2026 Conferences, Workshops, Retreats, Contests, and Literary Festivals

This list started out to mostly focus on Texas (where I am) and Louisiana. However, there are some others listed here for you. Also, keep in mind, many are virtual now, so your own location may not matter. Please let me know if you would like to recommend any others to be added to the list. The list below is what I know of as of today.

First, please let me recommend MASTERCLASS. This is an online set of instructional and motivational videos given by some of the industry's top professionals and gathered together in one location. These are very reasonably priced, and you can read about my personal experiences with it by clicking on the link in the labels below. There are other genres besides just writing that are extremely beneficial and interesting as well. They just added quite a few more options this past month. 

There is also a similar site called SKILLSHARE, but I have no personal experience with it. Let us know in the comments if you have, and what you think of them.

Any Time: More than a dozen authors - https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

Any Time: Skill Share

1/16 - 18: SCBWI (Children's literature - writers, translators, illustrators) In-Person Conference in New York - https://www.scbwi.org/events.

1/26 -30: "Happily Ever After" A Harlequin online workshop: Introducing ‘Happily Ever After’ Writing Week 2026 – Hooks & Tropes! - Write for Harlequin

1/30 - 2/1: Writers Digest University Novel Writing Virtual Conference - Writer's Digest hosts its annual Novel Writing Virtual Conference. This year's virtual conference includes sessions by Barbara O'Neal, Amy Collins, Mia P. Manansala, C. Hope Clark, Michael La Ronn, Rob Hart, and more.

1/31 - 2/1: 2026 Deep Dive Virtual Retreat - THE SHIT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT WRITING

2/6 - 7: SCBWI (Children's literature - writers, translators, illustrators) Virtual Conference - SCBWI Events – SCBWI.

2/12 - 15: San Francisco Writers Conference.

2/20 - 22: Writers Digest University Romance Writing Virtual Conference - Writer's Digest hosts its popular annual Romance Writing Virtual Conference. This year's virtual conference once again includes sessions by award-winning and bestselling authors. Plus, writers have the opportunity to get a query critique from a participating literary agent.

February 23 - 26 - American Booksellers Association Winter Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. Winter Institute 2026 | the American Booksellers Association. The 21st annual industry event filled with educational programming for independent bookstores, keynotes, author receptions, and more! Watch Bookselling This Week (BTW) for more details and special announcements! If you don’t currently receive BTW, subscribe here.

2/26 - 3/1: Left Coast Crime in San Francisco, CA - https://leftcoastcrime.org/.

3/5 - 7: Louisiana Library Association annual conference in Lake Charles. https://llaonline.org/

3/6-7: The 2026 Online Texas Writing Workshop - The 2026 Online Texas Writing Workshop – Get Your Writing Published: March 6-7, 2026

3/12 - 15: New Orleans Book Festival - New Orleans Book Festival |  Mardi Gras for the Mind | The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane or New Orleans Book Festival.

3/12 - 18: SXSW Film and Writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/.

3/20 - 22: Writers Digest University Mystery/Thriller Virtual Conference - Writer's Digest hosts its longest-running annual virtual conference, which is focused on mystery & thriller writing. This year's virtual conference once again includes sessions by award-winning and bestselling authors, in addition to the opportunity for a query critique from a participating literary agent.

3/25 - 29 - New Orleans Literary Festival - http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/.

4/7 - 14: Writers Digest Writing Retreat - Writer's Digest will host its second annual writing retreat in Italy. This event will include two nights in Florence and five nights in the beautiful hills of Tuscany. There will be plenty of time for exploration, writing, and instruction with the Writer's Digest hosts (WD Editor-in-Chief Amy Jones and Literary Agent Jessica Berg).

4/18: The Pre-Quill Conference in West Valley City, Utah - The Pre-Quill Conference | League of Utah Writers.

4/25: 21st Jambalaya Writers Conference - https://mytpl.org/jwc/

4/28 - 30: Social Media Marketing Conference in Anaheim, California.

5/30: Virtual Inkerscon or Events – Inkers Con

6/3 - 6: - Reader Author Get Together or Registration | Reader & Author Get Together | Reader & Author Get Together Event

6/5 - 7: Lone Star Book Festival - 5th Lone Star Festival 2026

6/6 - 13: Usually a one event, this one has some conflicting dates listed. This year's theme is "Red, White, and Clues" by Northeast Texas Writers Association. check out their social media and web page to stay tuned for updates and corrections. https://www.netwo.org/

6/13 - 20: The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine - Tuition and Application

6/17 - 22 - Florida - Space Coast Book Lovers and here.

