Photo Credit: Willamette Writers www.willamettewriters.com
I recently railed about the importance of attending writer conferences, and felt it only just that I put my money where my mouth is. Recently returned from the 2011 Willamette Writers Conference (WWC) in Portland, Oregon, my 3 days at WWC reinforced how important it is for writers to go to workshops and conferences with their peers and colleagues.
The weeks since WWC have been packed with work, much of it a direct, joyful and productive result of attending the conference itself. It’s also been a time to reflect on what makes a conference—or any kind of training event, workshop, seminar or retreat—an important part of being a writer. Here are 10 lessons learned from my conference experience. I know they’re going to help me be a better writer this year, and I hope they help you, too.
- Set concrete goals. What do you want to get out of the conference? Attend workshops? Pitch 3 agents? Learn more about branding or character development? Meet 5 writers working in your genre? Set goals, write them down and carry them with you. Refer to your goals throughout the conference to keep on track.
- Study the program, in advance if possible. Often you can view and download workshop brochures and conference schedules before the event. Use this to help you plan.
- Bring business cards. If you don’t have business cards, go to your local printer or an online service such as VistaPrint, and order at least 250. They’re affordable, and business cards are money well spent. Include your name, email, website, Twitter handle, current book on the market, whatever.
- Give out your business cards and get theirs in return. I brought a huge stack, gave out nearly every card, and came home with a huge stack of cards from people I met. Cards make it easier to swap contact information and keep in touch with new friends and colleagues. If they don’t have a card, ask them to jot down their name and contact info in your notebook. Hint: When I get someone’s card, I jot some context on it, such as “Met after fantasy workshop, Sunday, introduced by Em”. When you get home from an event, it can be hard to remember who’s who. These little notes help jog the memory.
- Talk with people. Shy? So are lots of people. But as writers at the same conference, you all have something in common. Try these ice-breakers: “What brings you to the conference this year?” or, “Are you pitching this year?” Asking these 2 questions led to great conversations and new colleagues.
- Talk with agents and best-selling authors. Is bestselling author signing books? Buy one of their books, and talk to them for a few minutes. Authors at conferences are often happy to chat a little with other writers. Ready to pitch your work? See if the event you’re going to has ways for authors to pitch to agents and editors. With both agents and best-selling authors though, remember 3 golden rules: Be courteous, be professional, and keep your cool.
- Take time to refresh. I am not a people-person. Crowds and groups are where I expend a lot of my energy. But I know this about myself, and I have ways to keep my energy up during a long day being social. So during the day and after hours, I take time to catch my breath. Need a few minutes to recharge? Take a walk. Grab a cuppa coffee. Find an unpeopled spot, hide, and take some deep breaths. Rock out on your iPod. Whatever gets your groove back.
- Follow up. Got someone’s contact info? Email them. Say you had a good time, you liked meeting them, you hope their time was helpful and productive. Talk to a best-selling author? Go to their website and send a brief email thanking them for their time.
- Post-conference, go through your notes and put that knowledge to work. Fired-up and amazed, you’ll leave that conference with a glow. Don’t let it go to waste. When you get home, ride that motivation. They’re called “workshops” for a reason: put that material and motivation to work. Review your notes and figure out how they can improve your writing, website, marketing strategy, book structure, whatever.
- Get ready for the next one. Always be learning. Like that conference? The moment you know the dates for next year’s, mark it on your calendar. Go back, or, look for another to attend. Whether it’s a conference, retreat, seminar, workshop, whatever, good goal is to attend at least one writer event every other year.
In my post-conference emails and discussions with fellow writers, I often said that I left with enough ideas and tactical tips to keep me busy till next year’s conference. I’m a better writer, editor and businessperson because of my time at a conference. Always be learning, and find writer events to go to—they will do wonders for your work, your career and your efforts to get published.
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