by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Conference season is gearing up (some conferences have already happened) for the summer of 2026! It’s an exciting time to be a writer, and the industry has more opportunities for storytellers than ever before, whether you want to go indie or traditional, Christian or general market.

I started attending writing conferences twenty years ago, and I wish I had known then what I have learned since. Although I can’t go back in time and educate my younger self, I can certainly pass on what I’ve learned to the current generation of conference-goers.

Make a plan.

For those of you who are planners, this is a given. For the rest of you who prefer to roll with the punches and take life as it comes, this might be a challenge. But, trust me, your conference experience will be much smoother if you make a bit of space to set some expectations and understand what you’re getting into. Every conference is different, and it’s usually not a good idea to assume that a romance-writers conference in the Midwest will be exactly like a fantasy-writers conference in California.

Every conference has a website. Look it up. Most conferences will list faculty, staff, teachers, agents, editors, mentors, etc. long before the conference dates. Make some intentional time to review those lists. They will likely also list classes and coursework that will be available; make time to decide what classes you want to attend, which keynote sessions are important, and what social events are priorities. Find out who is taking appointments and have a list of your preferences. Then have backups in case you can’t get a meeting with those people. Sure, you can wait until you get there, but I’ve always found that having a basic idea of what’s available helps cut back on the general overwhelm. Because conference overwhelm is real.

Do your research.

I know. I basically said this in the point above, but it’s worth repeating, mostly because people don’t do it. First you need to have a plan in place for who you want to talk to, but then once you know basically who you want to talk to, look them up. It may have to be the night before your actual appointment, but make time to do it.

Otherwise, you might sit down to pitch your epic historical romance novel to someone who only accepts hard science fiction. Not saying that you can’t do that, but that editor/publisher/agent probably won’t have much advice to give you, and they might not be interested in someone who didn’t care enough to do a basic information search on them.

Be a grown up.

Just writing that makes me sound salty. I’m not. But there are times when adults are just as irresponsible as children. If you know you’re going to need note-taking supplies, bring them. If you know your conference is in a cold climate, bring a coat. If you know you dehydrate easily, bring water. Bring snacks. Bring what you need to make yourself comfortable while you are at the conference and don’t expect conference organizers to drop what they’re doing to fix a problem that’s technically your own responsibility.

Be a kid.

Yes, I’m contradicting myself. I’m an author. I can do that.

But seriously, have fun. There is a certain maturity level you reach as an adult that frees you up to be a kid again, and a writing conference is one of the places where this is key. Storytelling must be joyful, even if you focus on serious stories. If you can’t celebrate and rejoice in the gift of being a storyteller, you’re going to have a hard time putting words on the page.

But other than having fun, keep in mind the other things that kids need to learn to do. Have fun, yes, but make friends. Connect with people. Don’t skip meals. Eat your veggies. Get outside in the sunshine. Take a shower. And sleep.

Expect to learn.

If there is one key factor that will lead to your success in all areas of life it is your teachability. Are you willing to listen to other people’s experiences? Even if you disagree, can you find something to learn from another person? If you come into a conference believing that you already know everything there is to know, you’re going to miss out. Sure, there may be some basic information presented that you already know, but a refresher never hurts. Look for opportunities to learn something, and you just might discover a new perspective.

Be willing to serve.

Yup. Serve others. Look for opportunities to be a blessing. I know that sounds crazy, especially because you are paying to attend a conference most of the time. And it’s a lot of money. And, yes, a conference is for you to grow and learn and become a better writer. But the fact is, if you are willing to be a servant and make space to be a blessing to other conference-goers and members of faculty and staff, you will stand out in a major way.

Besides, why do you want to publish your book? What’s at the core of your desire to be a storyteller? Isn’t it about being a blessing to other people? Well, that doesn’t start when you sign a contract. You need to have that attitude, that mindset today. Don’t demand your own way. Don’t make trouble for others. Look for opportunities to serve others and see how God blesses your humility.

In summary, be professional.

People have many definitions of professionalism, but all it really requires is being considerate of the people around you. Be on time. Be clean. Be decent. Be humble. Don’t think you’re the most important, the more experience, the most intelligent person in the room (spoiler alert: you aren’t). Don’t be rude. Don’t complain.

Granted that doesn’t mean ignoring things that are legitimately wrong. If someone is behaving badly or if someone is being mistreated, report it. Immediately. But if the issue is not liking the food, complaining about it isn’t going to do much.

A writing conference is a tremendous opportunity not only to learn from industry experts but also to build a community with other aspiring authors who are pursuing their dreams. Do the legwork to prepare in advance. Show up expecting to get something out of it, and you will.

A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. Author of more than 20 books, she keeps her fiction readers laughing with wildly imaginative adventures about samurai superheroes, clumsy church secretaries, and goofy malfunctioning androids; her non-fiction readers just laugh at her and the hysterical life experiences she’s survived. If that’s your cup of tea (or coffee), join the fun at www.amycwilliams.com.