The New Hampshire Writers’ Project presents its 16th annual writing conference at The Derryfield School in Manchester on Saturday, April 18. Writers’ Day offers workshops, classes and panel discussions with leading writers and publishing professionals for writers at all levels.

Meredith Hall, author of the New York Times best-seller “Without a Map,” will give the keynote address. Other participants include NHWP’s president Richard Carey; former New York Times Book Review editor Rebecca Sinkler; president of the American Literary Translators Association Jim Kates; current Pushcart Prize fiction editor Joseph Hurka; and literary agent David Godine, who represents J.M.G. Le Clézio, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Robert Begiebing’s “Breaking Up: Techniques to Edit Your Manuscript” class will lead participants through the editing techniques needed to succeed in today’s publishing climate. He is the winner of the 2003 Langum Prize for historical fiction and a board member of the Norman Mailer Society.

The changing publishing industry is reflected in the lineup. Participants can get their questions about copyright, contracts, publicity and self-publishing answered during the “Gee, Biz!: Understanding the Business of Writing” panel with a lawyer and publishing professionals.

The conference concludes with the second NHWP Literary Idol. Based on the television show “American Idol,” contestants will read their best three-minute flash fiction pieces in front of the audience and a panel of judges, including Nebula and Hugo Award winner James Patrick Kelly, playwright Jacqueline Benson, and Poetry Slam Master Hope Jordan. Local writer Rebecca Rule will emcee the free event.

Registration is $125 for members and $155 for non-members. For more information, visit www.nhwritersproject.org or call 603-314-7980.