Check here for the latest list of upcoming conferences and events of interest for writers and publishing professionals. The listing is in order of calendar date and is updated monthly.
Writing for Success Conference, Melbourne, FL, Apr. 5-7, 2024
Florida Star Fiction Writers offers classes and special all-day workshops throughout the year. Please see the website for specific programming.
Spring Fling Writers’ Conference, Chicago, IL, Apr. 18-20, 2024
Chicago-North Romance Writers The conference is a weekend of keynote speeches, workshops, panels, publishing spotlights, pitch appointments with editors and agents, a public book signing, librarian and bookseller brunch, and entertainment.
Chanticleer Authors Conference, Bellingham, WA, Apr. 18-21, 2024
Chanticleer Book Reviews CAC22 features panels on Multichannel Marketing and the Business of Being a Writer, with special focus on The New Era of Content Creation in All Its Forms and Honing Your Writing Craft. Scheduled are experts in marketing, book publicity, publishing, and advanced writing craft. Conference offers virtual attendance as well.
IBPA Publishing University, Denver, CO, Apr. 24-27, 2024
Independent Book Publishers Association offers a conference with education relevant to small presses and author publishers including speakers and programming on how to start, grow, and succeed in the publishing world.
Craft & Publishing Voyage, London to New York, Apr. 28 – May 5, 2024
Rebirth Your Book Craft classes, publishing panels and career advice for novelists, memoirists, essayists and nonfiction writers aboard the Queen Mary II. Spouses, partners and friends welcome.
ThrillerFest XIX, New York, NY, May 28-June 1, 2024
International Thriller Writers A celebration of thriller books, the authors who write them, and the fans who read them. The four-day event includes author panels, classes, workshops, the CraftFest and AgentFest.
Killer Con, Green Bay, WI, June 6-9, 2024
The Writers’ Police Academy offers the hands-on, interactive and educational experience for writers to enhance their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics. The event features police, fire, and EMS training at an actual police academy.
Southeastern Writers Festival, St. Simon’s Island, GA, June 7-11, 2024
Southeastern Writers Previous workshops included Poetry and Dramatic Monologues; Short Stories, Novellas & Self-Publishing; Steampunk, Fairy Tales & E-Pub Tips; Humor & Memoirs; and Crime & the FBI.
Readercon 32, Quincy, MA, July 11-14, 2024
Readercon Readercon is an annual conference devoted to “imaginative literature” — literary science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the unclassifiable works often called “slipstream.” Although modeled on “science fiction conventions,” there is no art show, no costumes, no gaming, and almost no media. Instead, Readercon features a near-total focus on the written word.
Writers on the River, East Peoria, IL July 20, 2024
Healing with Words This non-profit organization hosts a public reader event with over 90 attending romance authors in one room for a book signing. Meet New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, chat with them, get selfies together, or buy a signed book. And all proceeds support Thistle Farms, an organization that helps women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction.
RWA Annual Conference, Austin, TX, July 31 – Aug. 3, 2024
Romance Writers of America Join more than 2,100 published and aspiring romance writers, editors, agents, and other industry professionals. Writers can choose from more than 100 workshops, panels and round-tables with publishing professionals or schedule a one-on-one pitch meeting with an editor or agent.
New Voices, New Rooms, Arlington, VA, Aug. 8-11, 2024
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association NAIBA is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information among independently owned bookstores. The annual fall gathering is two full days of bookseller education, networking, author events, and awards ceremonies.
When Words Collide Festival, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Aug. 16-18, 2024
When Words Collide When Words Collide is a festival for readers, writers, artists and publishers of commercial and literary fiction, including genre, YA, Childrens books, and Poetry. A writers’ workshop is held just prior to the conference.
Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, Nashville, TN, Aug. 28 – Sep. 1, 2024
Bouchercon is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization which holds an annual convention in honor of Anthony Boucher, the distinguished mystery fiction critic, editor and author. The convention brings together all parts of the mystery and crime fiction community: readers, writers, publishers, editors, agents, booksellers and other lovers of crime fiction.
DragonCon, Atlanta, GA, Aug. 29 – Sep. 2, 2024
DragonCon.org DragonCon is a multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film.
ACFW Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, Sep. 5-8, 2024
American Christian Fiction Writers Workshops for writers are designed with five different experience levels in mind, from “just starting out” to “published.” The event includes Early Bird and Post Conference sessions.
HNS Conference, Devon, UK, Sep. 6-8, 2024
Historical Novel Society The society has over 900 members worldwide including authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians and general readers. The conference location alternates between the USA and the United Kingdom. See their website for more information.
Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago, IL, Sep. 7-8, 2024
Chicago Tribune The Printers Row Lit Fest is considered the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest, drawing 125,000 book lovers to the two-day showcase. More than 200 booksellers from across the country display new, used and antiquarian books, and more than 200 authors participate in panels, discussions and a variety of other programs.
