Self Portrait with Underwood Behind Glass Sometimes writers just need to be with other writers--to obsess about craft, to get moral suport, fresh inspiration, and feedback on our works-in-progress. And sometimes we just need to take a few days out from our distracted lives and go someplace else . For instance, Frostburg, Maryland: View from the Coffee Shop A sleepy mountain town near where Maryland meets Pennsylvania meets West Virginia, Frostburg is home to Frostburg State University and, for four days each summer, to the Nightsun Writer's Conference. This year's Nightsun faculty included Marion Winik (nonfiction) and Clint McCown (fiction): Poet Bruce Weigl : Science fiction writer Brenda Clough : And, representing YA fiction (with occasional forays into poetry), me. In between craft sessions, workshops, and readings, participants could grab a latte and a little outdoor writing time at this charming coffee shop : or b