Writer’s Symposium by the Sea is an annual event to inspire readers and writers alike, featuring evocative conversations with exemplary writers from various genres, backgrounds, and perspectives. During each interview, the audience is invited to actively listen in as writers share what inspires their writing and delve into the practices that propel their success.
The symposium’s evening interviews feature Dr. Dean Nelson, founder of the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea and director of the Journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Past guest writers have included Cornel West, Amy Tan, David Brooks, Alice Walker, Philip Yancey, Anne Lamott, Bill Moyers, and many more.
Writer's Symposium by the Sea celebrated its 30th Anniversary in February 2025 and hosted thousands of students, faculty, and community members for conversations with Jesmyn Ward, Sandra Cisneros, and Mitch Albom.
View these conversations online thanks to UCSD-TV. Click here to watch the interviews.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 31st Annual Writer's Symposium will be February 24-28, 2026
More details coming soon!
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
We are so grateful to the Writer's Symposium by the Sea donors. Thanks to you, we were able to bring hundreds of local high school students to hear from this year's writers and we have already received thank you notes with stories of how these experiences will make a lasting impression. We are so grateful to be a part of that.
As we plan for another amazing group of inspiring writers in 2026, perhaps you might consider a one-time or ongoing donation? We would love to add you to this list:
Writer's Symposium by the Sea Donors:
PLNU Honors Program
PLNU Office of Diversity & Black Student Union
Mery Olive Bangs Endowment
San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Ron & Kathleen Lauderbach
Lawrence and Suzanne Hess
Daniel K. O'Neill
Lori & John Dedic
The Tom and Melanie Gillette Trust, in memory of Tom Gillette
Bob and Jo Birdsell
The Rasak Family
Drs. Kathryn & Michael McConnell
Dr. David & Elizabeth Ostrander
David & Elinor Vandegrift
Larry & Janet Jackson
PLNU School of Humanities, Arts, and Public Engagement
PLNU Center for Justice & Reconciliation
San Diego Union-Tribune
Warwick's
La Playa Books
Symposium Sponsorship
To maintain the symposium's high-quality programming, we need your help to meet our yearly donation goal of $80,000. Please consider partnering with Writer's Symposium by the Sea by giving an ongoing or one-time, tax-deductible donation. Every gift allows us to provide this unique opportunity to PLNU students and the community.
For more information about donating to the Writer's Symposium, please contact giving@pointloma.edu or click here to make your donation today!
Thank you for your support.
Connect With Us
Click here to join the mailing list for updates and first access to tickets.
Follow the Writer's Symposium on Social Media
View Archived Interviews
Thanks to our partnership with UCSD-TV, you can watch previous interviews from Writer's Symposium by the Sea here: https://www.ucsd.tv/writers/
