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Preparing For The Conference: What to Pack for a Writers Conference (and What You Might Forget)

Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 Start the Conversation

Conference season is here, and if you’ve never been to Blue Ridge before, it will exceed your expectations. The teaching is rich, the community is genuine, and the time you spend there has a way of staying with you long after you head home. But none of that happens as well when you’re uncomfortable, unprepared, or wishing you’d packed differently. So let’s talk about what to bring.

Start with the basics, and I mean basics.

Hand sanitizer. I know, I know. But hear me out. You’ll be shaking hands, trading business cards, and sharing space with hundreds of people all week. Be kind to yourself and others. Pack it.

Speaking of business cards, bring more than you think you need. You could easily run out. Bring a notebook too, something with pockets if you can find one. Even if you’re a digital note-taker, a physical notebook gives you somewhere to tuck all those business cards you’ll be collecting. Edie Melson’s conference notebook planner is a wonderful option if you want something designed specifically for the week. She also has a great post on digital apps to help you make the most of your conference time over at The Write Conversation (Click here to read). Worth bookmarking before you leave home.

And while you’re packing that notebook, throw in a few pens, a pencil, a highlighter, and a marker. You’ll thank yourself later. Also print your schedule before you leave. Yes, it’s on your phone. Print it anyway. Having it in hand during a full week of sessions, appointments, and hallway conversations makes a real difference.

Dress for comfort, not a fashion show.

The connections you make at Blue Ridge happen in hallways, at meals, during late evening conversations on the porch. You want to be present for all of it, not distracted by sore feet or shivering through a session because you didn’t bring a layer. Those cute new shoes can stay home. Blue Ridge is a beautiful campus, but it is not flat, and you will be walking a lot. Wear shoes that already love your feet, and if you have new ones you’re determined to bring, start breaking them in now. Bring a sweater or jacket too, because the meeting rooms can go from comfortable to downright cold without warning. Layering is your friend. Check the weather before you arrive, pack an umbrella, and expect at least one surprise shower. It’s Blue Ridge. It happens.

Preparing For The Conference: What to Pack for a Writers Conference (and What You Might Forget) by @EdwinaPerkins on @BRMCWC #Writing #Writinglife #BRMCWC Share on X

A few things people always forget.

These are the small things that don’t seem important until you need them. Glasses. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count. Someone so focused on packing everything else that they leave behind something they need every single day. Try not to be that person.

Mints. You’ve got one-on-one appointments with agents and editors. Fresh breath matters. Gum or candy can be a distraction that you don’t want, so stick with mints.

And this one is important: no fragrance. BRMCWC is a fragrance-free conference. No perfume, cologne, or heavily scented lotions. This isn’t a rule for the sake of a rule. It’s about making sure everyone who attends can have a good week. Be considerate. Save it for when you get home.

A few practical things that catch people off guard.

Every conference has its quirks, and Blue Ridge is no exception. Ridgecrest is a Pepsi campus. If you are a Coke person, and I am not judging you because I am right there with you, BYOC. Bring your own Coke. Bring your favorite travel coffee mug too while you’re at it.

Also bring cash. The recorded sessions are available for purchase during the conference, and cash is how you get them. If you can’t make it to every workshop you want, and you won’t be able to because the schedule is wonderfully packed, the recordings are worth every dollar.

Go to the bookstore early in the week. I cannot stress this enough. You’ll see a book, tell yourself you’ll come back for it, and by the time you return, it’s gone. Don’t do that to yourself.

And a couple of things you might not think of.

Bring a flashlight. The grounds aren’t totally level, and evening walks are easier with one. Bring an extra bag too, for handouts, conference materials, and all the books you will buy, even if you’re telling yourself right now that you won’t.

Pack snacks. The food at Ridgecrest is wonderful, but a little something in your bag for that mid-afternoon energy dip goes a long way. You want to be fully present for every conversation, every session, every moment that catches you off guard in the best way. A snack can buy you that.

Finally, and this one matters most.

Everything on this list will help you be more comfortable and more prepared. But the thing that will shape your week more than any of it is what you bring on the inside. Bring a Godly attitude. Be flexible with the faculty, gracious with the Ridgecrest staff, and patient with your fellow conferees. Everyone is navigating something that week. A spirit of generosity and humility will open doors that no business card ever could.

See you at Blue Ridge!

Edwina Perkins is an advocate for inclusive storytelling and champions diverse voices in Christian publishing. She serves as Co-Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she also coordinates Mentoring Moments and manages Sensitivity Between the Lines.

A long-term member of Word Weavers International, Edwina now serves on its advisory board and serves on the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) advisory board, where she previously served as Emerging Leader Coordinator.

Edwina is an award-winning writer and experienced educator, Beyond her writing and editorial work, Edwina serves as a speaker, freelance editor, mentor, coach, and sensitivity consultant. She teaches at conferences throughout the year, advocating for honest, inclusive storytelling in Christian fiction. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.

Connect with Edwina on her website: edwinaperkins.com