My top tips for attending writing festivals
Gosh. Not really sure how to start this piece but maybe thank you is a good place! So thank you so much everyone who read or shared my previous piece about Harrogate - I had 8,000 hits on it in one day, which was sort of awe-inspiring and terrifying but also left me feeling very warm inside at the knowledge that our community is more aligned than we might think.
😱 My poor little blog didn’t know what had hit it!
No idea what I’m talking about? Click here →
Unfortunately I left Harrogate and went straight to the Netherlands for our family holiday (highly recommend as a holiday destination btw - we had a great time!) so it’s taken me a while to get back to my blog, but I really wanted to share some of my own tips for making the most out of writing festivals, as well as those that were shared in response to my post.
So here we go.
You’ll see they’re quite Harrogate-focused, but hopefully many of these will work for other festivals too.
1) Go with a friend
This is the ultimate Harrogate Hack. An author friend of mine coined them ‘Harrodates’ - basically a buddy that you go to the festival with. You might think of them as a wingman/wingwoman.
The ideal scenario is someone who also writes, and also knows a handful of people at the festival, so that you can split off and go and mingle separately, while always knowing that you have each other’s backs if one of you gets abandoned.
You could also, of course, bring a friend who loves reading!
I saw an interesting response to my post that pointed out that most writing festivals are for readers, whereas Harrogate is a bit different as it’s become more of a place for authors to hang out with each other once a year.
So there are a lot of authors attending who aren’t actually appearing at the festival themselves.
Me with the gorgeous Juniper (and Lizzy!)
However, it still is a writing festival (obvs), and there are still tons of readers there, so your friend would not feel at all out of place and would probably have a brilliant time attending all the events and picking up proofs.
Alternatively, you could make like my supermum author friend Lizzy Barber and bring your five-week-old baby with you - having trailed Lizzy and Juniper around for most of this year’s festival, I can attest that she is the ultimate ice-breaker.
Don’t have a baby? A dog would probably work just as well!
2) Connect with people on social media beforehand
Following on from my previous point, do make time to connect with other writers on social media or over email before you go to the festival.
If you can, try to arrange a specific time to meet them - Betty’s is always a good bet if you want somewhere quiet and civilised (with amazing pastries!).
You will feel so much more relaxed about attending knowing that you have people lined up to meet.
How do you find these people?
I have a blog post all about that here →
You can also look out for people posting on Twitter - I noticed the hashtag #HelloHarrogate where people could post selfies encouraging people to come and say hi if they spotted them at the event.
Harrogate 2022. I met almost ALL of these lovely ladies online!
2) Plan some downtime
This is so important!
Most writers find socialising completely overwhelming, and I think when you’re burnt out and exhausted it just feeds the anxiety fire.
Do not feel ashamed for escaping from the main event and disappearing for a while on your own.
I know writers who take their laptops and vanish to write at Harrogate (not me, alas, I am far too lazy).
I even know writers who take themselves off for a run (sidenote: writers who enjoy exercise are my unicorns 😆).
I blogged about my dysfunctional relationship with exercise here →
In fact, this year, a bunch of writers (headed by the lovely Laura Marshall) actually arranged to do the Harrogate Park Run on the Saturday morning!
The key is that when the book stuff becomes too much, there is absolutely no shame in getting away for a bit.
And if you’re in Harrogate, then you’re in luck, because the town itself is lovely.
My version of this was taking myself off on Friday afternoon for a couple of hours to sit on a park bench with an iced coffee to people-watch.
I have a young daughter so it was actually one of the most enjoyable parts of the festival for me - absolute peace and quiet!
4) Don’t book too many events
Almost all the debut authors I know who go to Harrogate for the first time end up booking a Rover ticket, which enables you to go to all the events that are taking place.
Now, this is wonderful in theory, but actually I don’t know anyone who managed to make it to all the events, so it can be a big expense that doesn’t really pay off.
Not only will you be exhausted, you’ll also feel conflicted if you find a bunch of great people to hang out with that you don’t want to leave in order to go off to an event.
But if you stay, you’ll feel guilty for not ‘making the most’ of your Rover ticket.
