For my next post in this series on self publishing I am looking at conferences. These are a great way to keep learning about writing craft, as well as marketing. And they also allow you to network and meet other great authors in your genre you could, in the future, work with.

Unfortunately, due to COVID and the many restrictions in place because of that, these are not so easy to attend. Though on the positive side, many of these have now moved partly, or completely virtual.

Different conferences will have different ways to access their sessions online, and will leave these accessible for different lengths of time after the conference. If you are in a different part of the world to where the conference is running you do need to be aware of time zones. Though if you have access to the recordings afterwards then you can just watch them later, but that does mean you will be unable to take part in any discussion or question and answer sessions.

On the other hand, one benefit of a virtual conference with access to the recordings afterwards is that you don’t have to choose between parallel sessions, as you can watch them all!

Some hybrid/completely online conference are:

Storymakers – hybrid conference, but online tickets are available. Primary focus on craft and writing skills. May 13-15 2021 in Utah. This one is actually this weekend, so sign up quick!

10 Minute Novelists Conference – online conference, focus on craft. It will include a series of different sessions from four speakers over three days, with networking sessions and general chat between attendees. July 15-17th 2021.

Inkers Con – 100% online conference covering writing craft and marketing. Attendees have access to all digital content for three years. Starts July 17 2021 for three weekends of sessions.

Self Publishing Conference – online conference, focus on craft. Free access for three days, or pay for longer access which includes all sessions from all previous conferences since 20218 as well. 23-24th October 2021.

20 Books to 50k – hybrid conference, with all major sessions streamed on Facebook and uploaded afterwards to YouTube. Primary focus on marketing and business side of indie publishing. November 8-12th 2021 in Las Vegas.

Conferences can be incredibly useful, but they can also be overwhelming and exhausting. Make sure that you choose the right conference for you by knowing what it is that you want to get out of it. You can use the schedule to check that the conference has the right range of talks that interest you. Also talk to author friends about which conferences they have been to and what they thought of them. And discuss going together to ones in the future.

Personally, I’ll be at the 10 Minute Novelist’s Conference in July. Given time zones I won’t be at all the sessions live, but I am looking forward to joining in with some of them, and I’m sure I will learn a lot from it. Next year, maybe Storymakers. One day, 20books to 50k. Though who knows what the travel situation will be like!

I hope to see some of you at the 10 Minute Novelist’s Conference! 

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