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2018 Agents & Editors Conference
Update 6/26/18 -
FINAL DETAILS
What to bring, what to do, getting ready for the big weekend ahead
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We're just a few days away from the 2018 Agents & Editors Conference. Here are some last reminders and tips for you as you prepare for the weekend ahead.
- If you have booked a room at the conference venue, the Hyatt Regency (208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704) through our group block, please remember that official check-in time is 4 pm and check-out time is 11 am. Wifi in your guest room is included, and you will also receive a discounted parking rate that should be reflected on your bill. (We recommend you remind the hotel of this at check-in.)
- At this time, we have closed ticket sales for the Saturday Keynote Luncheon and the RSVP list for the Sunday Closing Luncheon. Registration for these two events will be re-opened at check-in if space allows.
- Conference check-in: 11:00 am-4:00 pm on Friday, Big Bend A-C
- Conference check-in: 4:00-5:00 pm on Friday, Zilker Ballroom Foyer
- Check-in will close at 5:00 pm. If you arrive after that time, you'll be able to pick up your badge and other conference welcome materials anytime after the WLT table opens at 8:00 am on Saturday (Zilker Ballroom Foyer).
Please take the time to look over the additional information provided below. If you have questions, please contact us as soon as possible. Our offices will be closed beginning at noon on Thursday, June 28, in order for us to set up for the conference.
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Proof of purchase. We do our best to avoid mistakes, but having your proof of purchase (the confirmation email you received when you registered or purchased) for any events or add-ons (including: your conference registration and the two luncheons) will help us to make check-in run smoothly; please do bring these with you if at all possible.
Consultation confirmation emails. If you're scheduled for any one-on-one consultations with agents or editors, you should have received an email detailing your appointment times. We ask that you bring this printed email with you; we'll ask you about this when you check-in, so please make every effort to have this email on hand. (If you haven't received an email from us with details, call us ASAP.)
Note-taking materials, such as pens, paper, or a fully-charged laptop or tablet (we can't guarantee you'll be able to find an available outlet to recharge during sessions; make sure your devices are charged!). Your conference program comes with several blank pages for notes, and there will be a pen in your welcome bag.
For Sunday's presentations on first pages and synopses, you're welcome to bring your work (printed or on your laptop) to reference during the presentation/s and, if time allows, you may even have the opportunity to share aloud.
Business cards, if you have them, to hand out to fellow writers, exhibitors, and other people you meet.
Layers. A light sweater, blazer, or hoodie can come in handy if you find the indoor AC too chilly. (Texas in the summer: hot outside, cold inside!)
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Look over the full schedule and plan your days. (Check out the program
here.) Be sure to have back-up options in case your first session choice is full.
Choose your Friday afternoon genre sessions. (Find them in the program.) We hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to get some tips from experienced writers and publishing professionals about pitching books within your particular genre.
Double-check your consultation times.
Pay special attention to whether the consultation is on Saturday or Sunday. Plan to arrive at your consultation on time (and no more than 15 minutes early). If you have a consultation scheduled for 10:00 am on Saturday, you'll want to leave the opening General Session a little early, so plan accordingly by sitting close to the door and keeping track of time.
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Get Ready for Conference Day One
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When you arrive at the the conference venue (Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704) on
Friday, June 29, you'll head to the
WLT Check-in and Information Desk to check-in with your friendly staff and volunteers. Registration opens at 11:00 am (and not a minute before!) on the first floor of the Hyatt Regency in Big Bend A-C. From 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday, the WLT Check-In and Information Desk will move to the Zilker Ballroom Foyer for anyone arriving before the reception. We'll have volunteers at the hotel's entrance ready to point the way.
Friday's program begins at 1:00 pm with
Genre Sessions, small group gatherings led by published authors and industry experts aimed at helping you think about how you'll pitch your project in the context of your genre or category (General Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Picture Books/Middle Grade/Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Mystery/Thriller, Historical Fiction, and Romance).
After the Genre Sessions, starting at 3:30 pm, you'll have the chance to practice your pitch with other conference participants (no agents or editors, no stress) at
the Pitch Lab, one of our most popular sessions every year.
Finally, at the
Friday Welcome Reception, which kicks off at 4:30 pm, you'll hear some opening announcements from staff, you'll mix and mingle with fellow attendees, and we'll celebrate our manuscript contest winners & finalists.
In the previous conference mailer, we shared links to our
2017 and
2016 "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" podcasts.
To listen to the new 2018 "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" podcast (recorded last week and featuring new tips and words of advice for making your pitch as effective as possible), click
here. We really hope you'll listen to this latest one - it also includes some up to date information about the event that you may find helpful. Enjoy!
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Plus, we wanted to mention...
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Parking: If you are
not staying at the Hyatt Regency and will be parking your car each day in the hotel's parking garage, chaser tickets that give you a special $10 day rate will be available at the WLT Check-in and Information Desk all three days of the conference. You will need a new ticket for each day that you park in the garage (this ticket will be inserted into the machine at the garage's exit
after you've inserted your original parking ticket).
Dietary restrictions for meals: If you notified us via the form you were sent about any dietary restrictions for the Saturday Keynote Luncheon, you will receive an email from us on Wednesday with information.
Anti-Harassment Policy:
The Writers' League is committed to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. To read the full Anti-Harassment Policy for this year's event, click here.
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Meet the Writers' League Staff:
Look for These Friendly Faces at
the Conference.
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Becka Oliver
Executive Director
"This weekend is going to be pretty terrific, no doubt in my mind. But remember that it will be an even better experience if you take a truly active part in it. Ask questions during Q&As, sit by someone you don't know at the luncheons and start a conversation, visit the exhibitors, say hello to both keynote speakers and other panelists and presenters. And remember to take deep breaths and have fun. (Yes, fun!)"
Michael Noll
"Treat the receptions and moments in between sessions as opportunities to make a contact with someone with the intention of following up later. Think of the conference as the first of many conversations."
Jordan Smith
Member Services Manager
"Leave the outside world behind you -- resist the urge to check personal or work email between sessions, so that you can be fully present and get to know the writers around you!"
Kelsey Williams
Administrative Assistant
"Be sure to stop by the BookPeople table and support your local indie bookseller!"
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Find 20 great tips for making the conference a success
here.
Find a long list of frequently asked questions
here.
To get a sneak peak at the program, click
here.
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Want to spend your non-conference time enjoying the sights of Austin? Here are some suggestions:
- Want to take in the beauty? Explore Zilker Park, Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Or visit the Blanton Museum of Art or The Contemporary Austin--Laguna Gloria.
- Feeling outdoorsy? Why not go canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake. Or take a dip in Barton Springs, where it's always a cool 68 degrees, even in the middle of summer. You can also walk a short distance on the lake trail behind the Hyatt to the Congress Avenue Bridge to see the famous bats emerge at sunset - the largest urban colony in North America. Call 512-327-9721 for times.
- Focusing on literature? Visit the Gutenberg Bible and other exhibits at the Harry Ransom Center or stop by the O. Henry House.
- History buff? Don't miss the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum or the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
- Shopper? Stroll down South Congress, just around the corner from the Hyatt hotel, and take in the funky shops, galleries, and eateries that help keep Austin weird.
- Music lover? Downtown streets and the warehouse district are home to a number of renowned music clubs. Check out the Austin Chronicle Music Calendar for listings.
For more suggestions, ask the Hyatt's friendly concierge or any WLT staffer. And h
ave fun!
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This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.
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Writers' League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts - Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to
www.arts.texas.gov
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This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
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