#AWP23 Attendee FAQ
FAQs for #AWP24 will be posted at a later date. Below, please find a copy of the conference FAQs available for #AWP23 in Seattle, Washington for your reference.
- Registration FAQs
- Conference Attendee FAQs
- Events FAQs
- In-Person Events
- Virtual Events
- Bookfair FAQs
- Accessibility FAQs
If your question does not appear in any of our FAQs, please contact us at conference@awpwriter.org.
Registration FAQs
Q: How do I register?
To register for the conference, please visit the 2023 Conference & Bookfair section of the AWP online store after registration opens. Registration rates and dates are available on the 2023 Conference & Bookfair Registration page.
Q: What does a registration to the conference provide?
All in-person conference registrations will provide access to all in-person and virtual events listed in our events schedule and access to the bookfair.
Virtual registrations provide access to twenty-three prerecorded events and seventeen featured event livestreams from the in-person conference. Following the conference, all virtual conference content will be available to watch on-demand until April 8, 2023.
Q: How do I register for more than one person?
Once you’ve selected a category from the conference store page, click the gray “Add Another Attendee” button beneath the first set of registration fields. You may add as many additional registrations as needed. When registering other attendees, please uncheck the box that reads “Please check if you are purchasing this registration for yourself,” otherwise, this registration will be linked to your AWP account and will not be viewable to the attendee.
Q: How do I know I have registered successfully?
You will receive an email confirmation after submitting your online order. You can view your registration details and download a PDF of your receipt from your AWP user account.
Q: How do I make a change to my registration?
Your registration details can be found by logging in to your AWP user account, clicking “My AWP Account” at the top of the page, and then selecting “My Registrations” from the orange sidebar to the left of the page. To make a change, first click the green “Edit” button beneath the registration details to make changes to the information fields. Click “Save” when you are done. Please remember that the name and affiliation will be printed exactly as they appear on this page, including capitalization (or lack thereof).
Q: If I need to cancel my registration, what is the refund policy?
Conference sales are final and nonrefundable. A registration may be transferred to another individual, provided that this individual is not already registered, the registration is used for the same conference, and the individual qualifies for the type of registration being transferred. For example, a student registration can only be transferred to another student. For more information about registration transfers, please contact registration@awpwriter.org.
If a registered attendee tests positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours of attending #AWP23 in-person, we will provide a credit equal to the difference between the purchased in-person registration and the lower cost virtual registration. Email registration@awpwriter.org between March 7-March 12, 2023 to redeem that option.
Q: I’m uncertain about attending the conference in person. What do you advise?
Our best advice is to wait to purchase in-person registration until you are certain of your attendance, as we cannot refund your purchase. Alternately, you could go ahead and purchase your virtual registration now and then upgrade your virtual registration to an in-person registration later. Our early-bird registration rate, which offers the lowest registration rates will end in late November 2022.
Q: Do you have any discounts for low-income attendees or scholarships for the #AWP23?
AWP has several opportunities for low-income attendees to attend the conference for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
AWP offers a work-exchange program, which typically provides access for over 300 people to attend the conference free of charge in exchange for a few hours of conference support.
AWP also offers the AWP Community Scholarship, an opportunity aimed to increase access to the conference for those who identify as a person of color, with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and/or is low-income. The application takes less than ten minutes to complete, and the deadline to apply is December 8.
Q: Where can I find my unique registration code?
To view and manage your conference registration information, visit the 2023 Conference Registration Management page of your AWP user account.
Q: How do I access virtual content?
More information will be made available soon.
Q: Do I have to register for each individual panel or reading that I want to attend?
No. Once you have received your conference registration, you may attend all of the conference events listed in our events schedule and the bookfair.
Conference Attendee FAQs
Q: Do I have to be vaccinated to attend the in-person conference?
AWP will follow all local, state and CDC guidelines for masking/vaccinations while in public spaces. At this time Seattle, WA and the CDC are not requiring vaccinations or masks in public spaces. However, AWP strongly encourages attendees to protect themselves as they see fit and to respect boundaries set by other attendees.
Q: What do I do if I’ve forgotten my password and can’t view my AWP user account?
