You may be planning on attending a writing conference in 2024, or a writing workshop or writing residency. However, it can help to understand how each one works, and the pros and cons of each. The terms can be used interchangeably, so it helps to understand differences and make sure you know what you’re signing up for.

Workshop vs Conference vs Residency

Comparison: Workshop, Conference, Residency

Information	Workshop	Conference	Residency
Cost	Expensive	Less expensive	Varies
Admission by application	Yes	No	Yes
Length	Usually 1-2 weeks	A few days	1-4 weeks
Example	Bread Loaf	AWP	Yaddo
Typical day	Workshopping, lectures, craft talks, group meals	Panel discussions, dinners	Writing alone; evenings with fellow writers as desired
Writing Stage	Completed book; seeking agent; intermediate-level writing	Already published; or as a first step in your writing journey	Working on your book

Writing Workshops: Pros and Cons

Writing workshops are like a less-expensive, fast-paced Masters of Fine Arts program in just a week or two. Professional writing workshops bring writers together to read, discuss, and critique work in small groups. Many professional writing workshops fill your days with workshops, lectures, craft discussions, and group socializing. These tend to be longer, and run for up to a week or so.

Pros of Writing Workshops

Community: I formed many lifelong writers’ friendships after talking, eating, and attending classes alongside other writing workshop attendees.
Pitch opportunities: You’ll probably have a chance to pitch your book to agents and/or editors.
Top-tier education: You’re learning the writing craft from famous or celebrated authors.
Multi-genre options: Writing workshop opportunities exist for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, sci-fi, and more.

Cons of Writing Workshops

Competitive: Workshops typically require you to submit an application with your best work attached.
Can be expensive: Often thousands of dollars, although you may find scholarships or financial aid available—some based on merit versus need.
Limited options: Might not meet with the right agent or editor for you, and be assigned to an editor or agent instead.
Can be cliquey: If a workshop is hosting many returning attendees or faculty/teachers, cliques can form.

Writing Conferences: Pros and Cons

Writing conferences typically last for just a few days, and aim to bring together working writing professionals in the field for panels, evening events, and short classes and workshops. You don’t necessarily have to have a published book under your belt—you may gain a lot from just being around writing peers. Many conferences are regionally based, or are centered around a genre. These often last for just a few days or a weekend.

Pros of Writing Conferences

Writing networking: Meet and network with fellow writers, particularly helpful if you work in genre fiction.
Less expensive than a workshop: Often several hundred dollars versus several thousand.
No application needed to attend: Anyone can go, which means you might get to network with big names along with everyday writers.
Short span: Typically don’t last as long as a a writer’s workshop or residency and won’t take you away from other work.

Cons of Writing Conferences

Short: Abbreviated length means fewer opportunities to make lifelong connections with other writers.
Agents and editors are harder to meet: There may be more competition for few slots with professional agents.
No feedback: While you can probably attend cool panels and lectures, it’s unlikely that you’ll get feedback on your novel, essay, or short story from peers or an instructor.
Missed mentor connections: Fewer connections with writing mentors than in other settings like a workshop.

Writing Residencies: Pros and Cons

A writing residency typically provides writers with quiet space in a spectacular setting. There, you’ll work mostly alone on a novel, memoir, or other draft. Residencies may be solo or with a small cohort of other writers you’ll share meals and evenings with, or exchange work and readings. For a list of Washington State retreats, click HERE.

Pros of Residencies

Uninterrupted time: Time and space to write for hours and hours a day, sometimes for up to two months at a time. The best of them have on-site chefs who cook your meals for you.
Varying price structures: Some residencies are free or even pay you to attend (e.g. Yaddo and MacDowell).
Networking: People often develop friendships with other writers at the residency, if it’s not a solo writer-in-residence situation.
Good for the CV: Can be quite competitive, and if you’re accepted at a prestigious residency it can look great in your author’s bio, CV or resume.

Cons of residencies:

Lengthy retreats: Leaving home to spend weeks or even months somewhere far away from your home can be significant challenge if you have kids, or pets, or a job.
Isolation: Sitting around writing all day every day and barely talking to anyone can make you feel like Jack from The Shining.
Lack of perspective: Sometimes the writing itself suffers if you’re just bashing away on a manuscript for hours and hours a day.
No craft or publishing assistance: You won’t get guidance on writing, editing, or publishing during a residency.

The Big Idea

In short, writers’ gatherings such as residencies, retreats, conferences, and workshops offer you a way to connect with other people who’ve made writing a priority. Carefully read the description of any program—particularly one that asks for money. Plenty of scholarships, stipends, and other financial assistance is available for those who need help attending a writers’ conference, workshop, or residency.

Yes, writers conferences can be worth the money and time investment, if you take advantage of opportunities to network with others and learn more about the writing craft. It may not be worth going if you don’t want to socialize and learn, however.
Put together your necessities so your writing time isn’t interrupted by jaunts to the store. Assemble the works you plan to tackle during the residency, whether a project in progress or finishing something that’s been challenging to accomplish while distracted by everyday life.
Some of the most famous writers workshops are Bread Loaf, Sewanee, and Tin House. All are application only, and charge fees.

Writing Workshop vs Writing Conference vs Writing Residency