2024 Bookish Events in the United States

One of my goals for 2024 is to attend some writing conferences and author events. With that goal in mind, I started scouring the internet to find events that were within my budget and feasible for me to travel too. At this time, I am planning to attend two events in Illinois (Chicago Spring Fling & Writers on the River), one in Missouri (Between the Pages), and one in California (Steamy LitCon). Obviously the one in Cali is not local to me but I have family who live within driving distance of the event who are letting me stay with them!

Attending these events can be so inspiring! The first writers’ conference I attended was Midwest Writers Workshop in Muncie, IN, over ten years ago. It was great to network with other writers. I learned so much, got to meet in person with an agent to pitch my books, and had an overall amazing time! I highly recommend attending a writing conference (assuming you’re a writer) if you’re able. Many of them will offer scholarships or have a work exchange opportunity if the cost is prohibitive for attendees.

Book events are great fun too! As a reader, you get to find new authors and explore what works they have to offer. As an author, I find it’s beneficial to see what others are doing and how they present their tables/booths, what kind of swag they have, and just to network in general.

Attending these events can be even more fun if you have someone to attend with but they’re also great places to make new bookish friends. I have a few bookish friends in real life, but no writer friends. There is not a flourishing bookish community where I live and that makes me sad at times, but I am grateful for the wonderful bookish community I am a part of online 😊

I hope you take some time to peruse the events below and find one that is doable for you this year! Don’t let cost be a deterrent! Check for those scholarships and work exchange opportunities!

This is by no means a list of every event there is. I came across more events than I could list! If you know of an event or are hosting an event you would like to see added to the list, let me know via social media or by using the contact me section of my website.

February 7-10, 2024// AWP Conference// Kansas City, Missouri

February 15-18, 2024// Savannah Book Festival// Savannah, GA

March 9-10, 2024// Tucson Festival of Books// Tucson, AZ

March 14-16, 2024// New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane// New Orleans, LA

March 22-24, 2024// Chicago Writers Association// Chicago, IL

April 11-13, 2024// Las Vegas Writers Conference// Virtual

April 11-14, 2024// Get Lit! Fest// Spokane, WA

April 12-13, 2024// Ozark Writers League Spring Conference// Branson, MO

April 18-20, 2024// Chicago Spring Fling 2024// Chicago IL

April 20-21, 2024// LA Times Festival of Books// Los Angeles, CA

May 9-11, 2024// Storymakers// Provo, UT

May 17-19, 2024// Sante Fe Literary Festival// Sante Fe, NM