You can easily retrieve your password by clicking the “Forgot Password” link in the login box. Enter the email address you used to create your AWP account, and then click “Submit” to have a new password emailed to you. If your email address isn’t accepted, please contact our membership services department at awp@awpwriter.org for further assistance.
Q: How can I obtain a press pass?
Please email all requests for press passes to registration@awpwriter.org before February 15, 2023.
Q: How can I find out the schedule of conference events in advance?
Please visit our website to view the online conference schedule. The online schedule is the most up-to-date schedule of events. AWP reserves the right to modify the conference schedule, which is published as an indication only.
Q: Who selects the AWP Conference & Bookfair events from the proposals?
The conference subcommittee, composed of the committee chairs from the AWP board of directors as well as professionals from AWP’s membership, is responsible for accepting or rejecting proposals. Each subcommittee member spends approximately four weeks reading, reviewing, and ranking between 250 and 1,000 proposals. Each proposal is reviewed by at least four subcommittee members. All events are grouped, reviewed, and ranked alongside proposals of the same event type. Incomplete proposals are removed from consideration. For more information about the selection and scoring process, please see our event proposal guidelines. You may also view a list of the 2023 subcommittee members.
Q: At what times are conference events and the bookfair scheduled?
Conference events take place in person and virtually Thursday, March 9, to Saturday, March 11 from 9:00 a.m. PT to 5:00 p.m. PT. Some evening events may also be included on the schedule. Check the conference schedule page for the most up-to-date information.
The bookfair is open from 9:00 a.m. PT to 5:00 p.m. PT from Thursday, March 9, to Saturday, March 11.
Q: What types of events can I expect to see at the AWP Conference & Bookfair?
Please review the online conference schedule to learn about the types of events we host. Previous conference schedules are available in the Conference Archives and Photo Albums section of our website.
Q: Is there ever a longer break scheduled between sessions for lunch or socializing?
Attendees are welcome to take breaks as they wish, but in order to host the maximum number of events possible, programming is scheduled for the duration of the days of the conference.
Q: What accessibility accommodations are available for attendees?
AWP is committed to making arrangements that allow all attendees to participate in the conference. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page. Please direct any questions or specific requests to Conference Staff at conference@awpwriter.org.
Events FAQs
Q: What is the format for the 2023 AWP Conference & Bookfair?
Following the 2022 AWP Conference & Bookfair, AWP will once again incorporate a virtual component to #AWP23. In addition to offering our full in-person event schedule in Seattle from March 8–11, 2023, we will livestream seventeen in-person featured events and offer a selection of twenty-three prerecorded virtual events on-demand.
A virtual-only registration will be available for #AWP23 at a reduced registration rate and will include access to the prerecorded virtual events and live-streamed events. The in-person registration will include access to all in-person and virtual programming.
Q: Which #AWP23 events will be livestreamed?
All #AWP23 featured events will be held in person and livestreamed to virtual attendees. Following the livestreams, the featured events will be available to watch on-demand online until April 8, 2023. Please note that due to limited staff and resources, not all in-person events can be livestreamed for virtual audiences.
Q: What are AWP’s expectations of presenters?
All presenters should familiarize themselves with the Presenter Guidelines.
Q: What is an Event Outline?
All events should prepare and upload an event outline for use by attendees of their presentation. More information about event outlines may be found in the Presentations, Handouts & Visual Aids section of the Presenter Guidelines.
Q: Can I change my preference for an in-person or virtual event later in the conference cycle?
Event organizers can no longer change their preference for an in-person or virtual event, even if the event is accepted. As in-person and virtual events require different resources and planning, we will not be able to allow events to change format once events have been evaluated and accepted.
Q: As a presenter, do I need to register?
Yes, all #AWP23 presenters must register to either attend their event in person or to access their event on demand online. We are happy to offer a discounted presenter rate. For more information about registration rates, please visit our Registration Overview page.
If you are a virtual presenter and do not wish to attend the conference in any way except to pre-record your event, registration is not required.
New for 2023, we are also excited to offer a special reduced membership rate of $49 (regularly $75) for accepted #AWP23 conference presenters. When purchasing a presenter registration, select the Presenter Rate + One Year AWP Membership to redeem. AWP membership is not required to participate on your accepted #AWP23 conference event. For any questions about AWP membership, please reach out to awp@awpwriter.org.
