Writing conferences are a fabulous opportunity to attend workshops that help hone your craft, learn about the publishing world from industry experts, and network with other writers. Sometimes, you get the chance to pitch your book to agents who might otherwise be closed to new submissions. My editor encouraged me to submit my first manuscript to the Pacific Northwest Writers Association competition, and I was chosen as a finalist. I decided to attend the PNWA conference, my very first writing conference. It was very well organized and offered a lot of informative classes. I landed my agent by pitching at the conference.
There are a lot of wonderful conferences, but the registration fees, airfare, and hotel costs can make attendance rather expensive. So, unless you have an unlimited budget, you have to pick your poison. For mystery writers, some of the top conventions are Bouchercon, Malice Domestic, Killer Nashville, ThrillerFest, Left Coast Crime, New England Crimebake, and Sleuthfest. Some conferences rotate to a new location each year, others are held at the same locale.
Bouchercon was held in San Diego in 2023, so I decided to register for the conference and volunteer to help. Bouchercon was founded in 1970. It is an annual convention for writers and fans of mystery and crime fiction. Although it is known as a “fan convention,” it also hosts great speakers and panels and offers key networking opportunities. It was a memorable experience.
If you’re looking for the biggest bang for your buck and are a local, that would be the San Diego Writers Festival. https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/ The San Diego Writers Festival is a FREE, community-based event held annually in Coronado. It hosts a day filled with back-to-back classes covering a variety of topics for all writing genres. Hank Phillippi Ryan and Ed Begley Jr. were some of the keynote speakers this year. If you’re a San Diegan and you missed it this year, be sure to put it on your calendar for next year. It’s conveniently located and the price is right.
So many conferences, so little time. Good luck finding the best fit for your genre and needs.
