Many of these conferences may have online options for attendance.
We promised to talk about writing conferences and here it is. Typically a really professional conference has a good ROI for indie and traditionally published authors. The information feast and networking is important no matter which career route you take. But finding the right conference can be overwhelming in terms of concerns over time, fuel, and cash investment. Because advancing your publishing career in any way takes serious time and effort, we’ve decided to save you a lot of legwork on this one.
Today’s blog is a list of done-for-you resources to grow your career—whether for finding agents, editors, publishers, writing partners, ghostwriters, critique partners, people with promotion secrets, or anyone else who can help your writing career take off.
Writers’ conferences are a career must for most writers. We can’t recommend them enough. They provide:
- Premier opportunities for you to meet agents and editors (who are far more likely to give your manuscript a chance after having met you).
- Chances to network with and learn from other authors—who can introduce you to their agents or publishers; help you get farther along the publishing path by sharing their experiences; or who can even end up being part of that much-needed support and/or critique group.
- Help getting a grip on how the publishing industry works and what’s most likely to sell (or how to make your own story more marketable if it’s already written).
- Insights on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.
- Great classes and panels that can help improve your craft.
- A reminder about why you’re excited about writing!
The conferences listed below are obviously just a sampling of what’s out there. Many are sponsored by national organizations and “tour” different cities annually, and some are annual conferences held locally. If you can’t find a conference for your genre (categorized by genre/type), simply do an Internet search to see what you can find—though most conferences have classes that will help improve your craft and industry savvy no matter your genre.
General Writing/Publishing
League of Utah Writers Conference
Annual Fall Conference in usually in August; annual Spring Conference usually in April; local to Utah
UVU Writer’s Academy
Usually in October, local to Utah
American Night Writers Association (ANWA) Writers Conference
Usually in September
Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association (LDSPMA)
Usually in September, local to Utah
Storymakers Conference
Usually in May, local to Utah
Writing for Charity
Local to Utah
Book Expo America
Usually in June
Midwest Writers Workshop
Usually in September
Writers Digest Annual Conference
Held in August
YALLWrite
Held in virtually in 2020
Red Rock Writers Annual Writing Seminar
Held in March, local to Utah (St. George) and focuses on poetry
Kanab Writers Conference
Held in October, local to Utah’s beautiful red rock
Superstars Writing Seminars
Usually in February, Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Writers Conference
Usually in April, Colorado Springs
Colorado Gold Writers Conference
Usually in September, Denver
Teen Writers Conference
Usually in June, local to Utah
Timpanogos Storytelling Conference
Usually at the end of August or beginning of September
Inspired Writer Retreats with Bridget Cook Burch
Held at various times during the year
Nonfiction
Virtual conference held annually in May
Business Aspects of Writing and Publishing
Superstars Writing Seminars
Usually in February, Colorado Springs
Especially for Editors
ACES
Editing conference held in various locations
Thriller
International Thriller Writer’s Conference “ThrillerFest”
Usually in July
Romance
Romance Writers of America Conferences
Usually in July
Heart of the West—Romance Writers of America Utah Chapter
Usually in October
Children’s
Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers Conference (WIFYR)
Usually in June
BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers
Usually in July
Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators Conference (SCBWI)
Annual Winter Conference in February; annual Summer Conference in July
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention
Usually in April and September
Sirens Conference (Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy)
Usually in October
Life, the Universe, & Everything Writer’s Conference —“LTUE”
Usually in February, local to Utah
Fyrecon
This three-day conference is on art and writing on science fiction and fantasy.
Usually in June
Worldcon (More fan-based because it usually hosts the Hugo Awards. But there are many good panels and most major science fiction/fantasy publishing houses attend)
Usually in August
Dragon Con (Largest sci-fi/fantasy multimedia and pop culture convention; includes gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film)
Usually in August
World Fantasy Convention
Usually October/November
Flights of Foundry
Usually in April
FULLY VIRTUAL AND DONATION-BASED
Westercon
Usually in the summer
Mystery
Bouchercon World Mystery Convention
Usually in September
Local History, Religious, and Academic Writing and Networking
Family History and Genealogy Conference
Usually in July
BYU Campus Education Week
Usually in August
For the Love of Reading—UVU Forum on Engaged Reading
Usually in September
Sidney B. Sperry Symposium (religious education/academic)
Usually in October
BYU Church History Symposium (religious/academic)
Usually in March
BYU Women’s Conference
Usually in May
One More Tip
Local libraries also host writers or publishing panels (publishers, editors, etc.), so add a few of those to your own list of resources. And if you live on a raft in the middle of the ocean and can’t get anywhere, there are writing and publishing blogs aplenty (which you obviously have access to if you’re reading this post)!
Chime in! We know there are a lot of fantasy/sci-fi options above, but speculative fiction is really big right now, so that’s our excuse. If you think we’ve left a genre underrepresented or ignored a critical conference, tells us your most favorite conference and why. Please share!
Thanks so much for sharing this list, Angela. I have been looking into conferences lately in an attempt to expand my horizons a little bit 🙂
I love Writing for Charity and LTUE. Both are inexpensive and have a great atmosphere about them! I went to WorldCon a few years ago and would love to go again! Hmmmmmm maybe London 2014? No matter what, conferences are great! Thanks for the list.
Wow, I had no idea that there were so many conferences. Thanks for the list!
Fyrecon is also held in June and is for SciFi and Fantasy creators. It has master classes and a slate of classes that come with general admission. Here is the link – http://www.fyrecon.com
Thanks, Kenny! We added it to the post. It’s on our events page, so I’m glad you noted it wasn’t here. Nice catch!