Q: Why do I need to register as a presenter?
AWP strives to provide the opportunity to present on a panel or reading to the greatest number of people in our proposal selection process. At previous in-person conferences, this would be around 500 events per year, and for the upcoming 2023 AWP Conference & Bookfair, this includes hundreds of both in-person and virtual events, representing thousands of individual presenters. For each conference, we wish we had the resources to offer waived registrations to all accepted presenters. Because presenters make up such a large portion of our total attendees, not requiring presenters to purchase a registration would mean drastically increasing registration costs for all other types of attendees, including exhibitors, students, and seniors.
All presenters have the opportunity to purchase a registration at the reduced in-person or virtual presenter rates or, if applicable, an even lower student rate. Presenter registration provides presenters with a platform to share their work with AWP’s large audience. In-person presenter registrations include access to the full conference, including in-person events, exhibitors, and socializing opportunities. All presenter registrations, both in person and virtual-only, include access to all virtual conference content, including prerecorded conference events and livestreamed events.
Q: What if I only want to participate in my event and then not attend the conference? Will I still need to register?
All presenters participating in their event in-person are required to purchase in-person registrations, even if they are only planning on participating in their event. In-person registrations help AWP cover the costs associated with holding the conference and in-person events, including convention center rental fees, audiovisual equipment in session rooms, labor of setting and striking equipment, security, EMTs, accessibility services including ASL and captioning services, and much more. We encourage all in-person presenters to take advantage of their full registration and check out the hundreds of other in-person and virtual events, the in-person bookfair, and all other opportunities to connect with fellow attendees.
Presenters on virtual events should purchase a virtual presenter registration if they would like to utilize the virtual conference platform to watch their event and access all other virtual conference content. Virtual registrations help AWP cover the costs of the virtual elements of the conference, including video streaming and captioning services for all virtual events, and adequate staff to manage all virtual content. If you are a virtual presenter on a prerecorded event and do not wish to attend the conference in any way except to prerecord your event, registration is not required.
Q: If I have a question about my event, whom should I contact?
If you have a question about any part of your conference event, please reach out to the conference events coordinator at events@awpwriter.org.
In-Person Events
Q: I would prefer to hold my event in person in Seattle, but one of my presenters is not planning on attending in person. Can I still include that presenter on an in-person event proposal?
If you included such an A/V request during the proposal process, you are likely in a room with the capacity to Zoom in a presenter remotely. No further A/V requests can be accommodated.
Q: Can I still request a projector and screen for my presentation?
Panel organizers must request a projector and screen for their event at the time the proposal is submitted. AWP can accept late requests up to September 15. Unfortunately, we cannot add additional audiovisual equipment after that date. If you would like to make an audiovisual request, please email events@awpwriter.org.
Q: Can I request a specific date or time for my event to be scheduled?
Scheduling requests for in-person events will be accepted until September 15. Scheduling requests must be accompanied by a work, family, health, or religious reason that explains the difficulty of participation during a particular day and time. Once the full schedule is released, the assignment of time and space for events is final.
Virtual Events
Q: How do I schedule my prerecording session?
Event organizers for virtual events will be emailed a link to the #AWP23 prerecording schedule, which they can use to select a date and time for their event’s recording session with an AWP staff member. When the recording session is scheduled, all presenters will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the virtual recording session at the scheduled time.
Q: How should I prepare for my virtual event recording?
All virtual presenters should familiarize themselves with the Virtual Conference Events page and the Virtual Presentation Guide. A plain-text version of the Virtual Presentation Guide is also available.
Q: Are any accessibility accommodations available for event recordings?
If you need any accessible accommodations in order to participate in your virtual event recording, please send any requests or questions to Conference Staff at conference@awpwriter.org prior to your scheduled recording session. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page.
Q: When will my virtual event premiere?
All virtual conference events will be made available to watch on-demand online from March 8-11, 2023, and will continue to be available on-demand for one month after #AWP23.
Q: Why can’t my virtual event take place live?
While we wish we could allow virtual events to be presented live, we unfortunately do not have the staff and resources to provide the higher level of production these types of events require. All virtual conference events will be prerecorded to allow time for AWP staff to complete the postrecording process, which includes adding title slides, making any necessary edits, adding captions, and preparing the video file to be posted.
