I recently went to my second regional writers conference since starting my professional writing career. These gatherings are specifically for authors, editors, agents, and publishers. The goal of conferences is to help writers make connections and learn more about the publishing industry. The ones I attended were done as a long weekend, and they only cost a couple hundred dollars. These were smaller conferences, but I think the small scale is better for beginning writers. Let’s look at the pros, cons, and tips for attending small writers conferences.
Pros
The first positive about regional conferences is the size. You don’t get lost in a sea of faces, and it’s easy to make a few friends. The speakers are also very approachable and make time to talk with attendees one-on-one. It’s not unusual to find yourself sitting at a table with a guest speaker during dinner.
It’s also more affordable and convenient for new writers. If you’re lucky to have one nearby, you don’t have to pay for a hotel. You usually can avoid taking time off from your day job to go since they do it on weekends. Spending less and not cutting into your paycheck are important to new writers.
The last major benefit is obtaining real world knowledge. You get to talk with people in the field who can tell you things you can’t read on the internet. Anyone can post information on the web, but hearing an author tell you it takes a minimum of two years to get a book published is real experience you can count on. On top of that, you can network with professionals in your area who will be there to support you even after the conference.
Cons
Because these conferences are squeezed into one weekend, there is no in-depth teaching. The sessions are usually only forty-five minutes, and you get to pick about five sessions to do. Most are centered on teaching rather than doing workshops, but some do small exercises for hands-on learning. You learn lots of little tidbits though. I’ve found that these sessions are great for pointing out things I didn’t think I needed to do, and they give me a starting point for my research when I get home.
If your goal in attending these conferences is to sell your books, you might be disappointed. With the smaller crowd comes less sales. It’s a good place to promote your book, and you can drum up interest for later. However, book sales at these conferences are not high unless your are the keynote speaker and you have books on writing. Then, you might be very successful.
Tips
The first conference I attended, I paid for the full conference and just attended the sessions and the awards dinner. I learned some good tips, but I made no connections.
At this last conference, I went all in. If there was something on the schedule, I was there. The breakfast buffet opened at 7:00 a.m. and lasted for two hours, and I was there for every minute of it. Why? Networking. It was in those “optional” times that I got to meet and talk with other professionals. Aspiring authors, editors, and even some of the speakers.
If you go to a conference, go to learn but also network. Even if you’re shy, make yourself take a step out of your comfort zone. It can be something small, like introducing yourself to one fellow attendee at each session. Or, you can make a point to eat your meals at tables with people you don’t know. Go into the conference with a networking game plan and stick to it. Afterward, you can reward yourself with something fun or a special treat.
I’d also suggest you have business cards in your pocket. Even if it’s just your name, book genre, and email address. You might meet a fellow author that would make a good critique partner, or an agent or editor might ask for your information. Handing them a business card shows you are prepared and professional. It proves you are taking your writing career seriously.
Final Thoughts
Writers conferences are a great resource for new writers. It’s an opportunity to learn and network—both things new writers need. I enjoyed the last conference I attended the most because I made it a point to meet new people. I went into the conference with a game plan to interview as many of the speakers as I could, and I was able to talk with five of them. For the next several weeks, I am going to share those interviews with you in hopes that you can learn as much from their experiences as I did.
Thanks for reading!
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