Hello, writers!

The time has almost come! Here at the office, we're stuffing tote bags, printing name badges, and counting down the days until we finally get to say hello to you all in person.

In this email, you'll find all the final details you'll need to plan and prepare for your weekend in downtown Austin, including:

• A last call for luncheon registrations (deadlines to pre-register are fast approaching!)
• What to bring
• How to prepare
• & more!

Thank you in advance for reading all of the information here. Worried you missed something important? You can find all previous conference updates here.

See you NEXT WEEK!

Sarah

--

Sarah Renee Beach

Program Director

Saturday Keynote Luncheon

“All I Ever Wanted to Do Was Drive Tractor: From the Cotton Fields of West Texas to the New York Times Bestseller List” with Stephen Graham Jones

On Saturday, June 27, join us for a special conference luncheon featuring an address by Stephen Graham Jones. All luncheon attendees will receive a three-course meal plus a complimentary copy of Buffalo Hunter Hunter, with a signing line to follow Stephen’s remarks. This is a ticketed event and seating is limited. Tickets are $60 per person.

Seats are quickly running out! Reserve yours now.

The deadline to pre-register for this luncheon is 10:00 AM CT on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Sunday Closing Luncheon

The 2026 Agents & Editors Conference will conclude on Sunday, June 28 with a closing luncheon, an opportunity to reflect on the weekend and to say goodbye to all your new conference friends. This luncheon is free with advanced RSVP; if you do not RSVP, tickets will be made available for purchase at the conference, pending availability.

To reserve a seat at this luncheon, please RSVP here..

The deadline to RSVP for this luncheon is 11:59 PM CT on Friday, June 19, 2026. 

What to Bring

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.) 

Note-taking materials. 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!

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 and plus comfy shoes!

How to Prepare

Look over the full schedule and plan your days. Check out the 2026 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.

Watch (or rewatch) last night's virtual pre-conference session "Practice Makes Pitch Perfect" with Becka Oliver and Lance Fitzgerald, featuring tips and words of advice for making your pitch as effective as possible. Find the event recording 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).

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

Friday Events

When you arrive at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Friday, June 26, head to the WLT Check-in in the 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.

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, 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!

Our Welcome Reception will take place from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the Texas Ballroom on the second floor. Join us there 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.

Conference Hotel & Onsite Parking

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: 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.

Any questions? Now's the time to ask! But first, take a look at our FAQs. If you still have a question after you've read through the FAQs, email us at wlt@writersleague.org.

Thank you to the following businesses and organizations that sponsored this conference.

WLT programming is supported in part by funding from our generous sponsors.