Welcome to the Nonfiction Writing community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

Call For Proposals

All types of personal essays, memoirs, autobiography, and literary journalism, in traditional and non-traditional forms, are welcome, on any subject. Of particular interest is creative nonfiction that examines writers and the writing process. Presentations that incorporate sound, music, images or video and/or experiment with elements of digital storytelling are also of interest.

Proposals may be for groups of essays organized around a theme, special panels, and (of course) individual papers.  Sessions are scheduled in 1½ hour slots, typically with four speakers per session.  Presentations should not exceed 15 minutes. Working professionals, scholars, educators, and students are all encouraged to submit.

Interested individuals are asked to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words (including presentation title) and complete contact information (name, institutional affiliation, mail and e-mail addresses, and contact telephone number through the PCA website.

Travel and research grants are available: http://pcaaca.org/grants/

For panels or groups of essays organized around a theme, please include the following:

Panel Title

Name and contact information for the Panel Chair

Titles and abstracts of each paper

Contact information for each presenter

All presenters must be members of the PCA and must register for the conference.

Please send all inquiries to area chair:

Michael Smith

James Madison University

smithmx@jmu.edu 

Important Dates to Remember:

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026