6/26 - 28: Agents and Editors Conference 2026 in Austin, TX. Agents & Editors Conference – Writers League of Texas.

6/26-29: Children's Institute in Schaumburg, Il. Children's Institute 2026 | the American Booksellers Association. ABA Children's Institute offers four days of educational programming, keynote talks, author receptions, publisher parties, and dedicated time to network with booksellers, authors, and publishers from around the country. The Children’s Institute 2026 will take place in Schaumburg, IL — just 15 miles from the Chicago O'Hare airport. Watch Bookselling This Week (BTW) for details and special announcements in the coming months.

6/26 - 28: Historical Novel Society in Las Vegas, Nevada - https://hns-conference.com/.

7/23 - 25: The 2026 Writer's Digest Annual Conference will take place in-person late July in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Per usual, it will offer an incredible lineup of presenters and pre-conference workshops, in addition to one-on-one consultations with literary agents.

8/6 - 9: Quills Conference in Utah - https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/quills-conference-preview.

8/15 - 16 - Love N Book in Seattle - Lovenbooks.

9/23 - 26: NINC Conference - Novelists Inc. at St. Pete Beach, FL.

9/26: Austin SCBWI - Writer's and Illustrators Conference - 2026 Austin SCBWI Conference - Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art Register for event – SCBWI.

9/26 - 27 - in Florida - Once Upon a Book Author Signing.

10/3 - 4: Dallas Writer's Conference in Hurst, Texas - http://dfwcon.org/

10/15 - 18 - TENTATIVE In-Person - Houston, Texas - https://romanceauthormastermind.com/

10/21 - 25: World Mystery Convention - Calgary, Canada - http://www.bouchercon.com/.

10/29 - 11/5 - Austin Film Festival -  https://austinfilmfestival.com/.

11/3 - 7 - (Tentative) - https://20booksvegas.com/about/

11/6 - 8 - (Tentative) - https://hamptonroadswriters.org/

11/14 - 15: Texas Book Festival in Austin - Announcing the 2026 Festival Dates – Texas Book Festival

11/12 - 15 - TENTATIVE - Virtual - Romance Author Mastermind

Year Round - Interested in a more expansive list of national and international options? Checkout this list: Insecure Writer's Support Group: Conferences, Workshops, etc. / Publications (insecurewriterssupportgroup.com)

OR: Writer's Conferences 2025

OR: 2026 Writing Contests for Every Genre and Skill Level - Kotobee Blog

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

Also, if you are looking for a writer's group in Texas, check out: Writers' Groups | Lone Star Literary Life

HAPPY WRITING! 

2025 Conferences, Workshops, and Literary Festivals

This list started out mostly focus on Texas (where I am) and Louisiana. However, there are some others listed here for you. Also, keep in mind, many are virtual now, so your own location may not matter. Please let me know if you would like to recommend any others to be added to the list. The list below is what I know of as of today.

First, please let me recommend MASTERCLASS. This is an online set of instructional and motivational videos given by some of the industry's top professionals and gathered together in one location. These are very reasonably priced, and you can read about my personal experiences with it by clicking on the link in the labels below. There are other genres besides just writing that are extremely beneficial and interesting as well. They just added quite a few more options this past month. 

There is also a similar site called SKILLSHARE, but I have no personal experience with it. Let us know in the comments if you have, and what you think of them.

Any Time: More than a dozen authors - https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

Any Time: Skill Share

1/22 - 24 - Writer's Digest University Novel Writing Virtual Conference

1/31 - 2/2 - SCBWI (Children's literature) In-Person Conference in New York - https://www.scbwi.org/events

2/6 - 9 San Francisco Writers Conference

2/21 - 22 - SCBWI (Children's literature) Virtual Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events

2/21 - 23 - Writer's Digest Romance Writing Virtual Conference

February 23 - 26 - American Booksellers Association Winter Institute in Denver, Colorado.

3/7 - 15 - SXSW Film and writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/

3/13 - 16 - Left Coast Crime in Denver, Colorado - https://leftcoastcrime.org/

3/21 - 23 - Writer's Digest Virtual Mystery and Thriller Convention

3/26 - 30 - New Orleans Literary Festival - http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/

3/27 - 29 - New Orleans Book Festival - New Orleans Book Festival

3/29 - The Pre-Quill Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah - The Pre-Quill Conference | League of Utah Writers

March 30 - April 1 - Social Media Marketing Conference in San Diego, California.

5/3 - 4 - TENTATIVE - Austin Writer's and Illustrators Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events/texas-writers-and-illustrators-conference

6/7 - 8 - Lone Star Book Festival - https://www.lonestarfestival.fun/

6/7 - 14 - The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine 

6/7 - 20 - Virtual Inkerscon

6/12 - 14 - Children's Institute in Portland, Oregon.

