Just a heads up that L.A. is HUGE, 503 square miles, so uber, lyft, and taxis can be quite expensive. You can get to LACMA museum with one bus along wilshire; ditto the Hammer and UCLA, and so please consider our efficient public transportation system for activities outside the convention hall. DASH is a shuttle that makes "loops"; fare is 50 cents or 25 for seniors; buses run everywhere although you need to know that DTLA is riddled with one way streets. Fare is $1.75 or 35-75 cents for seniors. Fare is same for subway but requires a tap card you can get before boarding ($2). Quick and efficient. Within walking distance of convention hall is our fabulous central library, 5th and grand; the last bookstore, 7th and spring; central market for all kinds of ethnic foods, 4th and hill, and a gazillion places to eat, especially the Figueroa mall just up the street from the hall. HAVE FUN.
Thanks for mentioning the public transportation -- inexpensive compared to my city. My plan was that I found a less expensive hotel about a 15 minute ride on a metro line.
This will be my second time attending AWP. Last year in Kansas City was my first, and I was disappointed that there were no panels that applied to my job as a managing editor. So, I proposed one, and it was accepted! Pretty big deal for a newbie! This time, I'm not only working at the bookfair, but moderating a panel, and we are co-hosting an off-site reading, so I think it will be a fuller experience for me. As the ME, I take care of all the registration and travel details for myself, the other editors and students we are bringing, plus planning for the bookfair and my panel, so I'm looking forward to it all being over after months of worrying about a million AWP details on top of my regular job's list of tons to keep track of. I've never been to California, so I'm looking forward to that part, and hope to have a little energy left for after-hours fun!
I go often (DC, Philly, Boston, Seattle, Portland). I'll be presenting, ironically enough, on creative writing pedagogy in community colleges this year. The conference can be overwhelming: thousands of people, endless options. The book fair can induce vertigo. I choose several panels that seem interesting and wait until vibes tell me which one to choose. I build in down time during the day, to avoid burnout. I choose a couple of off-site events, for fun, to balance the feeling of business. If a panelist I enjoyed also has a booth, I make a point to visit. I also visit the table of one dream journal, one journal I don't know much about, and one indie press. Beyond that, it's all about connecting with people/enjoying the inspiration of pockets of solitude.
First off, I will be at AWP this year and would love to say hi to any other Lit Mag news readers!
I've been a few times in the past (Philly and Kansas City)-- and while it is not my favorite conference (I think that would be Barrelhouse's Conversations and Connections or the Indiana University Writers Conference--the scale is what sets AWP apart. I'm guaranteed to run into old friends, meet people I know only from online, and realize that the journals I've been submitting to are run by real human beings! I also definitely get overwhelmed at the size.
I try to go to a few panels, do good at the one I am presenting on, be brave and introduce myself to strangers at the bookfair, and try to not to have too much fomo. There's no way to do everything.
I recommend scheduling a meal with friends. That is always the highlight for me.
My only skill at attending AWP is playing hooky, so let me, as an Angeleno, share with you the perfect convention getaway: visit the creatures-in-their-habitat dioramas at the Natural History Museum. It's dark and hushed, full of wonder and majesty & just the right amount of creepiness. If you really want to make a prose poem out of it, take the 10 minute E train from the convention center west toward Santa Monica. It will give you an expansive view of our spectacularly tagged skyscrapers and an indelible immersion in street-level LA.
Thank you for this! This will be my 13th AWP conference in a row, and I have WILDLY adjusted my expectations over the years. Some years I only make it to a handful of panels, but I go to a lot of readings off-site. One year (in Philadelphia) the MAJOR highlight of my conference was not at the conference at all: it was a visit to the Barnes Foundation ... a museum I wouldn't have heard about except a neighbor told me "don't come back without having paid a visit to the Barnes or I'll never speak to you again!" And he was only half-joking. I too spend a LOT of time at the book fair. As a poet who has published quite a lot in journals over the years, I very much like to visit the tables of places where my poems have appeared and thank the editors/readers face to face. And yes, it IS spendy to attend ... I have to budget for this "indulgence" but I have never regretted attending. Getting to see places that my ordinary life would not take me has been a major bonus--so glad to have gotten to spend time in Minneapolis and San Antonio. And the other enormous plus: because I am a member of an online community of women poets, I have lots of "friends I have never met face to face" and I make a point each year of arranging to get together (for coffee, often) with at least one of them.
