You Need to Attend a Scifi/Fantasy Writers Conference

Writer’s conferences are, once again, gearing up to welcome attendees. These annual conventions (in-person, online or a hybrid of both) are where writers gather to meet and learn from industry professionals, successful best-selling authors, literary agents, editors, and each other. Conferences host lectures, panels, and workshops geared to help writers at every stage of their writing journey. You will socialize, improve your craft and perhaps even start a career altering relationship.

There are three major reasons you should go to a writers’ conference: learn, make friends, and pitch.

Learn from the best teachers

The faculty at a writer’s conference comprises best-selling authors, top literary agents, and world class editors. These generous people provide firsthand knowledge gained from years of experience in the publishing business. Besides the large group lectures and panels, many conferences offer you the opportunity to get one-on-one time with these professional (usually for an additional fee). You can get feedback on your own writing or ask the burning questions you’ve always wanted to.

Make some new friends

Friendships start with a shared experience, or a shared passion. At a writer’s conference, you’ll find people who both have shared your experience of writing a novel and share your passion to get published. Every person, from the greenest newbie to the most hardened veteran, spent serious money and took days away from friends and family to be there.

Writer’s conferences know many of their attendees are introverts, and this concept might make them a little nervous. They will often have places and events setup to help introverts break the ice and get conversions started. As a bonus, your fellow introverts will understand in a way few of your other friends do when you need a few minutes of solitude to recharge.

Pitch your novel to agents and publishers

Most writer’s conferences host events where you can pitch your novel to an agent, editor, or publisher. You’ll know your pitch didn’t get lost in an email inbox with thousands of others never to be read. You gave it to them one on one. The agent will hear your passion for the project, and you’ll be able to answer their questions on the spot. You’ll receive invaluable feedback on your project as you watch their facial expressions and body language.

Now that you know why you should attend a writer’s conference, let’s look at a couple of writer’s conferences specifically geared to writers of science fiction and fantasy novels.

SFWA Nebula Conference

Home to nearly 2000 authors, artists, and allied professionals, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America is one of the oldest and largest conferences for speculative writers. This year’s conference was held the first week of June and was online only. At the conference, the SFWA announces the winners of The Nebula Awards for the best novel, novella, novelette, script, and short story. Dates and locations for the 2022 conference are yet to be announced.

World Con

The World Science Fiction Convention aka “Worldcon” is a five-day international conference attended by thousands of writers, artists, fans, editors, publishers, academics and dealers of the science fiction and fantasy community. You’ll see a celebration of Science Fiction and Fantasy in all its forms: books, film, TV, art, comics, anime and manga, and gaming. This conference announces the winners of the prestigious Hugo awards. This year’s conference will be held December 15 through December 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Realm Makers

Realm Makers is a niche conference for creatives who love Science Fiction and Fantasy and profess a Christian worldview. It’s a place for you to learn, share your talents, & meet with people like yourself. This conference hosts the Realm Awards to recognize the best speculative fiction written by Christian authors. This year’s conference will be held July 15-17, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Writer’s conferences provide a range of benefits to attendees and should be something every aspiring author plans into their yearly schedule.

Ted Atchley is a freelance writer and professional computer programmer. Whether it’s words or code, he’s always writing. Ted’s love for speculative fiction started early on with Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, and the Star Wars movies. This led to reading Marvel comics and eventually losing himself in Asimov’s Apprentice Adept and the world of Krynn (Dragonlance Chronicles). 

After blogging on his own for several years, Blizzard Watch (blizzardwatch.com) hired Ted to be a regular columnist in 2016. When the site dropped many of its columns two years later, they retained Ted as a staff writer. 

He lives in beautiful Charleston, SC with his wife and children. When not writing, you’ll find him spending time with his family, and cheering on his beloved Carolina Panthers. He’s currently revising his work-in-progress portal fantasy novel before preparing to query. 

Ted has a quarterly newsletter which you can join here. You’ll get the latest on his writing and publishing as well as links about writing, Star Wars, and/or Marvel.