WriterFest FAQs
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November 21-22, 2025
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Expert panel sessions and presentations
50+ industry professionals
3 keynote addresses
"Ask the Expert" 1-on-1 Appointments
1 “practice your pitch” session for aspiring authors
2 lunch with networking opportunities
Two-day ticket holders gain included access to “A Dolly Good Time”
4 Belmont Student Symposium presentations
Lunch (vegetarian & gluten-free options available)
Coffee, tea, and snacks!
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Meet bestselling writers across genres and mediums
Network with Pros: over fifty literary agents, publishers, editors, publicists, marketing specialists, and producers
Compare traditional (aka, legacy), hybrid, and self-publishing models
Learn to market your art without selling your soul
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A wealth of incredible talent! Writers of all stripes + over fifty editors, publishers, songwriters, producers, screenwriters, booksellers, publicists, and marketers.
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WriterFest is a partner with Belmont University, but the conference is hosted by the CEMB, the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. This college houses majors that perfectly apply to what we value most at WriterFest, including the publishing major, which is the only undergraduate publishing studies program in the region, as well as the songwriting, film and television writing, and media and entertainment studies majors.
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We are so excited to be offering more sessions than ever before at the 2024 WriterFest conference, including 25 minute and hour long sessions. There are no expectations that you are in sessions all day–use those shorter sessions to take a break, eat, network, etc before jumping back in!
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We at WriterFest believe that cross-pollinating our ideas and our professional networks leads to amazing, creative intellectual property. Many sessions are geared towards all three types of writers, but even if a sessions seems swayed one way, we believe that you can find ways to draw inspiration for your own preferred writing form. Plus it's a great opportunity to network and mingle with other incredible creatives in the industry!
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Lodging and Food FAQs
Coming to Nashville from out of town? No worries! The WriterFest team has compiled a list of hotels and restaurants that we recommend to any of our attendees and speakers.
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The WriterFest Conference will take place at Belmont University's R. Milton & Denice Johnson Center, which houses the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. If you are driving yourself, there is an attached parking garage to the Johnson Center, and the first couple floors include a plethora of visitor parking spaces. If you are planning to ride share, plug in the Johnson Center for your drop-off and pick-up location.
Parking for A Dolly Good Time is not included. We recommend parking at Music City Center or the Nashville Public Library and walking to Acme Feed & Seed from there. These two garages tend to have the best rates; ride-sharing is also recommended.
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A Dolly Good Time: A signature cocktail from Nelson's Greenbrier Distillery, Coat of Many Colors, as well as passed plates of Southern cuisine are included in the ticket; a cash bar will be available for further drink purchases.
Conference:
Coffee and water will be available all day at check-in.
Lunch is included in your ticket and will be held at Harrington Place Dining Room, which offers a variety of high-end cafeteria style dining. All food allergies and sensitivities will be accommodated by the dining hall.
Dinner is not included on either day of the conference, but on Friday 11/22 we will be happy to facilitate introductions and restaurant recommendations for dining groups interested in networking. WriterFest is partnering with a couple nearby restaurants to donate a percentage of their proceeds to Dolly's Imagination Library, and we will provide that information day-of.
Students:
Students attending WriterFest with the free student ticket will not receive included lunch. If you are a Belmont student you can use your campus meal plan. If you attend another institution, you can pay for a meal ticket at Harrington Place, pack a lunch, or buy food from one of Belmont's on-campus restaurants.
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If you are flying to Nashville from out of town, you will most likely be arriving at BNA, the Nashville International Airport. While WriterFest does not offer transportation to and from the airport, Nashville does have ample Uber, Lyft, and private car services. We recommend checking if your hotel has shuttles that will take you directly to your lodging!
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Check-in for the conference lasts all day, so don't stress! We recommend arriving thirty minutes before the first session you plan to attend so you have time to check-in and find your room. The first session begins at 9:30 on both days.
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The conference will take place in the Johnson Center, which is equipped with elevators on every floor, including the parking garage. There are ramps outside if entering from the ground level, and ramps entering any of the auditoriums. If there are any other accommodations needed, please contact the WriterFest team in advance by emailing info@writerfestnashville.com.
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WriterFest is proud to offer free admission to students from any Nashville institution. Students bring a special energy and enthusiasm to the conference, which we love! Many of our volunteers are students, and some Belmont classes require/encourage students to attend some sessions.
There will also be students who aren't attending the conference who will be roaming the Johnson Center; The Johnson houses the only dining hall on campus, as well as the majority of the classes in the CEMB college, so don't be alarmed by the presence of backpacks! WriterFest will include ample signage to encourage respect, but be aware that this is a working campus and students are unavoidable.