Writer's Conferences

Tis the season for Writer's Conferences!  Every year about this time writers all over the world are gearing up to attend one or even a series of conferences dedicated to writers, writing, and the business of writing.  Some conferences are huge affairs featuring a grand multitude of speakers, booths, classes, vendors, and fellow writers.  These big conferences, usually located in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc., can be intimidating to attend for a first-time or beginning writer.  A big conference that attracts big crowds can seem like the superstore where you mostly just wander around trying to navigate on your own, or where you look around in frustration hoping to find someone to help you.  I've met quite a few new writers that attended a big writer's conference and came away feeling a little lost, and maybe even a little rejected.  A new writer that is used to working alone on a project with a little soft music playing in the background can be easily overwhelmed by the orgiastic literary event that a large writer's conference can become.  Does this mean that big writer's conferences are bad?  Oh, heck no!  I've personally gone to big writer's conferences where I left feeling re-energized, inspired, and where I even learned a thing or three.  I got to meet some of my literary heroes, hung out with like-minded, talented people, and was even able to pitch my work to an agent.  I had a great time and brought back ideas and goodies that I was able to use in my writing.

So why am I trying to dissuade you from attending a writer's conference?  No, what I'm trying to point out or suggest is that, for the beginning writer, maybe forgoing the larger, flashier writer's conferences for one of the smaller, cozier, less frenetic ones might be a good idea.  There are a lot of conferences that are quieter, more intimate, and much easier to handle.  These smaller conferences can be found in the big cities too, but are also often found in quaint small towns, charming villages, libraries, schools, or even historic old mansions.  Now, while these conferences may be smaller in terms of attendants, speakers, etc., they are no less energizing, inspiring, or helpful to your career as a writer.  In fact, many established writers actually prefer the smaller venues to the larger ones, enjoying the more laid back atmosphere and the opportunity to interact more closely with fellow writers.

Either way, there are some things to expect at most writer's conferences regardless of size.  Writer's conferences almost always have guest speakers that range from famous and wildly popular writers, to literary agents, publishers, and other people in the literary field.  The larger conferences often feature vendors that will sell you (or giveaway!) items from t-shirts to writing software.  Conferences may have classes about different aspects of writing, marketing, or business-tips geared specifically for writers.  There are also conferences that prepare you to, and arrange for you to, pitch a manuscript to an agent or publisher.  A harrowing but fun experience!

So, before you actually attend a writer's conference, I strongly suggest that you do your research and prepare yourself well beforehand so that you may have the best experience possible.  Here's what you need to do:

1. Visit their website.  Gather as much information as you can.
2. Make sure it's the right conference for you.  If you write romances, don't go to a horror writer's conference.
3. Download maps and directions.
4. Download and go over the conference itineraries, especially if you're going to one of the larger conferences.  This way you have a pretty good idea of where to go to see or experience the people and/or events that are the most meaningful for you.
5. Pack some business cards... hey, you never know!
6. Be sure to bring your phone and a charger.
7. Pack a bottle of water and some snacks.  All that walking around can make you thirsty.  Some conferences have vendors that will sell you (or giveaway!) bottled water, but it's better safe than sorry.
8. Bring a pen (make sure it works!)
9. Bring some extra money.  Some of your fellow writers may want to hang out after the conference and drinks are expensive!
10. Bring your "A" game!  Be polite, patient, respectful, positive, confident, and informed.  You don't want to turn off the very same people that may be able to help your career!

All that being said, you should attend at least one conference in your lifetime, if only to bask in the creative energy of so many talented and like-minded souls.  By the way, below you'll find a list of writer's conferences for 2018.  It's not a complete list, but maybe it will help to get you started.


14th Annual Eckerd College Writers' Conference: Writers in Paradise
Florida
January 13, 2018

14th annual Mayborn Literary Conference, July 20-22, 2018
Texas
July 20, 2018

2018 Agents & Editors Conference / Writers' League of Texas / Austin, TX
Texas
June 29, 2018

2018 BookBaby Independent Authors Conference
Pennsylvania
November 2, 2018

2018 Summer Writing Program :: The Capitalocene :: Naropa University
Colorado
June 10, 2018

2018 Writing By Writers Fall Manuscript Boot Camp
California
November 9, 2018

2018 Writing By Writers Tomales Bay Workshop
California
October 17, 2018

2019 ASLE Biennial Conference
California
June 25, 2019

26th Annual Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway
New Jersey
January 18, 2019

30th Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers
Oregon
July 10, 2017

Algonkian Writer Conferences
New York
Year Round

Antioch Writers' Workshop at University of Dayton--Summer Program
Ohio
July 14, 2018

