Making the Most of Writing Conferences

Many of us live in parts of the country still iced over. But spring is coming! And spring is prime-time for writing conferences.

Every serious writer should allocate time and money to attend writing conferences. Which ones should you go to? That answer depends on your individual purpose, audience, genre, and budget.

Why go?

•Learn new craft skills
•Learn about the business and current trends
•Network with other writers, literary agents, and publishers
•Opportunities to pitch your work

Which kind?

Small, local. While I find that the instruction sometimes trends toward the basic, these conferences can have great value. They are low cost, help you develop a network of local writers, and might afford you less-competitive access to literary agents. Even if the agents booked aren’t a good fit, you can always sign up and practice your pitch and ask the agent to give you feed back. They are usually happy to do so.

Genre-specific. Several years ago I attended the Writer’s Digest Novel Writers Conference. I enjoyed the narrowed focus. Nearly all the sessions were applicable to what I wanted to write, and the faculty and agents were curated especially for novelists, making it easy to network.

General craft and business-of-writing workshops. Most conferences probably fall into this category. Find one that will allow you access to good instruction as well as agents and publishers that might be interested in what you are writing. For instance, the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference celebrates their fiftieth year this April. They have lined up successful and well-known faculty for the event to help you with fiction, nonfiction, editing, marketing, shifting to screenwriting, career growth, and more. Karin Beery and Christy McGuire, who I work with through the Christian Editors Network, will be there as presenters also!

Reader– as well as writer-focused. Some conferences also attract readers, not just writers. The Festival of Faith and Writing is a biannual conference that draws readers who are interested in writing that connects to faith. Conferences like this connect you to good craft and business skills as well as current trends in literary content to enrich your reading and writing life.

Writing retreats. While these kinds of conferences can have instruction and even agent-pitch times, they are designed to give you time to write, often with periods for peer feedback.

 
How to make the most of your time?

Be prepared! Bring plenty of business cards and an elevator pitch of anything you are working on.

Present yourself professionally. Review the strengths of the faculty list in advance, so you know who to target and try to meet.

Plan your workshops. Review the session options as soon as they come out. You will not have time to attend everything you want. Find out if the conference records sessions so you can watch anything you missed.

Submit manuscripts and pitches. Always sign up for and make use of manuscript submissions and agent/presenter feedback. Getting better at this essential part of marketable writing takes practice. Sign up for pitch slams even if your proposal isn’t ready. Write a pitch and start by telling the agent you are practicing and would like feedback on your approach. Invaluable!

Network. Talk to people in between sessions. I have made great connections just by showing simple kindness. You never know when that stressed out person next to you is an acquisitions editor looking to fill an empty list. It happens!

Follow up. Conferences are fire hoses of information. Review your notes after the conference so that the most important lessons don’t get lost. File all your new contact information in a safe location. Follow-up with any important contacts, even if it’s just thanking someone for their presentation.

Head into this conference season with a plan for how you can advance your skills and your platform!

Inklings at Work (and Play)
Write down three growth goals you have for your writing this year and find at least one conference to help move you in that direction.