Instead, take a look at the schedule and book in a couple of events - maybe one per day, which is MUCH cheaper and also will mean you have somewhere to disappear to if you do want to get away from the social side.
It’s good not to over-schedule yourself, I’ve found.
5) Don’t stay for the entire time
On a similar note, two nights at Harrogate is honestly more than enough for most writers.
Unless you are one of those rare extroverted authors who can sustain hardcore socialising over four whole days!
I usually stay for two nights and that’s more than enough for me.
I personally find the Thursday night the best - everyone is excited and happy to be there and not yet hungover or exhausted, so I tend to stay Thursday - Saturday.
Last year I had to stay for three nights as I was getting a lift with a friend (train strikes!) and I spent the Saturday night sitting on the bed in my hotel room with an M&S salad, watching archive George Michael interviews on YouTube.
(Random but true 😆 #noshame)
6) Take a look at what the festival offers for newcomers
Following my last post, I actually had a response from Sharon Canavar, the Chief Executive of the Harrogate festival itself on Twitter.
She mentioned that she was open to ideas for making the festival more welcoming, but also that there were initiatives, such as the ‘Freshers’ Welcomes’ aimed at getting new people together.
I hadn’t been aware of these before, so that was really interesting.
So definitely do take some time to investigate what the festival might be offering people who are coming for the first time, or who don’t know many people attending.
The festival organisers want you to enjoy yourself, so also: don’t be afraid to ask them if they do have any initiatives for solo attendees!
7) Remember that so many other people are feeling the same
One of the things that honestly overwhelmed me in the response to my tweet was the number of people telling me that they felt exactly the same way that I did.
I had an idea that I wasn’t alone in feeling like this, but honestly, I was staggered that - even huge name authors - felt similar anxieties.
I hope that reassures you somewhat. Try to remember that you’re not alone when you’re feeling nervous.
Also, my friend and fellow author Emma Christie posted this hilarious tweet about embarrassing Harrogate moments with some brilliant responses.
I highly recommend taking five minutes to read it through!
8) Tell imposter syndrome to F-off
If you write or love reading, then you ‘deserve’ to be at a writing festival. It doesn’t matter if you’re published or not. You belong.
I know imposter syndrome is real, and I know it’s especially prevalent in the writing world, but you mustn’t let it be your master.
If you’re feeling completely out of your depth, then I think it’s a good idea to share this. Tell people how you’re feeling! You’ll be surprised how many people experience imposter syndrome, in all walks of life.
I hope the response from my honest post encourages you that if we all open up a bit more about how we are finding the writing journey, it’s even easier to make connections with others.
At my first ever Harrogate, with author Holly Cave, in 2018. It was before my debut came out. I had major imposter syndrome!
9) Talk to people
Last but not least, and trust me I know it’s absolutely bloody terrifying, but if you see someone who looks a bit lost and lonely, then TALK TO THEM.
No one will die. And you might just make a new friend.
I have made many friends at Harrogate just from chatting in the queue at the bar, or by sitting next to someone on the grass outside.
Most people are super lovely. Really, as a community, I reckon we have the lowest percentage of arseholes out of ANY community.
If people look grumpy or unapproachable, it’s probably because they are feeling overwhelmed with social anxiety (I for one have the WORST resting bitch face on the planet), so don’t be afraid to give them a smile - only a true psychopath won’t smile back.
And if you encounter one of them, then, well, at least you’ve got some research in for your next book…
In conclusion
I’d like to say thank you so much again for all the responses to my previous blog.
I am so pleased it resonated with so many people - and the sea of positive responses were so reassuring.
It’s always a bit terrifying sticking your head above the parapet and saying the quiet part out loud, but I really did feel compelled to share my thoughts after my social media feeds were flooded with pictures from the weekend.
And I hope some of the above tips have helped - especially as I really don’t want to put people off going to writing festivals. Harrogate is honestly one of my most favourite weekends of the year.
I’ve opened up comments on this post, so please do feel free to share any of your own tips too.
And if you see me in the Tent next year please do come over and say hi! ☺️
