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Writers’ Conferences Put Authors on the Road to Success

by | Blog, Book Awards, Book Events, Book Fairs, Book Festivals, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Writers Conferences

Writers’ Conferences Put Authors on the Road to Success

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications

Writers Love to Help Fellow Writers – What Better Way to Meet Them Than Writers’ Conferences?

There are several good reasons why writers should invest the time and effort required to attend writers’ conferences.

Attending a writers’ conference only takes a few hours or days at the most, a few bucks, and a little effort to register and arrange travel and lodging, but the payoff can be big.

If the book you are working on is almost finished, attending a writers’ conference gives you a great chance to network with other authors, pitch your book, learn about the major publishing houses, meet book editors and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can meet people who will give you ideas on shaping your book and give other advice to help you wrap up when you return home.

Or maybe you have been working on your book for a few months and are feeling unsure about whether you really can be a published author. Attending a conference is a good way to get a reality check from book editors or literary agents who can give you a professional opinion on your plot and characters and help you determine whether you are on the right track.

Most important, attending a writers’ conference provides you with a great opportunity to learn about the publishing business by purposeful interaction with insiders. Some conferences offer an opportunity to get honest and helpful professional assessments from book editors that will be more than worth the cost and effort of attending the conference.

Of course, you will want to prepare for any writers’ conference you attend by having a plan of what you want to find out and what you will do while there. You will want to develop an elevator speech pitch of your book that you can deliver in one minute. Have handouts available such as promotional bookmarks or book covers, or a one-page written pitch with website URL, email, and one paragraph book summary.

Now that you are ready, here are some writers’ conferences in the coming weeks and months you should consider attending:

Here are some upcoming writers’ conferences in 2026 for your consideration:

February 12–15, 2026: San Francisco Writers Conference. (Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Embarcadero Waterfront – Immerse yourself in over 21 years of rich literary culture. We’re dedicated to empowering writers by creating opportunities for meaningful connections with publishers, editors, agents, and more.) https://www.sfwriters.org/

February 6–7, 2026: The 2026 Online San Diego Writing Workshop. (Online. A two-day online “How to Get Published” writing event. Writers are welcome to attend virtually from everywhere and anywhere.) https://sandiegowritingworkshop.com/

March 6–7, 2026: The Online 2026 Texas Writing Workshop. (This is a special two-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on March 6-7, 2026. In other words, it’s two days full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published.) https://texaswritingworkshop.com/

March 7, 2026: The 2026 South Carolina Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026: Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant, 250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464.) https://southcarolinawritingworkshop.wordpress.com/

March 7, 2026: The 2026 Indiana Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026 — at the Hampton Inn by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown IUPUI, 414 W. Vermont Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.) https://indianawritingworkshop.com/

March 14, 2026: The 2026 Kansas City Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026 — at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 401 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112.) https://kansaswritingworkshop.com/

March 13–14, 2026: North Carolina Writers Workshop. (FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026: Charlotte Marriott SouthPark, 2200 Rexford Road, Charlotte, NC, 28211. & SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026: The McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State, 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606.) https://carolinawritingworkshops.com/

March 27, 2026: The Alabama Writers Conference (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026: Embassy Suites Birmingham, 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, AL 35206.) https://alabamawritingworkshop.com/

March 28, 2026: Atlanta Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026 — Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Center, 1030 Crown Pointe Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30338.) https://atlantawritingworkshop.com/

March 21, 2026: The 2026 Chesapeake Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026 — at the Hilton Arlington, 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22203.) https://chesapeakewritingworkshops.com/

March 21, 2026: The 2026 Colorado Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026 — at the Embassy Suites Denver Central Park, 4444 Havana Street, Denver, CO 80239.) https://coloradowritingworkshop.com/

March 4–7, 2026: The AWP Conference & Bookfair. (Baltimore Convention Center – Join thousands of writers, teachers, students, editors, and publishers at the AWP Conference & Bookfair—the premier annual gathering of the literary community. With hundreds of events and exhibitors, four days of connection, inspiration, and celebration await you in Baltimore!)  https://s2.goeshow.com/awp/annual/2026/index.cfm

March 27, 2026: The 2026 Connecticut Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026: Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, 155 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06510.) https://connecticutwritingworkshop.com/

March 28, 2026: The 2026 Boston Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026 — at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, One Hotel Dr, Boston, MA 02128.) https://thebostonwritingworkshop.wordpress.com/