This is my first time attending AWP, and I'm thrilled to be a panelist. (Would be honored if anyone wanted to join our session on Saturday afternoon; it's called "Abroad as an Escape: International Exchange and Trauma-Informed Writing"). I have attended large academic conferences and a Fulbright conference as a speaker in the past. What I've personally found helpful is to determine my schedule far in advance (that way I prioritize the talks that matter most to me). I've also blocked off time to visit the book fair and have made a tiered list of the lit mags/booths that I most want to visit. I'm planning on packing a light lunch that I can quickly eat between events to maximize my time. Otherwise, maintaining a notebook with a distinct page of action items that I can easily access without flipping through dozens of pages of notes will make following up after the conference helpful.
These lines are so lovely...thank you: <We all hurt and write not to make a spectacle of ourselves, but towards ourselves. People took things home with them, not because they wanted free stuff, but because those stickers and bookmarks are evidence of us.>
We haven't been to an AWP since the pandemic. The costs are just so prohibitive if you are shipping a large number of display stand items, books and mags. And it gets even worse when the convention center charges almost as much to take your materials from the loading dock to your table as it does to ship it cross country. Hotels, airfare, meals... it's an expensive few days! We loved meeting so man cool teachers, students, readers -- and hey yes! we did get to meet Becky Tuch (how many times did we cross paths?). Nice of you to do this column, Becky. I'm sure it is helpful to a lot of newbies to the AWP scene.
This made me laugh: "The Self, Other and Liminal Space: Deconstructing Boundaries in 21st Century Hybrid". Why does everyone always use the word liminal, anyway. I'm not going to AWP but doing bits of yoga, Tai Chi, dance, and writing whenever possible. Would go if I lived nearby, maybe. Thanks for the info and advice about it, Becky.
Do you do hot yoga? I tried it once with my daughter and to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna , "I thought I was going to die!"
You mention the load of journals and books you carry home so I'd advise everyone to bring an extra bag which can be folded in your suitcase on the way there and filled with books etc. on the way home.
And Marguerite's advice that "there's no way to do everything" should be linked to "so, no regrets." Pick a few specific workshops/panels that are must attend, journal tables where you absolutely must stop, and at least one off-site event that includes writers you admire. Print out the list of vendors who'll have tables, highlight those you like, and don't forget to bring that along. It can feel overwhelming walking through.
This was helpful! I am going for my very first time and I am both excited and overwhelmed! This was a great starter. Any other places you think I should visit digitally that would help me prepare?? Things I should read about how to organize my time? Love the idea of off conference activities. Yoga class. Museum. Thank you!!!
I did this—-there is a ton. Good problem—I want to go to all of them. I am going to print a map and map my way through the classes. Thanks for your advice.
Oh, I'll also add that you should NOT feel bad if a panel isn't working for you and you decide to scoot out early. People do this ALL THE TIME and when done discreetly isn't considered rude or unseemly. Nor is it considered rude to quietly slide in late. Hope you have a wonderful time!
A lot of the off-site readings are hosted by journals and promoted on social media! So be sure to check any of the journals that are your favorite and see what they are up to! Have a great AWP!
I attended Kansas City last year, virtually. Even though I live 60 miles south of Seattle, I was on our City Council during that year and couldn’t get away to attend (sadly). So this year is my first year to attend in person. I am not going with anyone (although I know a number of poet friends that will be there), so I’m a little worried I’ll feel overwhelmed and “alone” in a mass of strangers. However, I did chose a number of workshops/panels I want to attend and will “choose” the one that intrigues me the most when I’ve chosen several at the same time. I am worried about getting around to offsite places. I’m 82 but healthy enough to walk if it isn’t too far. However, I’m a little panicked about transportation any farther than say the bookstore—-big cities are my jungle nightmare (although I have been in LA for a National League of Cities conference but then we had planned transportation and “helpers” for their meetings and conference.) I will be taking breaks though. I learned this attending several State and National City conferences. I just couldn’t do everything and I gave myself permission to not feel I have to cram every moment with activities.
Just a heads up that L.A. is HUGE, 503 square miles, so uber, lyft, and taxis can be quite expensive. You can get to LACMA museum with one bus along wilshire; ditto the Hammer and UCLA, and so please consider our efficient public transportation system for activities outside the convention hall. DASH is a shuttle that makes "loops"; fare is 50 cents or 25 for seniors; buses run everywhere although you need to know that DTLA is riddled with one way streets. Fare is $1.75 or 35-75 cents for seniors. Fare is same for subway but requires a tap card you can get before boarding ($2). Quick and efficient. Within walking distance of convention hall is our fabulous central library, 5th and grand; the last bookstore, 7th and spring; central market for all kinds of ethnic foods, 4th and hill, and a gazillion places to eat, especially the Figueroa mall just up the street from the hall. HAVE FUN.
