Virtual conferences are significantly more affordable and accessible, no travel, no lodging, no time off work, but in-person conferences offer a depth of networking and spontaneous connection that's genuinely difficult to replicate through a screen. Neither is universally better; the right choice depends on your budget, your goals, and how much you value the specific things each format does well.
This is part of the Complete Guide to Writers Conferences.
In-person conferences typically involve registration fees plus travel, lodging, and meals, which can add up to a significant expense, especially for a multi-day event in an expensive city. Virtual conferences generally charge only a registration fee, sometimes lower than in-person equivalents, with no additional travel costs, making them meaningfully more affordable and accessible for authors on a tight budget or without the flexibility to travel.
This is where in-person conferences have a clear, well-documented advantage. Meals, hallway conversations, evening social events, and simply being in physical proximity to other writers over several days create organic networking opportunities that scheduled virtual breakout rooms struggle to replicate. Many authors describe their most valuable conference connections as happening outside the formal sessions entirely, over a meal or in line for coffee, which virtual formats generally can't reproduce as effectively.
Both formats typically offer agent pitch sessions, though the format differs: in-person pitches happen face-to-face, often in a brief, somewhat intimate setting; virtual pitches happen over video call, which some authors find less nerve-wracking (easier to have notes visible, for instance) and others find harder to build rapport through. Neither is inherently more or less effective for actually landing agent interest; it comes down to your own comfort with each format.
Virtual conferences remove barriers that keep some writers from attending in-person events entirely: geographic distance, travel costs, disability or health considerations, caregiving responsibilities, and inflexible work schedules. For many authors, a virtual conference is the only realistic way to access conference programming and pitch opportunities at all.
Both formats generally offer strong craft programming, panels, workshops, and instruction from working authors and industry professionals. Virtual sessions are often recorded and available afterward, which can be a genuine advantage if you can't attend every live session; in-person sessions typically aren't recorded, so missing one means missing it entirely.
Some authors find in-person conferences easier to stay fully present for, away from home distractions, in a dedicated environment built around the event. Virtual conferences require more self-discipline to treat as a real commitment rather than something happening in the background of your normal day, though this varies considerably by individual.
Some conferences now offer hybrid formats, in-person attendance with a virtual option, or a virtual component added to a primarily in-person event. This can offer some of both worlds, though it's worth checking specifically what a hybrid format actually includes (are pitch sessions available virtually, or only in person?) rather than assuming full parity between the two attendance modes.
Whichever you choose, remember that the format itself doesn't determine whether you land an agent or make a valuable connection; preparation, a strong pitch, and genuine engagement matter more than in-person versus virtual. See Why Attend a Writers Conference for realistic expectations either way.
Whichever Format You Choose, Prepare Well
Entrada Publishing can help you get your manuscript ready before you head into pitch sessions, in person or virtual.
For pitch sessions and craft instruction, often yes. For networking and spontaneous connection, in-person conferences generally have a real advantage that's hard for virtual formats to fully replicate.
It depends on your goals. If networking and relationship-building matter most to you, and travel is feasible, the added cost is often worth it. If budget or accessibility is the bigger concern, a virtual conference offers real value at lower cost.
Many do, typically conducted over video call rather than face-to-face. Check the specific conference's format before assuming a virtual event includes the same pitch opportunities as in-person ones.
Yes. Many authors attend a mix over time, starting with a lower-cost virtual conference and adding in-person events as budget and goals allow.