6/18 - 21 - Reader Author Get Together

6/18 - 22 - Florida - Space Coast Book Lovers and here.

6/26 - 28 - Historical Novel Society in Las Vegas, Nevada - https://hns-conference.com/

8/7 - 10 - Quills Conference in Utah - https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/quills-conference-preview

8/15 - 16 - Love N Book in Seattle - Lovenbooks

9/3 - 7 - World Mystery Convention - New Orleans, Louisiana - http://www.bouchercon.com/

9/17 - 21 - NINC Conference - Novelists Inc.

9/26 - 27 - in Florida - Once Upon a Book Author Signing

10/4 - 5 - Dallas Writer's Conference in Hurst, Texas - http://dfwcon.org/

10/15 - 18 - TENTATIVE In-Person - Houston, Texas - https://romanceauthormastermind.com/

10/23 - 30 - Austin Film Festival -  https://austinfilmfestival.com/

11/3 - 7 - (Tentative) - https://20booksvegas.com/about/

11/6 - 8 - (Tentative) - https://hamptonroadswriters.org/

11/8 - 9 - Austin Book Festival - https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

11/12 - 15 - TENTATIVE - Virtual - Romance Author Mastermind

Year Round - Interested in a more expansive list of national and international options? Checkout this list: Insecure Writer's Support Group: Conferences, Workshops, etc. / Publications (insecurewriterssupportgroup.com)

OR: Writer's Conferences 2025

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

Also, if you are looking for a writer's group in Texas, check out: Writers' Groups | Lone Star Literary Life

HAPPY WRITING! 

2024 Conferences, Workshops, and Literary Festivals

UPDATED: 1/20/24

This list started out mostly focus on Texas (where I am) and Louisiana. However, there are some others listed here for you. Also, keep in mind, many are virtual now, so your own location may not matter. Please let me know if you would like to recommend any others to be added to the list. The list below is what I know of as of today.

First, please let me recommend MASTERCLASS. This is an online set of instructional and motivational videos given by some of the industry's top professionals and gathered together in one location. These are very reasonably priced, and you can read about my personal experiences with it by clicking on the link in the labels below. There are other genres besides just writing that are extremely beneficial and interesting as well. They just added quite a few more options this past month. 

There is also a similar site called SKILLSHARE, but I have not personal experience with it. Let us know in the comments if you have, and what you think of them.

Any Time: More than a dozen authors - https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

Any Time: Skill Share

2/9-11 - Austin SCBWI In-Person Conference in New York - https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-in-person-winter-conference-2024

February 11-14 - American Booksellers Association Winter Institute

February 15-18 San Francisco Writers Conference

February 18-20 - Social Media Marketing Conference

2/23-24 - Austin SCBWI Virtual Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-virtual-winter-conference

3/8-16 - SXSW Film and writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/

3/14-16 - New Orleans Book Festival - New Orleans Book Festival

3/22-24 -Writer's Digest 10th Virtual Mystery and Thriller Convention - https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/wdu-mystery-and-thriller-virtual-conference

3/20-24 - New Orleans Literary Festival - http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/

4/11-14 - Left Coast Crime in Seattle Washington - https://leftcoastcrime.org/

4/20 - The Pre-Quill Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah - The Pre-Quill Conference | League of Utah Writers

5/4-5- Austin Writer's and Illustrators Conference - https://www.scbwi.org/events/texas-writers-and-illustrators-conference

6/1 - Lone Star Book Festival - https://www.lonestarfestival.fun/

6/1 - The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine 

6/5-8 - Reader Author Get Together

6/7-9 - in Dallas, Texas - Inkerscon

6/19-23 - Florida - Space Coast Book Lovers

6/26-28 - Historical Novel Society - https://hns-conference.com/

8/8-11 - Quills Conference in Utah - https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/quills-conference-preview

8/28 - 9/1 - World Mystery Convention - Nashville - http://www.bouchercon.com/

9/18-22 - NINC Conference

9/27-28 - in Florida - Once Upon a Book Author Signing

10/5-6 - Dallas Writer's Conference - http://dfwcon.org/

10/16-19 - In-Person - Houston, Texas - https://romanceauthormastermind.com/

10/25-26 - Las Vegas - https://lovenbooks.com/lovenvegas

10/24-31 - Austin Film Festival -  https://austinfilmfestival.com/

11/4-8 - (Tentative) - https://20booksvegas.com/about/

11/7-9 - (Tentative) - https://hamptonroadswriters.org/

11/13-16 - Virtual - Romance Author Mastermind

11/16-17 - Austin Book Festival - https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

Year Round - Interested in a more expansive list of national and international options? Checkout this list: Insecure Writer's Support Group: Conferences, Workshops, etc. / Publications (insecurewriterssupportgroup.com)

OR: Writing Conferences 2024

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

Also, if you are looking for a writer's group in Texas, check out: Writers' Groups | Lone Star Literary Life

HAPPY WRITING! 

