I'm glad YT recommended this video. A couple friends and I went to 20Books last year for the first time, knowing it would be the last one. I was curious how Author Nation would go after seeing all the e-mails they sent out leading up to it, and your update confirms my suspicions. I am also not a fan of Vegas, so I have no plans to return either. This was a good video, and you earned a sub.
The first year is always going a discovery year for a new organization. Next year will be the true test. Will the organizers listen to authors like you who know what they are talking about and have some corrective criticism they could utilize to find their way. That price jump is HUGE though ... for me, it's a huge red flag. Thank you so much for your honesty, Seth. I've never been able to afford any kind of paid author's conference, but it's great to hear about them from seasoned attendees and authors.
If you haven't done it already, please send the comments to the conference organizers. If they're professionals--either author-volunteers or professional event organizers--they will take this critique to heart and make the necessary changes to continue with this conference and make it better for authors at all levels of their career.
I went to 20Books in 2018 with the intention of going back in 2020. We all know what happened that year... I had a great time and I did spend a lot of time in my room because I can't be around smoke, I am sensitive to noise, and I didn't know almost anyone... It was cheaper to go back then (200 for the ticket cost), and I still struggled to pull it off because I was (still am) just starting off. I can't afford 400 for a ticket and I *DEFINITELY* can't afford 800. I hate to say it, but I probably won't be able to come in 2026 (when I was planning on attending) if it's going to cost that much. I was skeptical of how the switch because I had a one-on-one discussion with one of the new organizers back in 2018 and didn't get a good feeling. Your points only increase my fears and unease, and while I'm curious how next year will go, but I don't know if I will attend in 2026 like I'd planned.
Sounds like they opened the door to the vaguely predatory cottage industry who are interested in selling the dream rather than giving education on how to do the work.
I've bought what is a very expensive digital ticket (no content posted to watch for this yet) so it's gone from free on youtube, or a small fee to watched live (and recorded) to the most expensive digital ticket I've seen in a writing conference yet.
basically, to make money, they stopped helping the noob level up and focused on powerleveling services for people who've created alt characters, huh? gotchya
So they're targetting the authors raking in the cash. Another middleman that everyone will call "essential" as everyone gets kickbacks and sponsorships. Noted.
Good to know. I was going to go and then I cancelled and I'm glad I did.
I'm glad YT recommended this video. A couple friends and I went to 20Books last year for the first time, knowing it would be the last one. I was curious how Author Nation would go after seeing all the e-mails they sent out leading up to it, and your update confirms my suspicions. I am also not a fan of Vegas, so I have no plans to return either. This was a good video, and you earned a sub.
Thank you! Glad it was helpful. Hopefully something else will pop up that fits this need but isn't in Vegas.
The first year is always going a discovery year for a new organization. Next year will be the true test. Will the organizers listen to authors like you who know what they are talking about and have some corrective criticism they could utilize to find their way. That price jump is HUGE though ... for me, it's a huge red flag. Thank you so much for your honesty, Seth. I've never been able to afford any kind of paid author's conference, but it's great to hear about them from seasoned attendees and authors.
I think you're spot on. We'll see if they can make the necessary adjustmenst.
If you haven't done it already, please send the comments to the conference organizers. If they're professionals--either author-volunteers or professional event organizers--they will take this critique to heart and make the necessary changes to continue with this conference and make it better for authors at all levels of their career.
I've chatted with a couple people, but this is a good idea.
Great breakdown!
Thanks!
$800 a ticket - that's crazy!
It is. I think high ticket conferences can be worth it, but the information has to be spectacular.
Honesty is best. I never went to 20books, but I watched many of their TH-cam videos--and was introduced to LitRPG.
A lot of their stuff was great.
I went to 20Books in 2018 with the intention of going back in 2020. We all know what happened that year... I had a great time and I did spend a lot of time in my room because I can't be around smoke, I am sensitive to noise, and I didn't know almost anyone...
It was cheaper to go back then (200 for the ticket cost), and I still struggled to pull it off because I was (still am) just starting off. I can't afford 400 for a ticket and I *DEFINITELY* can't afford 800. I hate to say it, but I probably won't be able to come in 2026 (when I was planning on attending) if it's going to cost that much.
I was skeptical of how the switch because I had a one-on-one discussion with one of the new organizers back in 2018 and didn't get a good feeling. Your points only increase my fears and unease, and while I'm curious how next year will go, but I don't know if I will attend in 2026 like I'd planned.
I'm really hoping they pull it together and the price comes back down. We'll see.
Thanks for the info!
No problem!
Sounds like they opened the door to the vaguely predatory cottage industry who are interested in selling the dream rather than giving education on how to do the work.
That's pretty much how it feels. A real shame.
💯 agree bro bro
Its a shame, because I got a lot of value from 20books.
@SethRingWrites well, maybe one day we'll have enough free time to start our own. ;) until then.... we grind! ;)
I've bought what is a very expensive digital ticket (no content posted to watch for this yet) so it's gone from free on youtube, or a small fee to watched live (and recorded) to the most expensive digital ticket I've seen in a writing conference yet.
Oh my goodness, I'm really sorry to hear that.
basically, to make money, they stopped helping the noob level up and focused on powerleveling services for people who've created alt characters, huh? gotchya
pretty much
So they're targetting the authors raking in the cash. Another middleman that everyone will call "essential" as everyone gets kickbacks and sponsorships. Noted.
Yeah, bit of a bummer.