As much fun as staring at your computer all day is, I hope you're making plans this new year to go to a writer's conference and meet real, live people! There is no better place to make friends, meet editors and agents and learn SO much information on writing and the publishing industry that you feel like your brain might start leaking all over your stack of handouts and free books. :)
Writer's conferences are expensive, and so to help you find the best fit for you, be sure to do your homework before plopping down the nonrefundable fee!
Here's a few questions to ask yourself before signing up:
1) What do you write? If you write fiction, be sure to check on the website what workshops will be for fiction authors and who is teaching them. You write adventure-based Indiana Jones style novels? You may not want to sink $600 into a conference that has all of its fiction classes being taught by bestselling romance authors. Are you a nonfiction junkie? Be sure to double check those workshops as well.
2) Are you going to meet publishers? If you are going with the goal of getting your manuscript into the hands of publishers, DOUBLE CHECK that the conference is going to have times available to meet with publishers and agents. One of the conferences that I absolutely love has sign-ups available to talk with editors and agents as well as opportunities to sit with them at lunches and dinners. Find the list of editors and agents who will be represented there. Research the publishing house and their needs (Sally Stuart has a fabulous book called The Christian Writer Market Guide that has updated lists every year of what each publishing house is looking for and currently publishing).
A writer's conference is an excellent way to get face-to-face time with editors and agents who would not otherwise interact with an unsolicited manuscript. Take the time to ask questions. What can you improve in your proposal? What are the editor/agent's advice for unpublished authors?
3) What are specific areas you want to grow in? If you are hoping to learn more about how to write great dialogue, find a conference that is featuring a workshop on the subject. Or, how about you want to just meet some people in the hopes of starting an online support group? Search conference schedules and be sure to find one with ample free time or after dinner socializing time.
Finding a conference with scheduled free time is one of the best things you can do! Yes, when you are paying the deposit, it will seem like paying for nothing, but you will need that break more than almost anything at that moment. Bring your laptop and plan on writing down your thoughts. Writer's conferences do more than give you opportunities and tire you out - they also inspire you!
4) Do I have the ability to travel for this? There seems to be at least one writer's conference in every area of this country, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best fit for you. Take the time to research conferences outside of your geographical area. You might find that with a good price on plane tickets, you'll be able to travel a little farther.
Distance can also be a good thing just for clearing your mind of all of the things at home. Even if the conference is in your hometown, plan on staying at the hotel where the conference is booked. You won't regret having the space to really get your creative juices flowing (and the breakfasts are usually worth it!).
5) Does this conference come recommended? You can only research so much on the internet before you can't find anything else out. Listen to other writers' recommendations. Join a Christian writers network like ACFW and ask around. Or, email one of us Scribble Chicks - we'll be happy to tell you what our favorite conferences have been!
My all-time favorite thing about a writer's conference? How they always seem to come every year when I need that extra "you can do it!" push. If you've never been to a conference, prepare yourself for an encouraging experience! I've never been to a conference without coming home full of ideas and stoked to get back to work.
They are well worth the investment! So go on...make 2010 the year that publishing dreams come true!
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Great advice Erynn! I agree wholeheartedly with every point! I'd like to recommend the ACFW conference because it has all of that and more - there is always free time, always editor and agent appointments, and always classes taught by every genre in the fiction market, so no chance of getting "stuck" listening to romance-only lectures. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! I hope to make it to ACFW in September this year but it's going to be a $ issue. I'm glad I went last year, it might have to last me! With hubby's job situation right now, it's not looking likely.
Thankfully though, God isn't a "likely" type of God =) So I still get to hope. hehe.
Thanks for the comment Betsy! I still am hoping to make it to an ACFW conference one of these days!! I have been and always will be a fan of the Christian Writers Guild conferences - so good!
ReplyDeleteHear you on the money issues. And so sorry to hear about your husband's job situation - I'll be praying! You are right - God is definitely NOT a "likely" God, I think He tends more toward the amazing and miraculous! :) Keep on hoping!
I really, really, really hope that I'm able to attend a writers conference this year. I didn't end up with enough funds last year and I was so disappointed. I've been saving all my change since then... Hopefully it'll add up to enough!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Erynn!