Hello, writers!

It's here! It's finally here! We're just a few days away from the 2024 Agents & Editors Conference weekend. Here are some last reminders and tips for you as you prepare for the big event: 

• Reminder: This is your last chance to register for the Saturday Keynote Luncheon (Click HERE to register) and RSVP for the Sunday Closing Luncheon (Click HERE to RSVP). We'll be closing registration for these two events tomorrow, June 18 at 5:00 PM CDT. After that time, tickets will be available for sale on site, as space allows.
• Conference check-in will be open between 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Friday in the Big Bend Ballroom (on the first floor of the Hyatt Regency Austin). If you won't be with us on Friday, you'll find the WLT check-in table in the Texas Foyer (on the second floor of the Hyatt) on Saturday morning starting at 8:00 AM.

Please take the time to look over the additional information provided below, including a link to (wait for it...) the full conference program! If you have questions on anything here or anything else conference related, send us an email at wlt@writersleague.org or give us a call at 512-499-8914. NOTE: Our office will be closed beginning at noon on Thursday, June 20, in order for us to set up for the conference on site, but we will be checking email and phone messages if you have anything urgent.

See you this weekend!

Sarah

Sarah Renee Beach

Program Director

Proof of purchase. We do our best to avoid mistakes, but having your proof of purchase handy (the confirmation email you received) for any events or add-ons (including the Keynote Luncheon) will help us to make check-in run smoothly; please do bring these with you or have them handy on your phone, 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, contact us ASAP.) 

You will receive a pen and note pad in your welcome bag, but be sure to bring any other note-taking materials you might want to have on hand. Note: If you will be bringing a computer or tablet or other electronic devices, we can't guarantee you'll be able to find an available outlet to recharge during sessions; make sure your devices are charged!

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 (100+!), cold inside!

For those of you wondering about a dress code, our answer is "business casual" (maybe heavier on the casual, lighter on the business). This is your chance to change out of those sweats, if you want to! And remember the layers (above) plus comfy shoes!

Look over the full schedule and plan your days. Check out a sneak peek of the 2024 A&E Conference program here. You'll also receive a printed copy in your welcome bag. Be sure to have back-up options in case your first session choice is full.

If you missed last week's virtual pre-conference session with Becka Oliver and Lance Fitzgerald (or if you'd just like to relive the magic!), you'll find the "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" presentation (featuring tips and words of advice for making your pitch as effective as possible) here. 

Double-check your consultation times. Refer back to your consultation appointment email and pay special attention to whether your consultations are on Saturday or Sunday. Plan to arrive at each consultation on time (and no more than 10 minutes early).

Ahead of the event, check out all the bios for our panelists and moderators, find a listing of our exhibitors, and explore the line-up of presentations.

Join the special 2024 A&E Conference Discord channel to discuss everything and anything about this upcoming weekend! Click here to join the server, then navigate the #roles channel and hit the WLT W logo below the question "Are you attending the 2024 Agents & Editors Conference?" to gain access to the private channel. (Don't know what Discord is? Click here to see WLT Digital Content Director, J Evan Parks, walk through everything you need to know about this messaging app.)

When you arrive at the conference venue - Hyatt Regency Austin (208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704) on Friday, June 21, head to the WLT Check-in (Big Bend Ballroom on the first floor) to check-in with your friendly staff and volunteers and to receive your conference materials. You can check in anytime after 12:00 PM (and not a minute before!) up to 5:00 PM.

If you can join us on Friday, we have an afternoon of Genre Sessions planned starting at 1:00 PM. You'll find them on Page 8 of the program. For these sessions, we've invited authors we admire - who write in the same genre or category - for moderated conversations about the craft of writing, the path to publication (the featured authors have recent or upcoming books), and the expectations and considerations of their particular genre. These conversations promise to be inspiring and illuminating for any writer, regardless of what you write. Sit in on as many as you'd like!

After the Genre Sessions, we'll go into the Welcome Reception (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the Texas Ballroom on the second floor) for the official kick-off of the conference weekend. You'll hear some opening announcements from staff, mix and mingle with fellow attendees and invited guests, and enjoy light bites and a cash bar.

HOTEL GUESTS: Check-in & Parking: If you have booked a room through our group block and are staying on site at the conference venue - Hyatt Regency Austin - please note that the official check-in time is 4:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM. WIFI in your guest room is included, and you will also receive a discounted parking rate ($20 a night) that should be reflected on your bill. You must remind the hotel of this at check-in.

ATTENDEES NOT STAYING AT THE HOTEL: Parking: If you are not staying at the Hyatt Regency Austin and plan to park your car each day in the hotel's parking garage, you will need to pick up a parking slip that gives you a special discounted rate ($15 for the day). These will be available at the WLT Check-in table all three days of the conference. You will need one for each day that you park in the garage.

Anti-Harassment Policy: The Writers' League of Texas is committed to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. We take this seriously and we expect that all of our conference attendees will do the same. To read the full Anti-Harassment Policy for this year's event, click here.