Getting the Most for your Money at a Writer’s Conference - Part 2
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PART 1 RAN ON THE LIEURANCE BLOG LAST WEDNESDAY.
NETWORK
Writers get very few opportunities to network in their everyday life. We spend countless hours alone with our computers and notebooks. Now is your chance to mix and mingle with other writers. If the conference will last the entire weekend, plan to go early and stay late. Attend cocktail parties and luncheons and talk with other participants. You will get valuable tips and advice from informal conversations with colleagues. Sometimes you will get a lead on a publisher looking for exactly the type of story you write.
Be sure to take business cards with you to the conference. Hand them out. If you meet a group of writers that you click with, you might suggest forming a writer’s critique group after the conference.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR AND WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE?
A good rule of thumb is to dress professionally. As a general rule the speakers dress up more than the attendees. However, I would suggest dressing in business casual attire. If you take your writing seriously, you should present yourself as a professional. A sloppy appearance will not make the best impression.
It is a good idea to take a briefcase or bag of some type. Publisher’s catalogues and handouts are often available on tables at conferences. These are valuable sources of information and you will need a way to carry them. Some conferences offer booths for published writers to sell their own books. Check with the conference coordinator ahead of time.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND PAY ATTENTION
When listening to the speakers, take careful notes and keep an open mind about different types of writing. I once attended a children’s writer’s conference and Kent Brown, an editor at Highlights, was a guest speaker. He suggested that writers could break into Highlights by writing smaller pieces such as puzzles or crafts. I had never considered writing puzzles, since my primary interest was picture books and fiction stories. However, I decided to try my hand at puzzles right after the conference was over. I wrote eight puzzles and submitted them to Highlights. They bought two of my puzzles and sent me a check upon acceptance. I never would have tried writing puzzles if it hadn’t been for that conference.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, HAVE FUN
A conference is a time for a writer to have fun. At some point during the conference you will suddenly realize how lucky you are to be in a roomful of people who share the same interests as you. Savor every moment, because you will probably only attend one or two a year. Have fun and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned it!
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