As an author, you may be used to spending time alone muttering to yourself as you write and rewrite that opening line to get it just so. But what about when you feel that craving to put on real clothes, leave the house, and speak to other humans?
Zoom is great, but there’s no substitute for looking a person in the eye and having a meaningful conversation, especially if we’re talking about a topic we both love, like writing.
But, Mel! Being an author is such a solitary career. How am I supposed to meet other writers in person?
Behold! The author conference!
In this post, I’m going to talk about why conferences are so important for writers, and I’ll give you my best tips on how to choose the right event and how to make the most of the experience.
Why attend a writer’s conference?
There are many reasons to attend in-person author conferences, but the top one is something I like to call serendipitous networking, or the chance encounter. You know how you can hit it off with someone you just met? Maybe they’re wearing an outfit you compliment, or reading a book you love, or just accidentally making eye contact with you in the elevator, and suddenly you’re in a delightful conversation discovering how much you have in common.
That sort of thing happens all the time at author conferences, and once you make those connections, the possibilities are endless. Maybe you’ll become accountability partners and check in with each other daily to provide encouragement. Maybe you’ll discover you write the same or complementary genres, and that other person knows a group you can join. Maybe you’ll bump into them again later and they’ll introduce you to an industry person who will give you the next big boost in your career. (Maybe they’ll introduce you to one of the amazing BookBub reps who attend our industry’s conferences!)
Often for me, the value of a great conference is more about the conversations I have and the connections I make than the workshops. There’s no online substitute for that face-to-face time.
— Kristen Painter, USA Today bestselling author of The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride
When I first started as an author’s assistant in 2011, serendipitous networking at national and regional conferences was how I built my client list and my career. I always joke that authors would have a conversation with me or attend one of my workshops and say to themselves, “Mel seems smart and relatively sane, I think I’ll see if we can work together.”
The board members of Novelists, Inc., the premier professional organization for career novelists, must have thought the same thing, because they asked me to organize a special track of workshops just for assistants and then eventually to oversee their annual conference as their Conference Director. Over the years, I’ve acted in various levels of leadership for a variety of author events.
The indie author revolution has given today’s authors increased control over how they market to readers and, more importantly, so many fun and exciting ways to team up with other writers. Shared worlds, group box sets, crossover characters, newsletter swaps, joint Kickstarters — authors are continually innovating and finding new ways to collaborate. And do you know how most of those projects came about? Those authors met at a conference.
A group of authors and I connected through a genre meetup at the Novelists, Inc. conference and then continued to connect, chat, and sit together throughout the event. By the night of the beach buffet, we’d already determined that we wanted to do a project together, so we sat and brainstormed characters and plots. The idea that blossomed at that conference led to a beloved, bestselling, 19-book collaborative series and friendships that have endured well beyond NINC and the beach buffet!
— Violet Howe, author of Diary of a Single Wedding Planner
Of course, author events are also packed with educational and informative workshops. From craft to marketing to mindset, there are a plethora of topics that may pique your interest. I know online learning is common these days, but if you’re anything like me, you find it difficult to concentrate with a pile of laundry nearby. It’s so much easier to focus when you’re in a room where everyone is interested in the same topic as you, and you can catch the speaker after the session and ask your own private questions.
Last but not least, attending conferences will allow you to meet with vendors, service providers, and companies that may offer exactly what you need to reach the next level of sales. Have you heard that translations are a great way to increase your income? Would you like to expand into audiobooks? Did you need to hire someone to build your website? Perhaps you’d like someone else to manage your social media? Maybe you’d like to be chosen for some of those promos you’ve seen on various book vendors? Author conferences often have vendors and industry guests in attendance who would love to talk with you.
The main reason why I go to conferences is to meet with authors and get a sense of the current pulse of the industry. What are the main trends in publishing right now? What are authors struggling with? Many of the tools and services we then decide to build are informed by the conversations we have at conferences. As a result, meeting with vendors is not only a way to get the latest on what they’ve been up to, it’s also a chance to help shape what they’ll build in the future so it can better fit your needs.