Thanks for mentioning the public transportation -- inexpensive compared to my city. My plan was that I found a less expensive hotel about a 15 minute ride on a metro line.
I hope to catch up with you, Diana!
This will be my second time attending AWP. Last year in Kansas City was my first, and I was disappointed that there were no panels that applied to my job as a managing editor. So, I proposed one, and it was accepted! Pretty big deal for a newbie! This time, I'm not only working at the bookfair, but moderating a panel, and we are co-hosting an off-site reading, so I think it will be a fuller experience for me. As the ME, I take care of all the registration and travel details for myself, the other editors and students we are bringing, plus planning for the bookfair and my panel, so I'm looking forward to it all being over after months of worrying about a million AWP details on top of my regular job's list of tons to keep track of. I've never been to California, so I'm looking forward to that part, and hope to have a little energy left for after-hours fun!
I am so happy that you're doing a panel about being a managing editor. I have always wondered about that but didn't even know I could ask.
I go often (DC, Philly, Boston, Seattle, Portland). I'll be presenting, ironically enough, on creative writing pedagogy in community colleges this year. The conference can be overwhelming: thousands of people, endless options. The book fair can induce vertigo. I choose several panels that seem interesting and wait until vibes tell me which one to choose. I build in down time during the day, to avoid burnout. I choose a couple of off-site events, for fun, to balance the feeling of business. If a panelist I enjoyed also has a booth, I make a point to visit. I also visit the table of one dream journal, one journal I don't know much about, and one indie press. Beyond that, it's all about connecting with people/enjoying the inspiration of pockets of solitude.
First off, I will be at AWP this year and would love to say hi to any other Lit Mag news readers!
I've been a few times in the past (Philly and Kansas City)-- and while it is not my favorite conference (I think that would be Barrelhouse's Conversations and Connections or the Indiana University Writers Conference--the scale is what sets AWP apart. I'm guaranteed to run into old friends, meet people I know only from online, and realize that the journals I've been submitting to are run by real human beings! I also definitely get overwhelmed at the size.
I try to go to a few panels, do good at the one I am presenting on, be brave and introduce myself to strangers at the bookfair, and try to not to have too much fomo. There's no way to do everything.
I recommend scheduling a meal with friends. That is always the highlight for me.
My only skill at attending AWP is playing hooky, so let me, as an Angeleno, share with you the perfect convention getaway: visit the creatures-in-their-habitat dioramas at the Natural History Museum. It's dark and hushed, full of wonder and majesty & just the right amount of creepiness. If you really want to make a prose poem out of it, take the 10 minute E train from the convention center west toward Santa Monica. It will give you an expansive view of our spectacularly tagged skyscrapers and an indelible immersion in street-level LA.
Thank you for this! This will be my 13th AWP conference in a row, and I have WILDLY adjusted my expectations over the years. Some years I only make it to a handful of panels, but I go to a lot of readings off-site. One year (in Philadelphia) the MAJOR highlight of my conference was not at the conference at all: it was a visit to the Barnes Foundation ... a museum I wouldn't have heard about except a neighbor told me "don't come back without having paid a visit to the Barnes or I'll never speak to you again!" And he was only half-joking. I too spend a LOT of time at the book fair. As a poet who has published quite a lot in journals over the years, I very much like to visit the tables of places where my poems have appeared and thank the editors/readers face to face. And yes, it IS spendy to attend ... I have to budget for this "indulgence" but I have never regretted attending. Getting to see places that my ordinary life would not take me has been a major bonus--so glad to have gotten to spend time in Minneapolis and San Antonio. And the other enormous plus: because I am a member of an online community of women poets, I have lots of "friends I have never met face to face" and I make a point each year of arranging to get together (for coffee, often) with at least one of them.
This is my first time attending AWP, and I'm thrilled to be a panelist. (Would be honored if anyone wanted to join our session on Saturday afternoon; it's called "Abroad as an Escape: International Exchange and Trauma-Informed Writing"). I have attended large academic conferences and a Fulbright conference as a speaker in the past. What I've personally found helpful is to determine my schedule far in advance (that way I prioritize the talks that matter most to me). I've also blocked off time to visit the book fair and have made a tiered list of the lit mags/booths that I most want to visit. I'm planning on packing a light lunch that I can quickly eat between events to maximize my time. Otherwise, maintaining a notebook with a distinct page of action items that I can easily access without flipping through dozens of pages of notes will make following up after the conference helpful.
