Testimonials
We’re proud to report that in seven years of throwing festivals, 99.8% of attendees say they’d recommend SWF to a friend. We asked why. Here are quotes from our online survey, as well as what attendees had to say onsite during SWF24.
“Nice people”
“The workshops were terrific, but I think I liked the collegial atmosphere the best. Most conferences I have been to are full of jealous types! I don't know how you kept the rude people away, but well done. Keep up the good work. :-)”
“Making connections”
"I recently attended SWF24, which was my first experience at a writers' meeting with workshops. I found the talks and workshops informative, offering me some new ideas to think about for my writing. Even though I'm not usually very social, I did manage to meet a few fellow writers and exchange some stories, which was a nice aspect of the event. I also discovered that there's a writers' network that meets regularly in Stockholm, where I live. It’s good to know that there's a local group I can connect with moving forward. Overall, SWF24 was a worthwhile experience that provided me with some useful insights and connections."
“Camaraderie and community”
"Too many elements to list in full. I thought the camaraderie and community support were exceptional. The speakers were insightful and much of the material presented directly applicable to my work currently, or plausibly applicable in the future. All the speakers and industry experts were approachable on a personal level as well, which was phenomenal - they were good picks, every one of them."
“Quality content”
“The festival delivered what it promised: Quality sessions with generous content about writing. Can’t wait for next year!”
“Positive atmosphere”
"Meeting new people who understand what you're going through, and the overall positive atmosphere"
“Balance”
"The balance between practical presentations, panels, networking opportunities, and a sense that the event was curated by writers for writers."
“Venue”
"The location Historiska and this year’s teachers. It was also great to get fed right there and not have to run around town for something to eat. And the food was excellent, too."
“Open spirit”
“The open spirit at the festival and that it is an international audience makes the atmosphere and the discussion more open and with more views.”
“Genre mix”
"I loved the genre mix - talking to people who were doing the same thing, but yet telling totally different stories, was actually much more inspiring than I expected. I also loved the location, the mix of different agents, the fact that there were also several sessions to choose from (though choosing was tough!), and the fact that the faculty mingled with the crowd even outside of events."
”Everything”
“Everything! SWF is the best conference I've ever attended. If I had to choose just one thing, I would say the festival's key word: community. I loved how our dear Catherine opened the festival by saying that none of us are competing with each other, but that we all support each other and want the best for the people sitting next to us. So true! And it really set the standard for the rest of the festival. I felt supported, seen, motivated, and cheered on by my peers. I made new friends from all over the world."
“Amazing people”
"The possibility to meet such amazing people, and that the faculty took part in mingling. Collected lots of knowledge, inspiration and ideas, and new contacts. "