— Ricardo Fayet, cofounder of Reedsy
The highlight of my job is getting to work so closely with authors. I love being able to share all that Kobo is doing, face-to-face, but also love learning about how the authors are finding success. I always leave conferences inspired by the creativity of authors and their willingness to experiment when it comes to reaching readers, and I try to bring that energy back to my work at Kobo.
— Tara Cremin, Director, Kobo Writing Life
So now that I’ve convinced you to attend your next (or first!) author conference, let’s talk about how to choose one and a few popular events you might consider.
Choosing the right conference for you
Consider the following:
Area of focus
Some author conferences focus on a single genre or reader age range. For example, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is for authors who write everything from picture books to young adult novels. They have both national and regional conferences and would be an excellent organization for you to join if you write for those age groups.
Other author conferences focus on a specific genre. For example, Killer Nashville takes place annually in Tennessee with workshops and events for those who write mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance novels.
Cost
If money flows to you like water and the world is your oyster, you may want to choose your conference based on whether it’s located somewhere you’d like to visit. When considering the cost of the conference, don’t forget to factor in:
- Ticket price
- Conference upgrades (some conferences offer additional tickets for master classes, pitch sessions, and networking events)
- Travel
- Hotel stay
- The cost of being away from your job and home (Will you need to kennel your pets? Will you have to take unpaid time off from your day job?)
If budget is a factor, the best way to dip your toe into the conference pool is to pick an event close to home where you can drive to the conference location each day — just be sure to check the cost of parking.
Size
If you’re uncomfortable with large crowds, you may want to pick a conference with fewer attendees for your first event. Pikes Peak Writers Conference is a great general (but smaller) conference for fiction writers of all levels, with about 250–300 attendees. Moonlight & Magnolias, which happens every year in Atlanta, focuses on content for romance writers of all levels.
If you want the big conference experience, consider going to Author Nation in Las Vegas. More than 1,000 indie authors attend this event each year. The San Francisco Writers Conference boasts over 500 attendees and offers 80+ sessions for fiction, nonfiction, YA, marketing, business, and more. In addition to their long history in the industry, one thing that makes the SFWC stand out is their inclusion of programming with a focus on selling your work to Hollywood. Bigger opportunities like this can be a perk of larger-scale conferences.
Indie vs. traditional publishing
Most writer conferences serve both independently published authors as well as those going the traditional route. However, you should check the conference schedule in advance to make sure the event will serve your needs. When in doubt, send an email to the conference organizers.
Top book industry conferences to attend
I’ve mentioned several conferences already, but let me highlight some of the main events of the coming year!
NINC 2026: Thrive
September 23–26, 2026 | St. Pete Beach, FL
Novelists, Inc. is an international organization for both traditionally and independently published authors who meet a royalty threshold. Their annual conference takes place every September at a beachside resort in St. Pete Beach, FL, and features programming for authors of all genres. NINC is known to be one of the best conferences for networking — the royalty threshold means all the authors in attendance are already published, plus about 25% of attendees are industry guests. Meaning, if you want to book a meeting with a service provider or industry guests from one of the major online ebook, print, and audiobook retailers, you can probably get on their schedule even if you’re not a big-name author (yet).
SPS Live! 2026
June 11–12, 2026 | London, England
The Self Publishing Show Live event is specifically for indie authors of all levels and includes panels and workshops presented by authors who are succeeding in self-publishing as well as industry professionals. Taking place on London’s South Bank in June 2026, this conference is a great way to mix business travel with a personal vacation, all while networking with top indie authors.
Author Nation
November 10–14, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV
Author Nation is one of the largest conferences in our industry, currently boasting over 1,400 attendees. You do not need to be published to attend Author Nation, which means you can find programming of value even if you’re still working on your first manuscript. However, please note that Author Nation is focused on serving indie authors. For those authors who are published, Author Nation includes a book signing where you can get a table, meet readers, and sell your books in person!