Bloody Scotland, Sterling, Scotland, Sep. 13-15, 2024
The Caledonian Crime Writing Festival Bloody Scotland is Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival. Choose from over 40 events to attend including crime films, a crime play, sessions by crime authors, a masterclass, a ceilidh, and the McIlvanney prize.
Self Publishing Conference, Knighton, Leicester, UK, Sep. 14, 2024
The event aims to educate, inform and inspire authors who are publishing their own work, or who are considering that as a route to publication. The Self-Publishing Conference offers something for most authors, with sessions on all aspects of publishing, ranging from writing through production, marketing and distribution.
Novelists, Inc., St. Petersburg Beach, FL, Sept. 18-22, 2024
Novelists, Inc. is devoted exclusively to the needs of published authors and concentrates its efforts on the business of the business for career novelists. Speakers at the Master Class Conference will address business, craft, creativity, marketing and sales.
International Dublin Writers’ Festival, Dublin, Ireland, Sep. 20-22, 2024
Advanced Social Media Services, LTD. The Dublin Writers’ Conference is the first and so far only conference in Dublin, aimed at attracting writers as an audience and promoting Dublin as a cultural destination for authors from around the world. Improving writing craft and self publishing, key skills for a modern writer, are the two main tracks at this conference.
SleuthFest, St. Petersburg, FL, Sep. 26-29, 2024
Mystery Writers of America – Florida Chapter The organization presents a regular four-day conference that features panels, agent and editor appointments, manuscript critiques, and a short story contest.
Writing Sisters Summit, Merida, Mexico, Sep. 26-30, 2024
Writing Sisters The Writing Sisters Summit is designed to spur your creativity and comfort your soul, featuring writing seminars focusing on craft and the business of writing. The summit is open to women and men.
Colorado Gold Writers Conference, Aurora, CO, Sep. 27-29, 2024
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers The conference typically hosts over 60 writer workshops, 5 master classes and visiting agents and editors.
Moonlight and Magnolias, Norcross, GA, Oct. 3-5, 2024
Georgia Romance Writers The conference features over 35 workshops including “Digital Track” workshops (small press, e-publishing, self-publishing, backlist publishing).
Decatur Book Festival, Decatur, GA, Oct. 4-5, 2024
Emory University Decatur Book Festival is an annual, free book festival that takes place over Labor Day weekend in Decatur, Georgia at several venues located in and around the downtown Decatur Square. Authors give readings, talks, and panel discussions. The event is free and open to the public.
DFW Writers Conference, Hurst, TX, Oct. 5-6, 2024
DFW Writers Workshop The conference features agent pitch sessions, classes, workshops, and a one-day writing seminar for teens ages 13 to 17.
The Heartland Fall Forum, Milwaukee, WI, Oct. 7-9, 2024
Midwest Booksellers Association, Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association This is the largest regional trade show in the country to serve the independent book selling market. Members include locally owned and operated independent bookstores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and surrounding the Great Lakes. The trade show is a conference that gathers booksellers, publishers, distributors, reps, vendors, authors, librarians, teachers, and other book business colleagues.
30th Annual Women Writing the West Conference, Denver, CO, Oct. 10-12, 2024
Women Writing the West The conference features workshops and presentations from authors, editors, agents, publishers, and bookstore owners.
FantasyCon, Chester, England, UK, Oct. 11-13, 2024
The British Fantasy Society This UK Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction and Horror conference is the largest regional romance writing conference in the West. There are editor and agent guests, workshops and master classes. Please see the website for programming information.
Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 16-20, 2024
Frankfurter Buchmesse The Frankfurt Book Fair is a meeting place for publishers, booksellers, agents, film producers and authors. It boasts 7,400 exhibitors from 106 countries, 280,194 visitors and over 10,000 journalists focusing on current trends.
Florida Writers Con, Altamonte Springs, FL, Oct. 18-20, 2024
Florida Writers Association This is a three-day event, where members find agents, meet publishers, and get the scoop on the industry. Also see their website for mini-conferences throughout the year.
Indie Romance Convention, Lebanon, TN, Oct. 23-26, 2024
The Indie Romance Convention is designed to fit the needs of indie authors. In addition, the event is open to readers, bloggers, editors, and cover artists.
Surrey International Writers’ Conference, Surrey, British Columbia, Oct. 25-27, 2024
The conference features Agent/Editor/Producer interviews, workshops and the Blue Pencil Cafe (have a sample of your work critiqued on the spot). Master Classes take place Oct. 23rd & 24th.
Indie Author Day, Libraries Across America, Nov. 1-2, 2024
During the Indie Author Day, libraries from all across North America will host their own local author events with the support of the Indie Author Day team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for libraries and authors to connect on both local and global levels.
New England Crime Bake, Dedham, MA, Nov. 8-10, 2024
New England Chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime The conference includes three days of workshops for crime-loving authors with a focus on craft and connecting with agents and editors.
