Writers’ conferences

Last week I talked about writing seminars and workshops, short events that are often free at places like your local library. If you’re ready to dive into something bigger, longer, and often pricier, consider the writers’ conference.

A writers’ conference is more than just a bunch of writing seminars and workshops, although those are central. At a conference, you have a whole day, weekend, or week to immerse yourself in learning about writing, and you’ll do so with other writers with whom to network, practice your pitches, and discuss craft. You may have the opportunity to meet with agents and editors, and you’ll certainly have all sorts of writing ideas running through your head by the time the conference is over.

In the spirit of writing efficiently, effectively, and pragmatically, I’ve put together some suggestions for how to maximize your time at a writers’ conference.

Use the conference to spur, not stall, your writing momentum. This is your number-one consideration when attending a writers’ conference. As with shorter events, come with your WIP in mind. Go to workshops that focus on something you need to learn more about in order to make your current novel, short story, memoir, poem, or script better than it was before. Above all, get back to your regular writing schedule as soon as possible after the conference—and, if time allows, keep it up during the event. You’ve learned a lot of new things, but don’t let that psych you out and keep you from writing.

Peruse the schedule ahead of time, if possible. This will help you maximize the benefit of the conference since you can pick what will be most helpful to you. But what if there are two sessions you want to attend and they’re both scheduled for the same time? If you’re going to the conference with a friend, you might split up and share notes. If you’re going by yourself, make a weekend buddy who’s in the same boat as you, and you both can still get your notes from the concurrent workshops.

Use last week’s tips at individual seminars and workshops. Briefly, take notes and network. Networking is much more expected at conferences than at standalone seminars, but if this isn’t your thing, remember that you’re all writers and have a lot in common: how the sessions are going, if you’re pitching to an agent, what you like to write, etc., etc., etc. Seriously, once you get going, it can go on and on. So if you get buttonholed by that guy who won’t stop pitching you his 800-page historical epic as though you might consider publishing it, try to find some other fish in the sea and see if those fish will let you practice your pitch.

Go to as many events as you can. If you’d rather not spend money on an overpriced dinner, that’s one thing. Skipping writing-related and networking events that are built into the price is a no-no unless there’s an emergency. You never know what you might learn or who you might meet.

Build in time to write. This keeps me from getting all wound up about how much I’m learning, only to crash and burn when I realize I haven’t written all weekend. Even if it’s just a few sentences between events, keeping the momentum going is very important.

Embrace new experiences, techniques, and writing exercises. You may not be comfortable with writing outside first person, trading papers with another writer, or doing a writing exercise that seems to have absolutely nothing to do with what you’re working on. That’s fine! Give it a shot anyway. You never know where you’ll be able to use what you’ve learned.