-->Bookfair Exhibitor FAQs
Q: Where is the bookfair located?
The Seattle Convention Center is located at 900 Pine St, Seattle, Washington 98101. Visit the Seattle Convention Center website for additional information.
Q: What are the exhibitor move-in and move-out hours?
Move-in is from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, and from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, through Saturday, March 11. Move-out is from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11.
Q: What exhibit packages are available?
Booth $950 Early Bird / $1100 Pre-Registration Each 10’ x 10’ space (100 sq. ft. with an 8’ high back drape) includes two 6’ x 2’.5 draped tables, two chairs, one wastebasket, one ID sign, a listing in the digital conference program if purchased by the November 23, 2022 deadline, an expanded listing with a logo and a 250-character description on AWP’s website, and two complimentary bookfair setup access (BSA) registrations that include full conference registration if assigned by the February 28, 2023 deadline. Table $650 Early Bird / $800 Pre-Registration Each 4’ x 7’ space (28 sq. ft. with a 3’ high back drape) includes one 6’ x 2.5’ draped table, two chairs, one wastebasket, one ID sign, a listing in the digital conference program if purchased by the November 23, 2022 deadline, a listing on AWP’s website, and two complimentary bookfair setup access (BSA) registrations that include full conference registration if assigned by the February 28, 2023 deadline.
Q: What are the bookfair operating hours?
The bookfair is open to registered conference attendees from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Thursday, March 9th 2023 through Saturday, March 11th, 2023.
Q: When must I leave the bookfair exhibit hall?
All attendees and exhibitors must leave the bookfair exhibit halls by 5:00 p.m. each day. Reentry after that time is prohibited.
Q: Does everyone need to be registered to attend the bookfair?
Yes, everyone attending the bookfair, including the exhibit staff, must be registered for the conference and bookfair. The registration options may be viewed on the registration overview page.
Q: Are children allowed to attend the bookfair?
Yes, children are allowed in the bookfair during show hours. They are not permitted in the bookfair during move-in and move-out hours for safety reasons. Please note: children under the age of sixteen years old must be attended by a parent or guardian at all times.
Q: How many complimentary registrations are included with the purchase of my exhibit space?
Each exhibit space comes with two (2) complimentary conference registrations. These are referred to as bookfair setup access registrations (BSAs). The BSA functions as a regular conference registration in addition to granting the holder access to the exhibit hall during move-in and move-out hours. To ensure the safety and security of all exhibitors, additional BSAs are not available for purchase. BSAs must be assigned in order to be used.
Q: Who should be assigned the BSAs for my exhibit space?
BSAs should be assigned to the individuals responsible for setting up your exhibit space. Exhibit purchasers are responsible for identifying and maintaining contact information for BSA holders on the Exhibit Space Management page of their AWP user account. BSAs must be assigned to exhibit staff by February 28, 2023, or they will be forfeited. Only individuals with BSAs, and registered conference attendees escorted by a BSA holder, are permitted to enter the bookfair exhibit halls during move-in and move-out hours.
Q: Why is access to the exhibit hall during move-in and move-out hours restricted to BSA holders and those they escort?
Access is restricted for the safety and security of our exhibitors and their merchandise and to ensure that exhibitors can quickly and safely set up their exhibit spaces.
Q: Does the BSA holder need to be present at the exhibit space during bookfair operating hours?
The BSA holder needs only to be present during move-in and move-out hours or to escort registered staff during move-in or move-out hours.Q: Who should be assigned the BSAs for my exhibit space?
BSAs should be assigned to the individuals responsible for setting up your exhibit space. Exhibit purchasers are responsible for identifying and maintaining contact information for BSA holders on the Exhibit Space Management page of their AWP user account. BSAs must be assigned to exhibit staff by February 28, 2023, or they will be forfeited. Only individuals with BSAs, and registered conference attendees escorted by a BSA holder, are permitted to enter the bookfair exhibit halls during move-in and move-out hours.
Q: Why is access to the exhibit hall during move-in and move-out hours restricted to BSA holders and those they escort?
Access is restricted for the safety and security of our exhibitors and their merchandise, and to ensure that exhibitors can quickly and safely set up their exhibit spaces.
