Over the past 15 years, I've attended more than 20 writer's conferences of every size and style—sometimes as a speaker, sometimes as a sponsor, but most often as an attendee eager to learn.

Looking back, I can honestly say those conferences played a huge role in my journey as an author and entrepreneur. Yes, they taught me about writing, publishing, and book marketing. But perhaps more importantly, they reminded me that I wasn't alone. Meeting other writers who were facing the same challenges, asking the same questions, and chasing the same dreams gave me confidence to keep going.

Over the years, though, I also learned some valuable lessons.

First, not all writer's conferences are created equal. Some are incredible investments that can transform your career, while others simply aren't worth the time or expense. I wish I'd known how to evaluate them before spending my limited budget on attending.

Second, how you approach a writer's conference matters. With a little preparation and a few insider tips I wish I'd known before attending my first event, you can avoid common mistakes, make better connections, learn more, and get far more value from every conference.

In this guide, I'll share my favorite writer's conferences, explain how to choose the right one for your goals, and show you how to make the most of every event you attend.

In this article, you'll also learn:

• How to determine whether a writer's conference is worth your time and money.
• Simple strategies to get the maximum value from every author conference you attend.
• A curated list of the best writer's conferences to consider, whether you're a new or experienced author.

Why I Believe in Writer’s Conferences

2. I Built Friendships That Have Lasted for Years: One of the greatest benefits of attending conferences wasn't found in the sessions. It was the people I met. Over the years, I've built friendships with authors I still talk to today. They became people I could celebrate wins with, ask for advice, or simply vent to when things weren't going well. There is something incredibly valuable about having friends who truly understand what it's like to be an author because they're living it too.

3. I Always Walked Away Learning Something New: I've never attended a conference without coming home with at least one new idea that improved my writing or my business. Sometimes it was a better way to market my books. Other times it was a small craft technique that made my stories stronger. Even a single idea can be worth the cost of attending if it helps your books sell better or makes you a better writer.

4. They Helped Me Keep Up With a Changing Industry: Publishing changes constantly. When I started, TikTok didn't exist, Facebook Ads were brand new, and many of the marketing strategies we rely on today hadn't even been invented yet. Writer's conferences have helped me stay current by exposing me to new tools, new marketing ideas, and new publishing trends before they became common knowledge.

5. The Conversations Were Often More Valuable Than the Sessions: Some of the best advice I've ever received didn't come from someone standing on a stage. It came from conversations in the hallway, over lunch, or while waiting for the next session to begin. Being surrounded by hundreds of authors creates opportunities to ask questions, exchange ideas, and hear what is actually working for other writers. Those informal discussions often became the most memorable and valuable part of the entire conference.

6. You Can Turn it Into an Adventure: With conferences all over domestically and the world, it is easy to turn any conference trip into a vacation or adventure. Below you can see a vlog that I put together when I went to the International Dublin Writer's Festival. This is NOT financial advice, but because I have my authorship set under an corporation (LLC taxed as a S-Corp), I was able to have this trip be a business expense and the video with time stamps helped :).

Things to Consider When Selecting an Author Conference

1. Your Experience Level: Not every writer's conference is designed for the same audience. Some are geared toward new authors who are still learning the basics, while others assume attendees already have books published and are looking to grow their business. Choosing a conference that matches your current experience level is important. If you attend one that is too advanced, you may spend much of your time feeling overwhelmed. Just as importantly, the authors around you will likely be at a different stage in their careers, making networking and discussions less relevant to your own journey.

2. The Purpose of the Conference: Every conference has a different focus. Some are built around a specific genre, such as LitRPG Con, while others concentrate on the craft of writing, publishing, book marketing, or the business of being an author. There are also broad conferences, like Author Nation, that cover a little of everything. Before registering, make sure you understand what the conference is designed to deliver and ask yourself whether that content and community align with your current goals.

3. Topics and Speakers: Most conferences publish their schedule and speaker lineup well in advance. Take the time to review both before purchasing a ticket. Do the sessions cover topics you genuinely want to learn about? Are there speakers whose experience or expertise you admire? If you can already identify several sessions you're excited to attend, there's a good chance the conference will be a worthwhile investment.

4. Conference Size: Bigger isn't always better. Smaller conferences often provide a more intimate atmosphere where it's easier to meet speakers and build meaningful relationships with other attendees. Larger conferences typically offer more session choices, more networking opportunities, and a wider variety of vendors and exhibitors. Think about your personality and what type of environment helps you learn and connect with others most effectively.

5. Location: Don't overlook where the conference is being held. Attending a writer's conference can feel like a working vacation, especially if you plan to spend a few extra days exploring the area. Since there are so many excellent conferences to choose from, you might as well pick one in a city you would enjoy visiting. You'll likely have a better overall experience, and you may even look forward to attending year after year.

