When Is a Writers Conference Worth It?

Over the past year or two, I’ve been looking into a range of writing conferences. As someone who works entirely from home without a team, these kinds of events are the primary way I stay up-to-date about my craft and connect with other people in the industry.

Book and people in auditorium, StockSnap from Pixabay

But not all writers conferences are created equal. Sometimes, they’re just not worth the hundreds of dollars they often cost. The general rule of thumb is that a writers conference is worth it if the event helps you directly accelerate something you cannot easily do on your own. But I’ve developed a questions that can help you self-assess whether it would benefit you to sign up.

1. Where are you at in your writing career? — Conferences for beginner or intermediate writers often are designed to teach fundamentals. They provide excellent inspiration, notes, and general encouragement. At some point, you’ll need a conference to approach your skills with a precision scalpel, and to explain the business aspects of the industry. There are fewer high-level conferences to choose from, so you’ll likely end up attending fewer conferences as you improve.
2. How do you think? — Writers who are very integrative or high-level thinkers or who already have exceptional writing ability usually don’t benefit much from writers conferences because most conferences are designed to help writers integrate.
3. Can you access decision-makers and not just peers? — Regardless of writing skill, conferences usually are worth it if they offer connections or opportunities you can’t get through cold querying or online presence. For example, a conference can sometimes give you time with agents who actively are taking pitches or faculty who have pull in the industry. Unless you are a beginner, truly passive conferences where you just sit and listen instead of meeting and pitching usually are not beneficial.
4. Do you have marketing clarity? — Professionals at conferences often can help you refine how your book is categorized, where it fits in the market, and test your pitch in real time.
5. How’s your money? — Conferences should always move you closer to publication, income or audience. If it looks like you’re not going to get a return from what you pay, don’t go.
6. How are you feeling (really)? — Let’s face it. Writing can be lonely. Sometimes, it’s worth the investment just to remember others love the craft like you do and that you’re not alone. Rejuvenation is a valid reason to attend an event.
7. Are promises clear (and realistic)? — Worthwhile conferences don’t promise you the moon. They outline clear expectations that are grounded for the time and expertise available. If the documentation around the conference is vague, think twice.
8. How much of the information do you really need? — It might be that there are only one or two panels in the conference that would really teach you something or help you connect. In those cases, you might be better off looking for a cheaper webinar or specific online course that addresses the individual topic you’re trying to improve in. The more panels there are that address your writing needs, the more worthwhile the conference becomes.

Writers conferences can be incredibly valuable, but different conferences will meet writers at different places. Most are set up to provide early guidance and comradery. If you’re already advanced and have other avenues to network in, it’s often better to look for other offerings you can customize based on your unique situation.