The Fresno State Young Writers Conference brings together emerging voices from across the Central Valley for a day of craft, creativity, and connection.

The conference features a range of awards presented by university-affiliated programs, partnering organizations, and individual contributors, all working to support and highlight the achievements of young writers across disciplines. This year, Brandon Xiong will be in attendance representing Behemoth Magazine in our FIRST sponsored award for the event, recognizing a student writer from the conference.

Hosted at California State University, Fresno, the conference offers workshops, readings, and opportunities for young writers to engage with editors, educators, and peers. Attendees are encouraged to connect, share their work, and take part in a growing literary community rooted in the Central Valley.

Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Opening reading by Margarita Engle is FREE and open to the public.

For more information, visit the official conference page: https://cah.fresnostate.edu/english/centers-projects/youngwriters/index.html

Special thanks to California State University, Fresno for the opportunity to contribute to such an inspiring event; to the Behemoth Team; to Brandon Xiong for representing Behemoth Magazine; and to Brandon, Isabella De La Torre, Tori De La Torre, and Scott Knoll for their support in funding the award.