List of Author Conferences

Now that you know the value and how to get the most out of writer's conferences, I wanted to share with you a list of conferences to check out:

Recommendations: Things to Do Before, During, and After a Conference

When you do choose to go to a author or writer conference, here are some of my lessons learned and things I wish I had known when I first started:

1. Join the Writer's Conference Facebook Group

Almost every writer's conference has a Facebook group, Discord server, or other online community where attendees gather before the event. Join it as soon as you register. Not only is it a great way to start meeting people before you arrive, but you'll also pick up valuable information from experienced attendees. People often share travel tips, recommend restaurants, organize meetups, and answer questions about the conference itself.

If you've been in the industry for a while, you may even discover that friends or colleagues are attending, making it easy to schedule lunch, dinner, or coffee together before the conference begins.

2. Pre-plan the Presentations You'll Attend

Most conferences publish their schedule weeks before the event. Don't wait until you're standing in the hallway trying to decide where to go next.

Take some time beforehand to review the sessions and create a schedule of the presentations you want to attend. Some conferences even have mobile apps that let you build your own agenda and send reminders. LitRPG Con, for example, had an excellent app that made it incredibly easy to organize my schedule and avoid missing the sessions I cared about most.

I also recommend taking it one step further. Look up the presenters you'll be learning from. Read about their background, visit their website, or listen to one of their podcasts. Not only will you get more out of their presentation, but you'll probably think of better questions to ask if you have the opportunity to meet them afterward.

3. My Favorite List of Items to Bring

I can't describe everything that someone would want to bring to a conference. However, here is my personal checklist of things I bring with a bit of explanation when necessary:

• Chap stick: You have no idea how often my lips end up getting chapped talking to everyone
• Refillable water bottle: Water at events can be expensive and every place has a water fountain. It's important you stay hydrated!
• Bottle of whiskey: Haha…I'm not promoting alcohol; however, I do enjoy a pour of whiskey, and ordering at the bar can be expensive. Plus, I have found that having a good bottle with you in the evening hangouts, can get people to come to you.
• Backpack: Something to hold the whiskey. All jokes aside, I end up buying things at kiosks or am given business cards, etc. I need something to carry it all.
• Notebook: Good to take notes on either the presentations, or just to remind yourself about someone you just met. Excellent to just jot down random thoughts.
• Business Cards: Maybe not something as formal, but have some quick way to give someone your information so the conversation can continue after.
• Snacks: Let's face it, the food at these events is expensive. Plus there have been times where I was starving, but I didn't want to miss the next thing by going to a restaurant. So, Cliff bars it is.
• Books to have signed: I have had a couple of author conferences, where one of the speakers was an author i was a real fan of. In anticipation, I brought a special version of the book with me to have them sign.
• Energy Drinks: Again, a very expensive item and coffee lines are crazy. With this, I can keep my energy levels up, stay engaged and keep moving.
• A Unique Identifier: This might go in another point below, but I like to wear something that makes me stick out a bit. That way, when I email someone later, I can say, “Hey, I was that guy who was carrying around the rams horn goblet for my drinks.”
• Comfortable Shoes: You have no idea how much walking and standing you will do over that week. Do yourself a favor and bring comfortable shoes…fashion be darned.

*One final tip: Because I usually pack drinks and a few other items, I often end up checking my luggage. If you're trying to travel light, another option is to take a quick Uber to a nearby grocery store after you arrive and buy the snacks, drinks, and other essentials you'll need for the weekend.

4. Recommendations on Things to Do or Think of:

While you are there, here are some creative things that either I have done or I have seen others do:

1. Prepare Your Book Description: If you are working on a book or have a book, then make sure you prepare an awesome book description. You'll be asked LOTS of times at the conference what your book is about. Drop a 3 sentence banger and get them hooked. Also, use that opportunity to hone you book description, like I describe here.
2. Have Something Fun to Hand Out: Once someone is interested in your book, have something creative to give them. Business cards or book marks with your information is cool and gets the point across, but make it be something they can't throw away or lose. I had a young gent give me one of his pieces of artwork at LitRPG Con (Callum, which you can find on his Instagram). As you can see on his Instagram, he not only gave them out, but got pictures of it. And, here I am writing about it. What an impression.
3. Wear or carry a unique identifier: Have something that makes you stand out. That will help remind people later when you reach out, or just be a good first conversation starter.
4. When you go to lunch…: Everyone needs lunch at some point. Use that time to invite someone with you. That way you can talk to someone else and compare notes, chat about being an author and more.
5. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: This is something I always don't do enough (especially if I am at one in Denver). You'd be surprised how much this affects your energy and health. Make it a point to remember to fill your water bottle and keep hydrated!

5. Follow-up

First, make sure you give yourself a day after getting back from the conference. I am ALWAYS exhausted after these things.

However, on the second day, go ahead and break out all of those business cards or items you got from authors. Check your notes (hopefully you read my step on taking quick notes on each person you meet), and go ahead and send out emails to them all. Be personal and remind them of who you are (hopefully you have a unique identifier), and something about what you talked about. This is always a great step to not only build your author network but to create new opportunities.

So, what are you waiting for?

As I said in the beginning, I love going to writer conferences and with what I put here, I hope you can not only find the best one for you, but also know how to approach them so as to get the most out of them.