2023 Virtual and F2F Workshops, Comic Cons, and more...

February 18 - Hickory Con is a one day, in person comic con event in North Carolina. To learn more, check out: Home (hickorycon.com)

March 24-26 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Richmond, VA. To learn more: Galaxycon Richmond

March 31 - April 2 - CyPhaCon: https://www.cyphacon.org/ - taking place in the Lake Charles Civic Center Complex, CYPHACON 2023 is the largest fan run Pop Culture Convention in the State of Louisiana!

July 14-16 - ConGregate is a speculative fiction convention held in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. To learn more: ConGregate 7 / DeepSouthCon 59 (con-gregate.com)

July 27 - 30 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Raleigh, NC. To learn more: GalaxyCon Raleigh

August - Wake Forest mini Comic Con - WakeForest, NC - https://www.facebook.com/WFComiCon/

September 1-3 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Austin, TX. To learn more: Austin Galaxycon

December 1 - 3 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Columbus, Ohio. To learn more: Galaxycon in Columbus

If you'd like to see an even longer list of opportunities, check out the IWSG page here: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/publications.html

How about you? Are you attending any this year? Do you have a favorite that we haven't listed here?

16 More Conferences and Literary Festivals

February 16 - 19 San Francisco Writers Conference

February 20 - 23 - American Book Sellers Association

March 13 - 15 - Social Media Marketing Conference

March 16 - 19 - Left Coast Crime

April 29 - The Pre-Quill Conference

June 7 - 10 - Reader Author Get Together

June 9 - 11 - Inkerscon

June 22-25 - Space Coast Book Lovers

July 14 and 15 -  Once Upon a Book Author Signing 

August 30 - September 3 - Bouchercon

September 20 - 24 - NINC Conference

October 7 - 9 - InD'Scribe Conference/

October 27 - 29 - LoveNVegas

November 6 - 10  20booksvegas

Other to check back with:

Romance Author Mastermind

Hampton Roads Writers

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list - even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

HAPPY WRITING!

2023 Conferences, Workshops, and Literary Festivals

This list mostly focuses on Texas and Louisiana (where I am). However, there are some others listed here for you. Also, keep in mind, many are virtual now, so your own location may not matter. Please let me know if you would like to recommend any others to be added to the list.

Since the pandemic, many events have either been cancelled, or moved to virtual. The list below is what I know of as of today.

First, please let me recommend MASTERCLASS. This is an online set of instructional and motivational videos given by some of the industry's top professionals and gathered together in one location. These are very reasonably priced, and you can read about my personal experiences with it by clicking on the link in the labels below. There are other genres besides just writing that are extremely beneficial and interesting as well. They just added quite a few more options this past month.

Any Time: More than a dozen authors - https://www.masterclass.com/homepage

2/25 - Houston Writer's Guild Conference - Virtual NY- Virtual Winter Conference 2023

3/9-11 - New Orleans Book Festival - New Orleans Book Festival

3/10-19 - SXSW Film and writers festival in Austin - http://www.sxsw.com/

3/22-26 - New Orleans Literary Festival -  http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/

4/29-30 (Tentative) - Austin Writer's and Illustrators Conference - https://austin.scbwi.org/events/austin-2022-writers-illustrators-working-conference/

5/13-14 - Lone Star Book Festival of Seguin, Texas - Lone Star Festival

6/8-10 - Historical Novel Society - HNS Conference 2023

8/30 - 9/3 - Murder at the Marina - San Diego, Ca. - http://www.bouchercon.com/

10/21-22 - Unconfirmed, so check back: Dallas Writer's Conference - http://dfwcon.org/

10/26- 11/2 - Austin Film Festival -  https://austinfilmfestival.com/

11/4-5 - Unconfirmed, so check back: Austin Book Festival - https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

Year Round - Interested in a more expansive list of national and international options? Checkout this list: Insecure Writer's Support Group: Conferences, Workshops, etc. / Publications (insecurewriterssupportgroup.com)

Please feel free to comment with any you would like to see added to this list - even if it's not happening in the USA.  You never know when an opportunity will arise. Right? :-)

Also, if you are looking for a writer's group in Texas, check out: Writers' Groups | Lone Star Literary Life

HAPPY WRITING!