Q: Does the BSA holder need to be present at the exhibit space during bookfair operating hours?
The BSA holder needs only to be present during move-in and move-out hours, or to escort registered staff during move-in or move-out hours.
Q: Are BSAs transferrable?
BSAs are only assigned to a specific individual by the exhibit space manager; however, the exhibit space manager can change the BSA assignments until February 28, 2023. All BSA changes are made on the Exhibit Space Management page of the exhibit manager’s AWP user account.
Q: May more than one person use an BSA or bookfair staff registration?
Registration sharing is not allowed. All conference attendees, including exhibitors, must be registered. As noted above, BSAs can only be transferred by the exhibit manager on the Exhibit Space Management page of his or her AWP user account. If you have questions about your registration status, please check your AWP user account or contact us at registration@awpwriter.org.
Q: May I share my exhibit space with another vendor?
Yes. Two separate organizations may share a table or a booth. Instructions for adding an organization to your purchased space are on the Exhibit Space Management page of the exhibit manager’s AWP user account. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at bookfairservices@awpwriter.org.
Q: How do I pick up my conference registration?
All preregistered exhibitors must bring their individual registration code (sent by email) to print their BSA, bookfair staff registration, or bookfair student registration at the kiosks onsite. Please see the registration area of our website for check-in hours. No one is allowed to enter the exhibit hall without a registration.
Q: May I request to be placed next to another exhibitor?
Because the online system allows you to select your own exhibit space, you will need to coordinate in advance with the other exhibitors you wish to be near. AWP cannot coordinate placement for you due to the self-select feature. Any changes to your placement after the time of purchase are subject to availability.
Q: Do I have to pay taxes on items I sell?
All exhibitors are required to abide by applicable state and federal laws governing sales tax. Please visit the tax information page in the bookfair section of the AWP website for more information. Submission of sales tax information is the responsibility of the exhibitor.
Q: Where do I ship my exhibit materials?
Shipping instructions will be provided in the exhibitor services kit, which will be emailed to registered exhibitors in the coming months. Items shipped to the hotel or to AWP will be refused.
Q: May I display posters in my exhibit space?
Yes, as long as they do not interfere with another exhibitor or encroach on aisles or public space. Exhibitors may not erect any decorations or use adhesive materials, including tape, on any walls, ceilings, floors, and facilities in the convention center, including in restrooms, hallways, and meeting rooms. Please do not affix posters or other materials to any of the walls, doors, and other surfaces in the convention center. Violation of the Seattle Convention Center rules covering exhibition space may result in removal from the exhibit hall.
Q: Where can I unload my items?
The Settle Convention Center has loading docks available to personally owned vehicles for loading and unloading hand-carry items into the exhibit hall. Specific information will be provided closer to the conference dates.
Q: How does my organization become a Sponsor?
Please visit the Sponsorship page
for more information. You can also reach out to sponsorship@awpwriter.org.Q: Do CLMP members receive a discount on Exhibit Space purchases?Q: How does my organization become a Sponsor?
We are excited to partner with CLMP for #AWP23! CLMP members will be eligible for early bird pricing on Exhibit Space purchases throughout the entire Conference cycle. If you are a CLMP member purchasing your exhibit space after early bird pricing ends November 22nd, 2022, please contact bookfairservices@awpwriter.org to apply your discount.
Q: I have a question that is not covered in these FAQs. Who can I contact for assistance?
Please consult our other conference FAQs (above), the conference overview page, the bookfair overview page, and the exhibitor services kit. If these materials do not address your question, please send an email to bookfairservices@awpwriter.org.
Accessibility FAQs
Q: What accessibility accommodations are available for attendees?
AWP is committed to making arrangements that allow all attendees to participate in the conference. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page. Please direct any questions or specific requests to colleen@awpwriter.org.
AWP is committed to making arrangements that allow all attendees to participate in the conference. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page. Please direct any questions or specific requests to colleen@awpwriter.org.
Q: What is the deadline to request accessibility services for #AWP23?
Many accessibility services require advanced planning and reservations for a conference as large as AWP’s. In order to help us better prepare, all requests for accessibility services, equipment, or accommodations should be submitted in advance. AWP can best meet accessibility needs when requests are sent to colleen@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, February 15, 2023. AWP will make every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after February 15.