April 10–11, 2026: The 2026 Ohio Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2026 OWW is an Online Conference, on April 4-5.) https://ohiowritingworkshop.com/

April 10, 2026: The 2026 Buffalo Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2026 — at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Buffalo, 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202.) https://buffalowritingworkshop.com/

April 11, 2026: Writers Conference of Minnesota (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026 — at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Bloomington / Minneapolis | 2800 American Blvd W, Bloomington, MN 55431.) https://minnesotawritingworkshop.com/

April 10, 2026: The 2026 Sacramento Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2026: Sacramento Convention Center (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center), 1401 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814.) https://sacramentowritingworkshop.com/

April 11, 2026: The 2026 Writing Workshop of San Francisco. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026 — at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA 94010.) https://writingworkshopsanfrancisco.com/

April 17 (Orlando) and April 18 (Tampa): 2026 Florida Writing Workshops. (FRIDAY. APRIL 17, 2026: Crowne Plaza Orlando-Downtown, an IHG Hotel, 304 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32801. & SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026: Hyatt House Tampa Airport / Westshore. 5308 Avion Park Dr, Tampa, FL 33607. (813) 207-9500.) https://floridawritingworkshops.com/

April 24, 2026: Get Published in Kentucky Conference (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2026 — at the Holiday Inn Louisville East, 1325 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40222. 502-426-2600.) https://kentuckywritingworkshop.com/

April 25, 2026: Tennessee Writers Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026 — at Hilton Franklin Cool Springs, 601 Corporate Centre Drive, Franklin TN 37067.) https://tennesseewritingworkshop.com/

April 25, 2026: Philadelphia Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026 — at Drexel University (inside the LeBow College of Business), 3220 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.) https://philadelphiawritingworkshop.com/

April 11, 2026: Bluegrass Writers Coalition – Conference of Writers (April 11, 2026. 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Capital Plaza Hotel Frankfort Kentucky) https://bluegrasswriterscoalition.com/conference/

May 1, 2026: The 2026 Arizona Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 1, 2026: Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North, 3838 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008.) https://arizonawritingworkshop.com/

May 1–2, 2026: The 2026 Washington Writers Conference (May 1–2, 2026, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville, MD). https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/page/the-2026-washington-writers-conference

May 2, 2026: Michigan Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026 — at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Livonia, 19525 Victor Pkwy, Livonia MI 48152.) https://michiganwritingworkshop.com/

May 2, 2026: The 2026 Writing Conference of Los Angeles. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026 — at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045.) https://writingconferenceoflosangeles.com/

May 8–9, 2026: The 2026 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2026 PWW is an Online Conference, May 8–9, 2026.) https://pittsburghwritingworkshop.com/

May 9, 2026: The 2026 Seattle Writing Workshop (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 9, 2026 — at the Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 200 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.) https://theseattlewritingworkshop.com/

May 16, 2026: The 2026 Cincinnati Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2026: Holiday Inn Cincinnati N – West Chester by IHG. 5800 Muhlhauser Rd, West Chester Township, OH 45069.) https://cincinnatiwritingworkshop.com/

May 8, 2026: The 2026 Portland Writing Workshop. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 8, 2026: Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Airport, 7900 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220.) https://portlandwritingworkshop.com/

May 15–17, 2026: 39th Annual Pennwriters Conference (Lancaster, PA) https://pennwriters.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=522048&module_id=378066

June 12–13, 2026: The 2026 California Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2026 CWW is an Online Conference, on June 12–13, 2026.) https://californiawritingworkshop.com/

June 20, 2026: The 2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago. (9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, June 20, 2026 — at the Congress Plaza Hotel.) https://chicagowritingworkshop.com/

July 26–31, 2026: 45th Annual Napa Valley Writers Conference (Since 1981, the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference has provided literary fellowship and a craft-focused experience among the foothills and vineyards that have made this region famous.) http://www.napawritersconference.org/

July 24–25, 2026: The 2026 New England Writing Workshop. (ONLINE: Writing Day Workshops plans both in-person and virtual/online conferences. The 2026 NEWW is an Online Conference, on July 24–25.) https://thenewenglandwritingworkshop.com/

July 31 – August 1, 2026: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference (The 2026 Conference will be held from July 30 – August 1, 2026, in the town of Mendocino, California.) https://mcwc.org/

August 20–23, 2026: Killer Nashville Writers Conference (Killer Nashville is the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, action, or suspense elements; learn, present, meet agents & editors, sign books, mingle with forensic experts, and network. Franklin, TN – Embassy Suites Hotel & Convention Center). https://www.killernashville.com/

Select a writers’ conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers, acquiring knowledge you can use immediately, learn about different genres, find a new market for your book, elevate your professional effectiveness, meet editors, agents and publishers, become inspired and return home energized.

