The whole point is to be read.
TBR
A new writing and publishing conference coming to Cambridge
January 17th, 2026
9am - 5pm
on the Lesley University Campus
1815 Mass. Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
TBR is for writers at two distinct stages of their careers: those gearing up to publish their first book, and those writing and selling their second, third, fourth, fifth books and beyond.
What’s happening at TBR…
30+ panel sessions and presentations, organized into tracks based on where you’re at with your project(s)
75+ presenters, featuring renowned authors and leading publishing professionals
Innovative "Publishing Matchmaker" 1-on-1 appointments with literary agents
Round Table discussions, providing deeper dives on specific topics of interest to you
Productive opportunities for networking throughout the day
Meaningful service opportunities during the conference
“One For the Books” closing party and literary celebration at La Fabrica in Central Square
Featured Presenters
Celeste Ng
Caleb Gayle
Marjan Kamali
Courtney Maum
Christopher Castellani
Peter Ho Davies
Publishing Matchmaker: Matching you with agents you want to meet who also want to meet you.
Intensive Craft Sessions
Sessions that dive deep into elements of craft that writers will find useful throughout their careers, not just beginner stuff you’ve heard a million times before.
The Big Topics
Are chatbots going to take my job? How do I get my work done when the world is falling apart? We’ll address the most pressing issues of the day, in ways that are engaging, provocative, and most of all: useful.
Publishing Matchmaker
We’ll match you with agents you want to meet who also want to meet you. We keep describing it as “Tinder for Writers” because nothing else explains it quite as succinctly.
TBR Presents
One For the Books
The kind of party you want to write about afterward
Doors open at 7pm
Short (and sizzling) program at 8pm
La Fabrica, Central Square
Early excitement for TBR
“What a great idea! I’m so looking forward to it. It will help us get through this next year of madness and chaos.”
“I’m so excited to be back in the Boston writing community and with all of you! I love that you’re doing this conference!”
“Thank you for doing this! I’m new to Boston and hoping that I can find more friends and go-to writing community.”
“This conference is going to kill it!”
About us
Co-founders of TBR, Sonya Larson and Whitney Scharer have been friends for over twenty years, which feels impossible, since they’re both twenty-six. Equally impossible is that they bring a combined thirty years of experience to planning literary events, from 1000-person conferences to intimate book clubs and everything in between. In addition to working on this conference together, they are first readers of each other’s writing, dear friends, and women who can and will bust a move on the dance floor if the right song comes on.
TBR is a labor of love. Whitney and Sonya missed getting together in person with other writers, and kept hearing that other people missed it too. They sent out a survey to their networks, and instead of the twenty responses they thought they’d get (they are nothing if not masters of low expectations), they got three hundred. Buoyed by that energy and enthusiasm from the community, they’ve spent the past year planning TBR. They’ve enjoyed every minute of it.