Preparing for the Conference: Making the Most of Your Hub Appointment

June 23, 2026

So you’ve registered for the 2026 Omega Writers Conference in Adelaide (16–18 October — it’s coming up fast!), you’ve been on the Zoom, you’ve read through the Hub guidelines, and now you’re staring at the list of specialists wondering: What on earth do I actually do when I sit down with one of these people?

Take a breath. You’re going to be fine. Better than fine, actually.

The Hub’s 30-minute paid appointments are one of the most valuable things on offer at this conference — and they’re not just for writers who are polished, pitch-ready, and practically published. They’re for you, wherever you are on this writing journey. Let’s talk about how to make the most of them.

BOOK YOUR HUB APPOINTMENT

What a Hub Appointment Is Really For

A Hub appointment is about connection, clarity, and next steps. It’s your chance to sit across from someone who has spent years in the industry and ask: “What do I do from here?”

The specialists who have given their time to the Hub — publishers, literary agents, editors, writing coaches, marketing advisers — they are here because they want to help you. That’s not a marketing line. It’s genuinely true. Ask anyone who’s sat in one of those chairs.

Who Should Book?

Everyone. Seriously.

“But I’m not ready to pitch.” That’s completely okay. Book anyway. Come with your questions, your ideas, your muddy middle of a manuscript. These conversations plant seeds that bear fruit for years.

“But I don’t want to waste their time.” You won’t. A specialist’s favourite kind of appointment is often the one where someone sits down and simply says, “I’m not sure where to go from here — can you help me think it through?” That’s gold to someone who loves this craft and this industry.

“But I’m not published yet.” that’s exactly the right time to start building relationships with the people who can help you get there.

Doing Your Homework (Yes, It Matters)

If you’ve already read through The Hub — One-on-One Appointments document, you’ll know that different specialists offer different things and require different materials to be submitted in advance. Some have deadlines as early as 14 August — and yes, that’s before the conference.

Before you book, make sure you know:

What the specialist offers — publishers and agents are open to pitches; editors and coaches are there for craft feedback; marketing advisers want to talk platform and branding. Don’t book a literary agent if you want help with your website copy.
Whether they’re in-person or online — some specialists are joining us in Adelaide; others are dialling in from Sydney, Queensland, the UK, or the US. All appointments are equally valuable; just factor in timing.
What materials need to be submitted beforehand — and by when. Missing a submission deadline means your specialist won’t have had a chance to read your work before you sit down together. That’s thirty minutes you won’t get back.

A quick refresher on where to find the specialists: head back to The Hub — One-on-One Appointments document — it’s all in there. You can also find booking details through the conference registration system.

What to Bring

Be prepared for your appointments and make sure you have everything ready so you can concentrate and make the most of your time.

If your appointment is online, you’ll need your laptop, somewhere quiet to sit, reliable internet connection, headphones.
Paper for taking notes, or a phone to record (make sure you ask permission of the expert before pressing record), pens, pencils etc.
If you have pre-submitted material, it can be handy to have a copy on hand for your appointment to take notes on.

Bring your questions, a brief introduction of yourself, and an open heart. That’s genuinely enough. If you have a business card, bring one of those too.
If you’re workshopping an idea: Bring a short description of your concept — a paragraph is fine — and any specific questions you have. “I have two ideas and I don’t know which one to pursue” is a completely valid agenda for a 30-minute appointment.
If you’re pitching a project, you may like to bring a one-sheet summarising your project (title, genre, word count, short blurb, author bio), a printed sample of your work (but be aware, if they haven’t asked to see it before hand, they may not require it during the meeting. Don’t force material onto someone unless they ask), a full proposal.
If you’re after marketing or website advice: Re-read what your chosen specialist needs — some want your website link and traffic data submitted in advance; others just want to have a conversation.

Questions Worth Asking

Don’t leave the appointment without asking at least one of these:

“What would you suggest as my next step?”
“When I have something ready, would you be open to receiving it?” (If they say yes, that is worth its weight in gold — it means your work won’t land in a slush pile.)
“What do you wish someone had told you at this stage of their writing journey?”
“Is there anything specific you’d recommend I work on before I pitch?”

What NOT to Do

Don’t spend the whole 30 minutes talking. The greatest value in these appointments flows toward you — through listening. Come prepared, give them what they need to help you, then let them speak.

Don’t skip your homework. You don’t need to be an expert on publishing. But you do need to know something about the person you’re meeting with — what they publish, what they represent, what they’re looking for (a tip – they may have already looked you up on social media). Rocking up to a pitch appointment without knowing whether the specialist publishes your genre is the kind of thing that’s hard to come back from.

Don’t say “God told me you’d publish this book.” God may very well be directing your steps — but unless He’s told them the same thing, leading with this puts everyone in an awkward position.

Don’t say “there’s never been a book like this.” There has. That’s not a criticism of your idea — it’s just publishing reality. Knowing your comparable titles actually demonstrates that you understand the market and that there’s an audience for your work.

Don’t say “this is guaranteed to be a bestseller.” No one can guarantee that, and saying so signals you’re not yet familiar with how this industry works.

A Word for the Nervous Ones

Can I speak directly to those of you who are anxious about this? The ones who almost didn’t book an appointment, who are wondering if you’re ready, who feel a little bit like a fraud sitting in front of a real publishing professional?

You are not a fraud. You are a writer in process — and that is exactly who the Hub was designed for.

Every specialist in that room has sat where you’re sitting. They’ve had the uncertain early days, the imposter syndrome, the manuscript that wasn’t quite there yet. They’re not there to judge you. They’re there to help you take the next step.

Thirty minutes can change the direction of your writing life. I’ve seen it happen. Go in prepared, go in humble, go in curious — and trust that God has good things for you in that conversation.

Quick Checklist Before Your Appointment

Re-read the specialist’s profile in the Hub document
Check your submission deadline — has it passed? Did you submit?
Prepare a brief (2–3 sentence) description of yourself and your project
Know the one main thing you want to walk away with from this appointment
Print any materials you’re bringing (don’t rely on your phone screen)
If your appointment is online, test your internet connection and find a quiet spot beforehand
Give yourself five minutes before the appointment to breathe and pray

The 2026 Omega Writers Conference, Adelaide, 16–18 October, is going to be something special. The Hub is one of the reasons why.

You’ve already done the brave thing by registering. Now let’s make sure you walk into that appointment ready to receive everything it has for you.

See you there.