The Bottom Line: Make a commitment to attend at least one writers’ conference this year. You’ll be glad you did!

Make a commitment to attend at least one writers’ #conference this year. You’ll be glad you did! #writersconference #authors #writingcommunity #writerscommunity Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.

Would you like help promoting your book?

If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?

Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!


How Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading Make Your Book Shine

by | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, How to title a book, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Writing a Book

How Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading Make Your Book Shine

“To Write Is Human, To Edit Is Divine.” – Stephen King

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications

You’ve finally finished your book and are ready to get it into the hands of the reader. You’ve crafted each sentence with great intention, choosing each word to communicate your meaning. This manuscript has spent countless hours with your eyes on it and multiple people have read it for you. You’ve rewritten and revised, incorporated their suggestions and there couldn’t possibly be anything else that needs changing or correcting.

Is it still necessary to hire a professional editor or proofreader?

What if the editor has a different vision from you and suggests sweeping changes to your work? What if the editor doesn’t like, or even worse, doesn’t understand your book?

Writing a book is an amazing accomplishment, one that less than 1% of the world’s population will ever manage to do. Given the amount of time, energy, and creativity you’ve invested to bring your ideas to life, your finished manuscript is of high personal value. Your work could even be life changing for some readers, if it can reach them. Capturing an audience is no picnic and whether you are publishing traditionally or self-publishing, the competition is fierce.

At this point, your manuscript is like a raw diamond. A diamond in its natural, raw state is full of potential, both in beauty and in value. Yet without taking it to a gem expert, it can be difficult to know how much more value could be added with precise cutting and polishing. Professional gemcutters spend years honing their craft and know exactly what to do to bring forth the maximum beauty of the diamond and increase its market value.

Like gemcutters, editors and proofreaders are experts with a refined skill set. They can evaluate your book and make recommendations about which editing processes the manuscript should undergo. Their extensive training allows them to view your book differently than a casual reader and identify errors or issues with the flow, organization, or plot of the story.

“All manuscripts need something,” says author Edward Renehan. As a book publicist, I’ve seen time and again where the attention of a professional editor has changed a good book into a brilliant one. Hiring an editor is like hiring a personal trainer; it’s still you, just faster, tighter, and more trim. Whether you’re getting a developmental edit, copyedit, or proofread, a professional editor knows how to identify your vision for your work and suggest changes to accomplish that vision.

Most importantly, they are on your team. The editor’s goal is to increase the value and marketability of your work—to cut, and polish in ways that make it shine even more brightly. In an article for Publisher’s Weekly, editor Leila Sales says, “We are as invested in the success of your book as you are. Furthermore, remember this: if we sign up books that don’t perform well, that reflects poorly on us as editors. The future of our careers depends on the success of the books we edit. We are never trying to sabotage your book, because we are emotionally and financially invested in how well it does.”

Regardless of your publishing path, one of the best ways to promote your book is to get reviews. In my experience, if your book has a number of noticeable errors many reviewers will find it difficult to look past them and give a fair review of the entire work. It makes the reading more difficult and creates a poor impression. Even if the reviewer knows that it’s a galley copy or ARC and hasn’t been final proofed, a manuscript in need of editing or proofreading simply will not get as strong or positive reviews.

As a third-party endorsement of your work, reviews are critical for promotion and marketing efforts. They give the potential buyer assurance the book they may buy is worthwhile. Professional editing of your work will take your work to the next level, enabling you to get the best reviews possible from your reviewers. Better reviews increase the likelihood of getting your book the attention and audience it deserves.

The Bottom Line

Let your finished work shine! Hire a professional editor or proofreader to polish your book, bring forth its maximum beauty, and increase its market value.

Let your finished work shine! Hire a professional #editor or #proofreader to polish your #book, bring forth its maximum beauty, and increase its market value. Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.

Would you like help promoting your book?

If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?

Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!