Ready, Set, Gather

writing conferences + retreats for those craving connection

With friends at Wild Words Retreat 2024

One of my favorite sub-genres of travel has become the kind that mixes growth as a writer with human connection.

Enter: writing conferences and retreats.

The writers in my life basically fall into one of two categories:

1) Those who’ve attended at least one writing retreat or conference and can’t wait to do more

2) Those who’ve never attended one but really want to

This (very non-comprehensive!) mini-list is offered as a starting point if you’re looking for a fun and fruitful event to put on your calendar this year that fills your writer heart. These are events I’ve either attended, keep hearing about, or know someone who has attended. Please drop a comment if you’ve attended any of these (or plan to) or have others to recommend!

WFWA Albuquerque Writing Retreat 2025

Location: Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

2025 Dates: September 24-27 (registration opens this spring!)

Quick Facts: The Women’s Fiction Writers Association is a wonderful network of writers and its annual retreats (typically one each in the western and eastern half of the US) provide the perfect chance to gather, grow your craft, and carve out time for your WIP amid beautiful surroundings. I attended the 2024 retreat with around 60 other women where we got to share pitches for our books over dinner, learn from workshops each day, and enjoy plenty of flexible free time to hunker down at a warm shaded table and write.

Writing time with my WFWA retreat roomie, Kym

Cost: 2024 cost was $570 (included all retreat events and most meals; did not include overnight lodging)

Know Before You Go: Must be a WFWA member to attend retreat ($58 annual dues). There’s a fabulous food hall called Sawmill Market just down the street, where you’ll want to savor every lunch (not covered by retreat). And when in Albuquerque…Breaking Bad fans, don’t sleep on this store and museum!

Testimony of past WFWA event attendee: My friend and agented author, Gina Banks met her agent through a live pitch event at WFWA’s 10th anniversary conference in Chicago, which I also attended. Though larger in scope and size than WFWA’s yearly retreats, her succuss story is a testimony to the power of this organization and what can happen when preparation meets opportunity. From Gina—”I pitched CRIMSON & CLOVER, and the positive response was overwhelming—I received requests for every agent I pitched. Getting the chance to meet agents in real life was invaluable. There's a lot of chemistry involved in the agent-author relationship, and I had a bone-deep sense that my agent, Joanna, would be an incredible fit for me and my work.” Gina’s is one of my favorite conference success stories.

Gina and her agent, Joanna

2025 AWP Conference & Bookfair

Location: Los Angeles Convention Center (a different city hosts each year)

2025 Dates: March 26-29 (registration now open!)

Quick Facts: Spanning four jam-packed days, AWP has something to offer for writers of all stripes, at any stage. This year’s featured events include a keynote address with Roxane Gay, National Jewish Book Award Poetry Reading and Conversation, a lecture from Tayari Jones (author of one of my favorite novels, An American Marriage), and SO MUCH MORE. Conference attendees can apply to the “Writer to Agent” program for a chance to meet with literary agents seeking new fiction and nonfiction clients.

Cost: $205-$520 (student + senior discounts available); virtual only $55-$160

Know Before You Go: This event is HUGE. Think: the Super Bowl of literary conferences. Thousands of attendees, 2,000 presenters, hundreds of readings. Something for everyone, but perhaps not for the most introverted among us? (However, leave it to the conference that has thought of everything to include “Quiet Spaces” where attendees can “collect your thoughts, unwind, and escape the literary commotion.” AWP gets us.)

Testimony of past attendee: Writer and therapist, Kristine Galli attended last year’s AWP conference in Kansas City. She was drawn to the event’s scope/size and the chance to hear some of her favorite authors speak. While there, she attended workshops and book signings, and even performed her first ever live reading of her own work. She found the conference and connections she made to be “absolutely” worth the time and money, and can’t wait to return this year in LA.

“I loved being among so many writers and authors,” Kristine said of her first experience attending AWP in Kansas City

Northern California Writers' Retreat

Location: Hidden Valley, an Institute of the Arts, in Carmel Valley, CA

2025 Dates: Submission for 2025 retreats is closed; will reopen for 2026 applications in August

Quick Facts: 18 writers, 2 Guest Literary Agents, 1 Author-in-Residence, 1 Independent Editor gather for fiction writing workshops, dedicated writing time, informative speaker sessions, on-site yoga, walking field trips and more in a tranquil indoor/outdoor setting.

Cost: 2025 fees: $2,797 for 4 nights and 5 days (includes lodging with private bedroom and bathroom, all meals, beverages, snacks, and yoga sessions)

Know Before You Go: This retreat is smaller, more selective in its application process and pricier than most. Subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date on future retreats!

Testimony of past attendee: Indie author and 2024 NCWR attendee Alyssa Jarrett had this to say about the retreat: “Because NCWR is so selective, I felt like the writers accepted were of high caliber, so I would recommend the retreat to intermediate and experienced writers who are looking to level up in either literary or commercial fiction. NCWR was absolutely worth the investment. The alumni group is a tight-knit community that lifts each other up and shows their support.”

