More than 35 published authors along with literary agents and editors will on hand for the Heartland Writers' Conference Aug. 14 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center.

The conference provides a day-long schedule of workshops designed to help aspiring writers improve their work and get published. Included are such titles as "Cleaning up the manuscript so it will sell," "Screenplay writing and how to get it published," "Adding humor to the novel," "How to be happily published in the children's markets" and "Song writing: from ideas to royalties."

An autograph party also will be held from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 13 at the West Park Mall.

Among the authors attending will be Robert Vaughan of Sikeston, who has written more than 200 books in every genre except science fiction; Bobbi Smith, a best-selling St. Louis romance novelist; St. Louis' Louis Daniel Brodsky, who has written 15 volumes of poetry, and nine scholarly books on William Faulkner; Branson's Jory Sherman, whose 1992 book "The Medicine Horn" was awarded the highest honor given by the Western Writers of America; and Michigan writer Sue Harrison, whose first novel, "Mother Earth, Father Sky" became a national bestseller in paperback. The American Library Association named it one of 1991's best books for young adults. Harrison's most recent novel is "My Sister the Moon."

Among the literary pros will be Peter Blocksom, managing editor of Writer's Digest magazine; Ethan Ellenberg, owner of a literary agency specializing in fiction; and Paul Block, editor-in-chief with Book Creations Inc.

Conference Coordinator Shirleen Sando of Kennett said the event helps not only the neophyte writers but the published ones as well. "Some of them just support the conference. (Robert Vaughan) says he sells his books at conferences."

Registration for the conference will be from 7:30-8 a.m. Aug. 14. and the cost is $95. The price includes lunch and a dinner banquet. Sikeston writer Dick Vaughan will be the keynote speaker.

The deadline to register is Aug. 7. To register, make checks payable to Heartland Writers' Guild. Mail with name, address and phone number to Shirleen Sando, HWG Conference Coordinator, 813 Michael, Kennett, Mo. 63857.