Pitching to Conferences

How running workshops at writers’ conferences can boost your writing business

With the writing conference season approaching, many writers are packing their bags and looking forward to a workshop-packed break and a chance to meet up with old friends. Whether it be the Writers Summer School (Swanwick), the Romantic Novelists’ Association Annual Conference, or the National Association of Writers and Groups weekend NAWGFest, to name a few, there are a lot of workshops, talks, and lectures that need delivering.

Organising these annual gatherings is often a year-long process, with many associations planning next year’s event as soon as this year’s is over. That’s if they haven’t started already. So if you’ve thought about pitching an idea for a workshop, talk, or lecture, now’s the time to take action. Pitching to writing conferences can give your writing business a boost in many ways.

Business Benefits

These events are a networking nirvana. You’ll make lots of new friends and can connect with editors, agents, publishers, and other writing businesses. For me, tutoring at conferences has led to magazine commissions, given opportunities to approach people for interviews, as well as led to additional workshop bookings.