Writing conferences can be an
invigorating experience where you learn new skills, network with industry
professionals, and gain confidence in yourself as a writer.
I’ve left some great conferences
flying high and ready to write. Then there were a few that I walked away from
wishing I could get my money back. So, how do you ensure you have the first
experience and not the second?
2) Read – when you check out the panelists in the preparation
stage, continue by visiting their web pages, blogs, and maybe even their books.
That way, you’ll already have context and questions ready for the speakers you
are most interested in meeting. You’ll also be better acquainted with the style
of books and industry professionals they like to work with which helps you find
the people who may be the right fit for you and your work.
3) Partner Up – in your preparation stage you should have
studied the conference schedule to figure out which sessions you’ll want to
attend, and which you’ll want to miss. Many times, conferences have multiple
(sometimes even ten or more) sessions taking place at once. If you attend with
friends and colleagues, it’s easier to divide and conquer. Plan out ahead of
time which of you will attend which seminars so that you can share notes later.
4) Pitch Perfect – when you sit down across from an agent or
editor to talk about your work, nerves can set in making you tongue-tied,
flustered, and in some cases downright incoherent. Instead of an impromptu
conversation, practice beforehand what you want to say, how you will describe
your work, and perfect your hook so that you can grab the audience attention
and desire for more.
5) Goals – go to the conference to seek specific skills.
Whether you are polishing a manuscript, hoping to find a publisher, wanting to
learn more about self-publishing, or looking for tips on marketing, you should
have specific goals. That way, when listening to a speaker, you can ask
appropriate questions, or be ready to apply what they share to your own project(s).
Go into each part of the conference ready to attain some new skill, knowledge,
or idea.
6) Take Note – Don’t just attend, engage. Take a specific
folder and bag (especially useful for bringing home all the books you won’t
mean to buy, but always end up doing anyway) to keep up with conference lessons,
materials, and news. Take notes, collect handouts, and organize business cards.
Only keep the information you like and find useful or appropriate to your work
since you may receive more information than you want at larger conferences.
7) Network – the opportunity to connect with others is a large
aspect of the conference. If you’re a natural wallflower, you’ll have to fight
that urge. Plan to introduce yourself frequently, join in discussions, eat and
drink with others, smile a lot, and generally chat with anyone around you in
line, at the shop, or waiting in the lobby. Tell people about your writing, and
then listen to what they are working to complete. The publishing world is much
smaller than it at first appears. Getting to know others who work in the
industry can open all sorts of doors for you.
