Are you an aspiring author looking for ways to connect with a like-minded community of writers, designers, and publishing industry experts? If you’ve spent any time writing, you know that the profession can be an isolating one. Finding a group to connect with is not only a way to learn more about your craft but also a way to increase longevity in an industry that can have lots of twists and turns.
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Below is a list of 2024 book conventions and writing conferences available for the last half of 2024. Whether you attend in person or prefer online, there’s a wide variety of options to choose from.
August
- Writers Studio, August 1-4, 2024, Westwood Village, Los Angeles, CA.
- Cape Cod Writers Center Conference, August 01 – August 04, 202, Hyannis, MA US
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Virtual Summer Conference, August 01 – August 04, 2024, New York City, NY US
- Mendocino Coast Writer’s Conference August 01 – August 03, 2024, Mendocino, CA US
- Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, August 14-24, 2024, Ripton, VT.
- James Baldwin Festival of Words, August 22-August 24, 2024, Chattanooga, TN, US
- Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, August 22-25, 2024, Franklin, TN. National Book Festival, August 24, 2024, Washing, DC US
- WriterCon, August 30 – September 02, 2024, Oklahoma City, OK US
- White County Creative Writer’s Conference, August 31, 2024, Searcy, AR, US
September
- WriterCon, August 30 – September 2, 2024, Oklahoma City, OK.
- Appalachian Writers Conference, September, September 3-September 5, 2024, Berea, KY, US
- Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, September 5-7, 2024, Burnsville, NC.
- American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, September 5-8, 2024, St. Louis, MO. Printers Row Lit Fest 2024, September 7-8, 2024, Chicago, IL. This is a large book fair with more than 150,000 book lover attendees.
- Los Angeles Kids Book Festival, September 8, 2024, Los Angeles, CA, US
- Milford Readers and Writers Festival, September 13-15, 2024, Milford, PA.
- Mississippi Book Festival, September 14, 2024, State Capitol Complex, Jackson, MS.
- Washington Island Literary Festival, September 19-21, 2024, Washington Island, WI.
- Inkubator Writing Conference, September 20 – September 21, 2024, Cleveland, OH, US
- WriteNow! Conference, September 20- September 21, 2024, Phoenix, AZ
- Southern Kentucky Book Fest, September 21, 2024, The Capitol, Bowling Green, KY. Broadleaf Writers Conference, September 21 – September 22, 2024, Decatur, GA
- The Brooklyn Book Festival, September 22-30, 2024, Brooklyn, NY
- Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop, September 25 – September 29, 2024, Algonkian Park, VA US
- Sleuthfest, September 26-29, 2024, Hilton Bayfront, St. Petersburg, FL.
- Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, September 27-29, 2024, Harbor Springs, MI.
- Kansas Book Festival, September 28, 2024, Topeka, KS.
October
- Bookmarked Literary Festival, October 11 – October 13, 2024, Lander, WY, US
- Las Vegas Book Festival, October 19, 2024, Las Vegas, NV.
- Fall Literary Festival, October 17 – October 19, 2024, Youngstown, OH US
- Wisconsin Book Festival, October 17 – October 20, 2024, Madison, WI, US
- Maryland Writers’ Association Annual Conference, October 19 – October 20, 2024, Baltimore, MD, US
- Iota Short Forms Conference, October 20-23, 2024, Trescott, ME.
- Tremont Writers Conference, October 23 – October 27, 2024, Townsend, TN, US
- Jackson Hole Book Festival 2024, October 26, 2024, Snow King Resort, Jackson, WY.
- Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, October 24 – October 26, 2024, Columbus, MS US
- The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair 2024, October 26, 2024, Seattle, WA.
November
- Writer in the Harbor, November 01 – November 2, 2024, Gig Harbor, WA US
- Charleston Literary Festival, November 1-10, 2024, Charleston, SC.
- Jackson Hole Writers Conference, November 1 – November 3, Jackson Hole, WY, US
- West Coast Christian Writers Conference, November 7 – November 8, 2024, Brentwood, CA, US
- Great Lakes Writers Festival, November 7 – November 8, 2024, Sheboygan, WI, US
- All Write, Columbia, Fiction Writers Conference, November 7 – November 10, 2024, Spencertown, NY, US
- Sciencewriters Conference, November 8 – November 11, 2024, Raleigh, NC, US
Are book conventions worth the investment?
Whether free or paid, book conventions are an investment of time that no one wants to waste, so finding the right one for you is critical. Here are some benefits to consider before you choose.
Networking. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, networking is an important part of the writing experience. Since most writing work is done in isolation, connecting with others with similar experiences is a great way to stay motivated by sharing your journey. It’s also a great way to meet industry professionals and see where your writing fits in the overall landscape.
The writing business. Writing is a creative process, so sometimes the business side gets overlooked. This can impact your book’s profitability. Learning best practices when it comes to launching and marketing your book effectively is a good skill to have in your toolbox. Many book conventions offer sessions that teach the business of writing and give you a grounded perspective on what to expect and how to run your author career like a profitable business.
Inspiration and insight. Book conventions often have keynote speakers. Authors, publishers, and experts offer a balanced reality check about the book publishing industry, giving writers insight into what they can expect when writing and publishing their books.
Commitment. There’s something about attending a writer’s conference that makes you take yourself more seriously as a writer. Writer’s Digest had this to say:
Attending a conference provides physical evidence of your commitment to writing—whether that means commitment to a particular project or to seeing your creative work in a more meaningful way.
Book conventions and publishing conferences can offer value on several levels. Depending on your needs, attending one or several can offer significant ROI.
Which book conventions or conferences should I attend?
Before deciding which book conventions or conferences are best, consider where you are in your writing journey and your goals. Every BIG or popular conference is not necessarily the best one for you. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Where am I struggling right now? Do I want to improve my writing or learn more about the business side of publishing a book?
- Where do I see myself a year from now? As a published author, or am I okay just writing for my eyes only?
- How’s my author branding? Do I understand the marketing side of the business?
- Do I need support from other authors or industry professionals?
- Do I take myself seriously as a writer? Will a book convention give me the confidence to pursue my writing dream?
- Which writers do I admire? Are they speaking at any conferences this year?
Before you spend money on plane rides and event tickets, consider what you want to get out of the conference. Go to the convention or conference website and look closely at what the event offers. If it meets many of your goals for growing as an author, it could be a worthwhile investment of time and money.
Takeaways
I usually end an article with “This may not be for everyone,” but not in this case. Anything that brings writers together to learn and build better author careers is a smart move for everyone. Writing and publishing a book is not for the faint of heart. A community, whether small and closely knit or of the conference variety, is integral to an author’s success.
For many, book conventions are the gateway to the world of serious writing. It’s where you can hone your writing skills, meet new people, and share your work with industry professionals like editors and literary agents.
If you are on the fence about attending book conventions, start small. If there’s one close to you, attend it to see if you like it. If you do, consider a larger conference next year.
Investing in yourself and your writing future is always worth it. Take a look at the events on this list and see which one is the best fit for you.