Why
Conferences? When
I first began writing with the hopes of getting published, I looked
around my neighborhood for a writer’s group. I knew that there
had to be some sort of order to this business and that straying
from that structure would probably brand me as an outsider and no
agent or editor would even consider looking at my work. I needed
support and advice. But alas, this rural, blue collar county that
I live in offers sparse resources of that nature.
So I joined a national
organization hoping to glean something from their newsletters. What
I found there was a registration form for a mystery writer’s
conference to be held in Chicago, a scant two hundred and fifty
miles away. I scraped my pennies together and signed up. It turned
out to be the best “literary” move I ever made.
This “networking”
thing is real and it really works. I found the community of authors
to be warm and receptive. Most of them are willing to spend a few
moments with a rookie to explain the ins and outs of the publishing
world. The more established authors you meet, the more recognized
you become and on and on.
I made my first
publishing contact at a conference and have compiled a healthy list
of agents, editors, and fellow writers who have become sources of
priceless information and help.
Currently, I attend
about five conferences a year and have gone from a wide-eyed newcomer
to a panelist, presenter, and moderator. The atmosphere at conferences
invites and encourages participation and every workshop, lecture,
or exercise that you take part in helps you grow as a writer and
gives you insight into a terribly complicated business.
Writer’s
conferences are undoubtedly the single most valuable tool that I’ve
come across to enhance your writing career. If you’re serious
about selling your writing, you’d be missing a golden opportunity
if you pass up a chance to attend. I started out with one of the
larger regional conferences but there are plenty of smaller local
events for those with limited resources or time constraints.
Some conferences
offer critiques of things like query letters, synopses, or full
manuscripts and all of them feature one or two hour sessions that
deal with everything from how to write a killer query to character
development to negotiating foreign rights. A conference can be as
short as a few hours or it might last several days.
Many conference
attendees are not writers at all. A lot of fans like to come just
to mingle and their presence is another valuable asset. I usually
find a healthy mix of people at these events and the intimate lunches
and dinners allow me the time and opportunity to expand my circle
of friends. Some call it “Shmoozing.”
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