knapp (Las Vegas Channel 8); Jimmy Boegle (Tucson Weekly); Patricia Calhoun (Westword); Julia Goldberg (Santa Fe Reporter); Anne Schindler (Folio Weekly); Steve Sebelius (Las Vegas CityLife); Hank Sims (North Coast Journal); and Joel Warner (Westword).

AAN members can register at the insanely affordable rate of $75 up until October 7. After that the rate increases to $100.

Not an AAN member? No problem. Non-members can register for a very reasonable rate of $125 up until October 7, and $150 after that.

HOTEL & REGISTRATION INFO

Members and non-members can register for the 2010 Writers Workshop by clicking here.

AAN has reserved a block of rooms at the Tropicana Las Vegas for workshop
attendees. The group rates for single or double occupancy are as follows:

Thursday, Oct. 28 — $49
Friday, Oct. 29 — $89
Saturday, Oct. 30 — $89
Higher rates apply for triple or quad occupancy.

Please make your reservations by calling the hotel’s reservation department
at (800) 634-4000 and ask for the AAN Writers Workshop rate.