DFW Writers Conference (DFWCon)

Location: Hurst, TX

2025 Dates: October 4-5

Quick Facts: 300+ attendees, 90 classes, panels and workshops, 12+ agents, a full weekend of learning and networking!

Cost: $424+ for full retreat (2024 pricing)

Know Before You Go: Registered attendees receive one free pitch/consult session with a literary agent. Additional pitch sessions available for purchase at conference.

Testimony of past attendee: Querying author and bookseller Cortney Casey’s steady raves about DFWCon piqued my interest to learn more. A two-time conference attendee, Cort has cherished the opportunity to live pitch multiple agents each year, and the many relationships she’s developed and deepened there. She shared, “Many times, the hardest part is choosing between multiple classes that sound fantastic. There's also a mixer for the writers on Friday night, and a mixer where you can rub elbows with the agents on Saturday night, and keynote speeches on Saturday and Sunday from successful authors.”

Cortney (far left) and friends at DFWCon. “It's definitely a very intense weekend, jam-packed with classes…there's truly something for everyone.”

San Francisco Writers Conference

Location: Hyatt Regency San Francisco

2025 Dates: February 6-9 (register now!)

Quick Facts: Presenters include best-selling authors, agents, acquiring editors, indie editors, and publishers from major houses plus small presses. There will be experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, audiobooks, podcasting, and author websites. Bonus Perk: an on-site photographer will offer 20-minute sessions ($50 + cost of selected images) to update your author headshots.

Cost: $895 (does not include lodging)

Know Before You Go: One agent or editor pitch session included with registration; additional appointment times $50/each, available to book on first day of conference.

ThrillerFest

Location: New York Hilton Midtown, NYC

2025 Dates: June 17-21 (plus optional bonus event on June 16)

Quick Facts: The ThrillerFest conference has seven main components: FBI Day, Master Class, CraftFest, QueryFest, PitchFest, ThrillerFest, and the Awards Banquet. This 20^th anniversary gathering of thriller writers, readers, agents and more will feature appearances by John Grisham, James Patterson, and Jennifer Hillier, among others.

Cost: $163-$1429 (wide range of a la carte + package options); hotel conference rate available

Know Before You Go: “Although it is a traditional conference in that the days are filled with author panels covering a variety of subjects, the nights are spent at cocktail parties and special events. ThrillerFest is unique in that many of the most successful authors attend and make themselves available to talk, sign autographs, and simply get to know fans.” (from website)

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing 2025 Deep Dive Virtual Retreat

Location: online

2025 Dates: February 1-2 (plus bonus Q+A sessions on 1/25 and 2/8)

Quick Facts: A rock solid speaker lineup of bestselling authors and industry gatekeepers. Learn about building your platform, crafting a strong logline, infusing your story with suspense, and much more.

Cost: $499

Know Before You Go: In case you can’t attend the live sessions (10am-5pm EST; 11am-2pm EST for bonus Q+A days), registered delegates will receive recordings of all presentations and Q+A sessions.

My experience: I participated in the 2024 Deep Dive Series (same idea/different, weekly format) and came away with a notebook full of craft and publishing tips, priceless moments learning from authors and industry pros I admire, and so many new connections who have become dear writing friends—including the three women who now make up my writing critique group.

The Wild Words Writing Retreat

Location: Fairplay, CO

2025 Dates: TBD/coming soon

Quick Facts: A five-day retreat for fiction and nonfiction writers of all levels. Nestled in the mountains of Fairplay, Colorado, this small group retreat hosted by Kym Summers offers a perfect balance of community sessions with other talented writers and focused writing time. Enjoy group writing sprints, communal meals, and the reading aloud of your work for group feedback and critique.

Cost: $625-$1100 (includes lodging and meals)

Know Before You Go: Pack your swimsuit for hot tubbing under the stars and stretchy clothes for yoga!

My experience: I had the most magical time at Kym’s 2024 retreat. I wrote more than I ever had in a single day during our group writing sprints, was moved and inspired by reading our work aloud to one another and refreshed by the remote natural surroundings. Wild Words was mentally rejuvenating, physically relaxing, and an empowering time of bonding and encouragement. Highly recommend!

I hope this mini round-up has sparked some inspiration if you’re craving connection and itching to add more intentional time for both writing and relationship-building to your calendar this year. Please keep me posted—I’d love to hear where your writing-related travel takes you!

A personal note…

Last month I launched a paid tier for subscribers to this Substack as a way to monetize my hard work and value the time and energy I put into creating posts such as this one. If you find value in the content I share here, it would feel like a big virtual hug if you would consider upgrading to a paid subscription for $5/month. That said, I understand that deciding where we each put our money is a personal and fluid choice, and am so grateful for your support however you show up in this space. For now, all content I share here remains available to both free and paid subscribers, though that structure may evolve over time. Thank you for being here! I truly appreciate it so much.

Xo,

Beth