Writers’ conferences offer a great opportunity for both emerging and established authors to advance their writing career. They’re jam-packed with chances to connect with and learn from fellow authors, agents, editors, and publishers.

At the same time, these events can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if it’s your first conference. Below, we’ve outlined steps you can take before, during, and after the conference so you have a successful and enjoyable experience.

Before the Conference

Set Your Intentions.

Before you register for a conference, decide what you want to get from your writers’ conference experience. Are you attending the conference to improve your craft, pitch your book to an agent, speak on a panel, or network with others? Identifying your main goal will help you decide which conference you should attend and how to best prepare yourself.

Select a Writers’ Conference.

With your primary goal in mind, browse different conference options and choose a conference that will best meet your individual needs. In addition, you will want to consider location, cost, flights, and attendee size. As you research specific conferences, you can research writers’ blog posts about previous experiences to get a better idea of what particular conference atmospheres are like.

Click here for a list of over 200 conferences being held in the United States this year. As you review the list, keep in mind that many of these annual conferences will take place virtually and some may be canceled or postponed for COVID-19 safety regulations.

Clean Up Your Online Presence.

If you hope to network during the conference, brush up your website or online writing portfolio, LinkedIn, and any other social media accounts. Then, look to see if the conference has a hashtag. (Most conferences will have a hashtag that will be active months before the actual event—especially on Twitter—that can connect you to other conference goers.)

Create a Flexible Schedule.

If you’re attending your first conference, it can feel a bit chaotic and overwhelming with the many, many available opportunities. To avoid any tunnel vision, read through the workshop and panel options ahead of time and build a schedule.

Create a spreadsheet or chart with each workshop or panel you’d like to attend. It’s a good idea to have backup options as well, in case a room is too crowded or an event is canceled. (Side note: If you don’t recognize the speakers at a workshop or panel, do a quick Google search to familiarize yourself with their work.)

As you build this flexible schedule, make sure you plan several breaks. At a minimum, you should have breaks for mealtimes, but you may want short breaks throughout the day as well.

Plan Your Meals.

While some conferences might host meals, many leave large blocks of down time for attendees to grab lunch. If you’re in a new city, you may want to research a few restaurants or cafes that are within walking distance.

If you know friends who will be at the conference, reach out to them to plan lunch. Don’t be afraid to invite fellow conference attendees you meet to eat with you as well. If you’re able to, plan your meals with some flexibility so it’s easier for you to socialize and build connections with fellow writers.

When attending a virtual conference from home, you may want to prepare your meals ahead of time, so you don’t have to cook in the middle of the day.

Practice Your Pitch.

If you plan to meet literary agents, you’ll need to practice and refine your pitch.

Courtesy tip: During the conference, you should only pitch at scheduled appointments or sessions reserved for pitching. Time at restaurants, bars, or other social opportunities should be reserved for socializing, not pitching.

Take a Deep Breath.

Once you’re completely prepared for your conference, take a deep breath and relax. Remind yourself that this is a fun and exciting opportunity. Remember to enjoy it!

During the Conference

Dress the Part.

Be sure to check the conference website for pointers on how to dress. If the website doesn’t mention a dress code, you can always take a look at photos from a previous year’s conference to gauge what will be appropriate. Most writers’ conferences have a business casual dress code, but others are more casual or more formal. Either way, maintain a professional appearance. Oh, and if you’re attending in person, choose a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk in all day.

Take Notes.

Conference panels, workshops, and classes are wonderful opportunities to learn and develop your craft. Make the most of this time by jotting down notes during these events that you can review at a later time. You will feel bombarded with information if you try to rely on your memory during the conference. A laptop works well, but you’ll want to bring a charger if you plan to type your notes. If you prefer to take notes in a journal (most conference attendees opt for this “old school” option), just be sure to have a couple backup pens.

Be Social.

Start conversations, make connections, and be social at conferences. Embrace your inner social butterfly, or—if you’re a shy person—challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone.

Mixers, social hours, and pre-workshop conversations are great times to meet people, network, and make new friends. If one of your primary conference goals is to network, be mindful of people’s names and keep track of your networking connections throughout the conference.

If you are an introverted soul, check out this list of conversation starters for breaking the ice at conferences. Also click here for advice on setting yourself up for networking success. A word of encouragement: Remember that you are in a group of fellow writers who likely have very similar interests, passions, and personalities to yours.

Take Breaks.

You will need breaks throughout the conference, especially if the conference is multiple days long. Take breaks that are meaningful for you and that allow you to be fully present as you accomplish your conference goals. This might look like lunchtime with friends, creative writing time to get your ideas on the page, or some alone time to allow yourself to recharge.

After the Conference

Create a Post-Conference ‘To Do’ List.

Before you kick back and rest from your conference travels, take a moment to review your notes, business cards or contacts, and any other conference materials. Then, create a list of items you need to complete and schedule a time to complete these tasks. Depending on your conference experience and goals, you might need to follow up with an agent, reach out to your networking connections, or plan time to work on a new creative project.

Save Your Conference Information.

During the conference, you’ll likely collect many business cards, worksheets, and other conference materials. Find a way to save this information in an organized manner. Consider scanning your documents and saving them to a folder on your personal computer so you can locate them easily in the future.

Reflect.

A couple days after the conference, take some time to reflect on your experience. What are some key takeaways from the workshops or panels you attended? What lessons can you apply to your own writing or work? What went well? Where can you improve in the future?

If you have a blog or active social media presence, consider putting together a post to share what you learned from your conference experience. This is a great way to archive your reflection in a way that benefits others.

Are you preparing for a writers’ conference this year? Let us know in the comment section below!