Thank you for sharing! I plan to attend and hope it will be as wonderful as last year. Here's my experience with AWP: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2025/03/06/awp-evidence-of-us/
These lines are so lovely...thank you: <We all hurt and write not to make a spectacle of ourselves, but towards ourselves. People took things home with them, not because they wanted free stuff, but because those stickers and bookmarks are evidence of us.>
Never had an interest in going. I don't get along with writers and editors.
We haven't been to an AWP since the pandemic. The costs are just so prohibitive if you are shipping a large number of display stand items, books and mags. And it gets even worse when the convention center charges almost as much to take your materials from the loading dock to your table as it does to ship it cross country. Hotels, airfare, meals... it's an expensive few days! We loved meeting so man cool teachers, students, readers -- and hey yes! we did get to meet Becky Tuch (how many times did we cross paths?). Nice of you to do this column, Becky. I'm sure it is helpful to a lot of newbies to the AWP scene.
After reading Kay Ryan’s essay about it in her book, Synthesizing Gravity, I now have affirmation my money is better put elsewhere.
This made me laugh: "The Self, Other and Liminal Space: Deconstructing Boundaries in 21st Century Hybrid". Why does everyone always use the word liminal, anyway. I'm not going to AWP but doing bits of yoga, Tai Chi, dance, and writing whenever possible. Would go if I lived nearby, maybe. Thanks for the info and advice about it, Becky.
Do you do hot yoga? I tried it once with my daughter and to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna , "I thought I was going to die!"
You mention the load of journals and books you carry home so I'd advise everyone to bring an extra bag which can be folded in your suitcase on the way there and filled with books etc. on the way home.
And Marguerite's advice that "there's no way to do everything" should be linked to "so, no regrets." Pick a few specific workshops/panels that are must attend, journal tables where you absolutely must stop, and at least one off-site event that includes writers you admire. Print out the list of vendors who'll have tables, highlight those you like, and don't forget to bring that along. It can feel overwhelming walking through.
Any thoughts about wearing masks this year?
Haha, Anne, yes, hot yoga is my preferred style.
Do while IN the hall. Covid and the flu are still quite prevalent here.
This was helpful! I am going for my very first time and I am both excited and overwhelmed! This was a great starter. Any other places you think I should visit digitally that would help me prepare?? Things I should read about how to organize my time? Love the idea of off conference activities. Yoga class. Museum. Thank you!!!
I find it helpful to go through the AWP conference schedule and bookmark the panels I'm most interested in.
I did this—-there is a ton. Good problem—I want to go to all of them. I am going to print a map and map my way through the classes. Thanks for your advice.
Oh, I'll also add that you should NOT feel bad if a panel isn't working for you and you decide to scoot out early. People do this ALL THE TIME and when done discreetly isn't considered rude or unseemly. Nor is it considered rude to quietly slide in late. Hope you have a wonderful time!
Good to know. As thus would concern me. Thanks!
A lot of the off-site readings are hosted by journals and promoted on social media! So be sure to check any of the journals that are your favorite and see what they are up to! Have a great AWP!
Thanks!
I attended Kansas City last year, virtually. Even though I live 60 miles south of Seattle, I was on our City Council during that year and couldn’t get away to attend (sadly). So this year is my first year to attend in person. I am not going with anyone (although I know a number of poet friends that will be there), so I’m a little worried I’ll feel overwhelmed and “alone” in a mass of strangers. However, I did chose a number of workshops/panels I want to attend and will “choose” the one that intrigues me the most when I’ve chosen several at the same time. I am worried about getting around to offsite places. I’m 82 but healthy enough to walk if it isn’t too far. However, I’m a little panicked about transportation any farther than say the bookstore—-big cities are my jungle nightmare (although I have been in LA for a National League of Cities conference but then we had planned transportation and “helpers” for their meetings and conference.) I will be taking breaks though. I learned this attending several State and National City conferences. I just couldn’t do everything and I gave myself permission to not feel I have to cram every moment with activities.
Thanks, all, for these helpful comments, many of which I’ve copied and pasted into my AWP note in Notes. Thanks, Becky, for getting this started!