"Baltimore Bound: A Publishing Intern's AWP Survival Guide" by Jackie Massaro

Image by Paul Hanaoka via Unsplash

I am in the snack aisle at the grocery store staring at the varieties of granola bars. I check my hand-written list and wonder if there is such a thing as too many snacks to bring on a trip. This is one of many questions I am thinking about as I prepare to attend the AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference in Baltimore next week. 

Prior to becoming an intern for Singularity Press, I had only been to one conference for screenwriting. There, I attended panels where I tried meditation for the first time, listened to Steven E. de Souza explain why Die Hard has always been, and always will be, a Christmas movie, and explored Atlanta, Georgia in my free time. It was an inspiring experience, and I absorbed as much information and history as I could while juggling new ideas for screenplays.

AWP is known for having massive attendance from the literary community. According to a release from AWP's Communications Manager, Rachel Balzano, the conference can expect anywhere between 8,000 and 10,000 attendees. That is a lot of people, which means there will be a lot of things to see and do. If you have had a chance to look at the schedule for this conference, you'll understand just how easy it can be to get overwhelmed by all of the action! I can picture it now: The crowds of writers and readers, authors signing books, keynote speaker, John Waters, speaking his wisdom into the ballroom microphone…and me, soaking it all up with my friends and colleagues.

As excited as I am to experience this colossal event, it is a little intimidating. How can I go to as many panels as possible? What if my snacks don't fit in my bag?! (This may be more of a personal issue.) How can I avoid FOMO? 

As a first-timer, I asked some of my fellow interns for tips and tricks on how to survive the amazing, but slightly overwhelming, AWP Conference. 

Sophia: I've never been to the conference either, but downloading the AWP app and having all the panels I want to go to in my agenda has helped a lot. I have them, along with my shifts at the table, in my Google Calendar as well. Being able to actually see my schedule just helps a lot with planning around what free time I do have.

Bonus Tip: Try to get to the panels, readings, and coffee shops early to beat the lines!

Sounds like the conference is prime real estate for early birds! As someone whose Notes app is scattered with everything from yearning poetry to grocery lists, it is especially helpful to have an app that organizes my schedule by the hour.

Kelli: Plan ahead! Figure out which panels/time-sensitive events are the most important to you and plan the rest of your day around them when possible. And while it's always great to have a group, don't be afraid to go your own way if there's something you really want to do that others can't/don't want to attend.

Bonus Tip:  Use gaps in your day to refuel!

Jordan: Pacing is big at AWP. Giving yourself time to breathe and not going to panels back-to-back. It's almost like an amusement park for information so good shoes are important. 

Bonus Tip: Attend panels on topics you may not know much about!

Kelli: Oh, and don't get FOMO over missing the "big" and "important sounding" panels. Go with your heart, not just what "sounds" the most important.

Now that I have these tips, my snacks, and clear instructions to not get FOMO, I feel like I am ready to take on AWP. 

If you have a writing conference experience you would like to share, comment on this post!

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