ThrillerFest
May 5–9, 2026 | New York City
ThrillerFest is the annual conference for the International Thriller Writers organization and is focused on providing networking opportunities and education for authors who write thrillers and adjacent genres like crime fiction, mysteries, and horror. Of particular interest in their lineup is their ATF and FBI day, which includes programming presented by agents on topics like working with K9s, firearms, explosives, and more. QueryFest and PitchFest also provide opportunities to either get advice on or sell your work, including the possibility of pitching your work to a Hollywood producer in the hopes of selling your book’s movie rights.
Spring Fling Writers Conference
April 16–18, 2026 | Chicago, IL
The Chicago-North Spring Fling is for romance writers of every subgenre. Every year, this conference has incredible keynote speakers, workshops, and additional master classes, as well as the opportunity to pitch to agents and editors. They welcome both published and not-yet-published authors. If you are already published, they also offer a book signing that’s well attended by Chicago-area readers.
There are far more author conferences than could ever be included in a single list, so be sure to do your own research and filter your results using the criteria we discussed.
Tips for getting the most out of conferences
Tip #1: Go to the bar even if you don’t drink!
When we welcome newcomers to NINC, we always encourage them to attend as many of the social events as possible. Whether those are official cocktail hours that are part of the conference schedule or just the “after-hours” time at the bar, the most important connections you’re going to make are probably going to be in the more relaxed evening setting rather than when everyone is rushing from one session to the next. Even if you don’t drink, grab a water or a mocktail and hang out in that shared space. IMPORTANT: If you do drink, please remember a professional conference is not the time to get drunk.
Tip #2: Hang out in the lobby
When you have a gap in your schedule, grab a seat in the lobby. If you’re feeling brave, walk up to a group of authors and ask if you can sit at their table. One of the best parts of author conferences is how welcoming you’ll find the other attendees. Be sure to ask if they’re in a meeting before you sit down, as sometimes prebooked one-on-one meetings between authors and industry professionals are also happening in the lobby.
Tip #3: Attend the meals
Even if you don’t have a group of friends to sit with, be sure to attend the conference meals if any are provided. First of all, this will help with your budget. Secondly, I’ve made so many friends, connections, and even picked up new clients just by accidentally sitting at the right table at lunch. If you struggle to find a conversation starter, just ask, “What do you write?” and the conversation will flow!
Tip #4: Use the conference app
Many conferences these days offer an app you can use to create your own schedule, see the “meetups” other attendees have set up, and even send private messages. With the NINC app, it’s common to see people posting to find dinner companions, setting up rideshares from the airport, or scheduling genre meetups. The app can help you break the ice and make plans with others even if you’re feeling introverted.
Tip #5: Be intentional with your schedule
Before going to the conference, ask yourself what you’re hoping to get out of it. Do you have specific educational goals like improving your craft or learning more about direct sales? Are you hoping to make connections with other authors or specific industry guests? Set your priorities and then create your schedule accordingly. Please hear me when I say you won’t be able to do it all — you’ve got to choose!
Tip #6: Drink more water than you think you need
You’ll be on the go and talking more than usual. You need to hydrate! This is especially true if you’re traveling from the lowcountry to the mountains — that elevation change can be tough on your body. Many conference hotels have water bottle refill stations, so bringing your own cup or water bottle can go a long way in keeping you hydrated.
Tip #7: Take a nap
If you are an introvert or even an ambivert, this one is for you! I love conferences and I can talk to any stranger and walk away friends, but since I’m not a true extrovert, conferences make me tired. The best thing I ever did for myself was to block time in my schedule every day for sitting quietly in my room to recharge.
See you soon?
So what do you think? Are you ready to shake things up, leave the house, and dip your toe into the author conference pool? I promise you’ll learn something new and experience the camaraderie that can only come from talking face-to-face with other writers who “get it.”
If you have any questions at all, I’m happy to answer them. You can email me or find me online at authorrx.com. In addition to planning events, I also help authors market their books with creative reader magnets and newsletters. If you come to NINC this year, be sure to say hello!