Kauai Writers Conference, Kauai, HI, Nov. 11-17, 2024
Kauai Writers Polish your writing skills while increasing your chances of publication by working top authors, agents and editors…in Hawaii. Pitch sessions and Advance Critique Sessions are also available. Attendance is limited to 150 participants. Workshops begin four days before (see the website for more information).
Authors’ Expo & Readers’ Extravaganza, Fernandia Beach, FL, Feb. 22, 2025
Amelia Island Book Festival The day includes a free Reader’s Festival with authors, readings and book signings.
London Book Fair, Olympia, London, UK, Mar. 11-13, 2025
Reed Exhibitions Books and Publishing Group International exhibition hosting publishing professionals from around the world, this is a global marketplace for rights negotiation. The fair includes 250+ seminars and events and hosts 2,000+ exhibitors and boasts an attendance of 24,000+.
AWP Annual Conference & Bookfair, Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 26-29, 2025
Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) This conference celebrates authors, teachers, writing programs, literary centers and small press publishers. Each year it features 400 presentations including readings, lectures, panel discussions, and forums—plus book signings, receptions and informal gatherings.
Digipalooza, Cleveland, OH, Aug. 12-14, 2025
OverDrive Digipalooza is a conference for partner libraries that offers education and networking geared toward increasing circulation of digital audiobooks, eBooks, music and video.
Below are conferences that have not yet posted specific dates for their next event.
Digital Book World Conference
Digital Book World brings together 1500 professionals focused on developing, building and transforming their organizations to compete in the new digital publishing environment. The January 2024 conference in New York was postponed.
The Power of Narrative Workshop
Boston University College of Communication Over 30 journalists, directors, producers and editors lead three days of lively discussions geared to advance the knowledge of narrative storytellers. Approximately 500 persons attend. Early registration is encouraged. Now in its 22nd year, the conference attracts a mix of veteran practitioners engaged in narrative journalism careers, early career professionals hoping to build narrative skills, and students of the genre. Attendees identify as writers, visual media creators, and audio journalists. They work on every imaginable platform, from newspapers to magazines, books to the web, podcasts to multimedia, sometimes pushing the boundaries with innovative start-ups. The 2024 workshop took place in March in Boston, MA.
Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference
Liberty States Fiction Writers offer a one-day workshop for writers including an editor/agent panel, a book signing and a vendor fair. The 2024 workshop took place in March in Boston, MA.
Norwescon
Norwescon Norwescon features over 500 hours of panel programming presented by more than 200 panelists, covering subjects as science fiction, fantasy, science, costuming, art, writing, genre television, and movies. The 2024 event took place in March in SeaTac, WA.
You Wrote a Book… Now What? Book Marketing Workshop
Join authors Bruce E. Mowday and Mary Walsh from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. for a workshop for writers newer to publishing. Topics include: Are you ready to publish?, self-publishing options, what it’s like to be an author, marketing and building a following. Limited to 50 attendees, cost is $49, light refreshments will be served. Register here or contact the authors with questions. The 2024 workshop took place in February in Lancaster, PA.
Coastal Magic Convention
Jennifer Morris This convention is for readers and writers of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and Romance. The 2024 conference took place in February in Daytona Beach, FL.
The Writer Unboxed UnConference
The Writer Unboxed This unconference is “part symposium, part interactive workshop, part networking affair, part retreat” focusing on advancing the craft of writing and making meaningful connections between authors. The 2023 unconference took place in November in Salem, MA.
West Virginia Book Festival
Kanawha County Public Library The Festival brings people and books together in a two-day event celebrating West Virginia writers. Each year the festival includes a marketplace, a special section just for children, a used book sale, “meet the author” events, and panel discussions. The event is free. (Some sessions require tickets.) The 2023 festival took place in October in Charleston, WV.
Writer’s Digest Conference
Writer’s Digest The conference features sessions about writing, publishing, marketing and more, as well as the 3-hour Agent Slam with 60 professional agents. The 2023 conference took place in New York, NY in August.
California Crime Writers Conference
Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles and SoCal Mystery Writers of America Geared toward emerging and established mystery and crime fiction writers, the 2020 California Crime Writers Conference includes workshops, presentations, and sessions with agents, editors, award-winning authors, publishing industry insiders and crime investigation professionals. The 2023 event took place in Culver City, CA in June.
Ignite Your Imagination Conference
Florida West Coast Writers, Inc. The 2-day event includes a day of seminars lead by professional authors and a book signing event on the second day. The 2023 conference took place in May in Tampa, FL.
FutureBook Conference
The Bookseller The United Kingdom’s definitive conference on digital publishing features industry professionals, publishing executives, literary agents and booksellers. Topics include the all-important content strategies, discoverability and pricing, gamification, global distribution and more. Also, please see their conferences website for other Bookseller event dates: Marketing and Publicity Conference; Design Conference; Children’s Conference. The 2022 conference took place in November in London, UK.
Emerald City Writers’ Conference
Greater Seattle Romance Writers Emerald City is the largest regional romance writing conference in the West. There are editor and agent guests, workshops and master classes. The 2022 conference was VIRTUAL and took place in October.