AWP Annual Conference & Bookfair
Florida
March 7, 2018

Boldface Conference for Emerging Writers
Texas
May 21, 2018

Chesapeake Writers' Conference at St. Mary's College of Maryland
Maryland
June 24, 2018

Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference (DFWCon)
Texas
June 9, 2018

David R. Collins Writers' Conference
Iowa
June 28, 2018

Elephant Rock Retreats for Writing & Yoga
Wisconsin
Year Round

Furious Flower Collegiate Summit: Poetry Without Boundaries
Virginia
March 22, 2018

Hampton Roads Writers Tenth Annual Writers' Conference
Virginia
Year Round

Highlights Foundation Workshops
Pennsylvania
Year Round

Indiana University Writers' Conference 2018
Indiana
June 2, 2018

Iota: Short Prose Conference
Maine
August 15, 2018

IWWG 41st Annual Summer Conference
Pennsylvania
July 6, 2018

Juniper Institute for Young Writers
Massachusetts
July 22, 2018

Juniper Summer Writing Institute
Massachusetts
June 17, 2018

Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference
Alaska
June 8, 2018

Kauai Writers Conference
Hawaii
November 5, 2018

Kentucky Women Writers Conference Inc.
Kentucky
September 13, 2018

Kenyon Review Writers' Workshops
Ohio
Year Round

Key West Literary Seminar and Writers' Workshop Program
Florida
January 10, 2019

Longleaf Writers' Conference @ Seaside, Florida (formerly Seaside WC)
Florida
May 13, 2018

Memoir in a Year-2017
Illinois
Year Round

Mendocino Coast Publishing Boot Camp
California
August 5, 2018

Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference (MCWC)
California
August 2, 2018

Midwest Fiction Writers Workshops
Minnesota
Year Round

Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference
Minnesota
June 18, 2018

Napa Valley Writers' Conference
California
July 29, 2018

NCWN Squire Summer Writing Workshops
North Carolina
July 19, 2018

New York State Summer Writers Institute
New York
July 2, 2018

Nonfiction Authors Association Free Teleseminars
California
Year Round

North Carolina Writers' Network Fall Conference
North Carolina
November 3, 2017

North Words Writers Symposium
Alaska
May 30, 2018

Odyssey Writing Workshop
New Hampshire
June 4, 2018

Pacific MFA in Writing | Residency Writers Conference
Oregon
Year Round

Pennsylvania Writers Conference (PWC)
Pennsylvania
July 29, 2018

Postgraduate Writers' Conference
Vermont
August 13, 2018

Publishing Workshop
New Jersey
March 2, 2019

San Francisco Writers Conference & Pre/Post Classes
California
February 15, 2018

Sewanee Writers' Conference
Tennessee
July 17, 2018

Steel Pen Annual Writers' Conference
Indiana
October 27, 2018

Summer Retreat at Ragdale
Illinois
July 20, 2018

The Creativity Workshop in New York
New York
Year Round

The Frost Place Conference on Poetry
New Hampshire
July 8, 2018

The Frost Place Conference on Poetry and Teaching
New Hampshire
June 23, 2018

The Frost Place Poetry Seminar
New Hampshire
July 29, 2018

The Frost Place Writing Intensive
New Hampshire
June 27, 2018

The Loft's Pitch Conference
Minnesota
April 20, 2018

The Writer's Hotel 2018 NYC Writers Conference
New York
June 6, 2018

Tinker Mountain Writers
Virginia
June 10, 2018

University of New Mexico Rananim Online Writing Workshops
New Mexico
October 2, 2017

University of North Dakota Writers Conference
North Dakota
March 21, 2018

Unworkshops: Your Room to Create
Pennsylvania
Year Round

Washington Island Literary Festival
Wisconsin
September 13, 2018

Washington Writers Conference
Maryland
May 4, 2018

Wesleyan Writers Conference
Connecticut
June 13, 2018

Western Reserve Writers' Conference
Ohio
April 28, 2018

Willamette Writers 2018 Conference
Oregon
August 2, 2018

Writers at Work 2018 Writing Retreat
Utah
June 6, 2018

Writers at Work Annual Writing Competition
Utah
November 15, 2017

Writers Studio at UCLA Extension
California
February 8, 2018

Writers Week at Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
California
Year Round

Writing from the Inside Out: Getting to the Gut of Your Words with Laura Munson at Madeline Island School of the Arts (MISA)
Wisconsin
July 16, 2018

I know that the dates for some of these may have passed already, but if you're really interested in attending that particular conference, Google them and if they have a website they'll probably have information concerning the time and date of their next conference.  Good luck and enjoy!