Look! People! In Real Life! How to Make the Most of a Return to Writers’ Conferences

Now that we’re well into the new year, we can actually (cross fingers, throw salt over shoulder, spit three times) start planning to attend writers’ conferences in person.

Attending conferences is one of the most useful things a writer can do to improve their craft, make contact with other writers, and promote their work for publication. And they’re fun!

Holy Mackerel, There Are a Lot of People Here!

These days, there’s a lot of pent-up demand for just about everything. When you finally put together the money, time and courage to go to a conference, they’re likely to be packed.

That’s good. And bad.

It’s good because there will be hundreds, maybe thousands, of people to meet, learn from and make friends with  people who are going through many of the same writing struggles you are. They are also people who can become critique partners (local or long distance) and potentially blurbers for your book.

It’s also good because there will be some famous authors there. They’re generally happy to meet and chat with newbies.

But huge conferences can be intimidating. It’s hard to know what to do, who to talk to and how to make the most of your experience. So, here are some tips.

Before You Go

Make a schedule. Pick the seminars and events you want to attend. Focus on who is giving the talk as much as the subject.

Practice your pitch. Make your dog or cat hate you by pitching them so many times that they flee when you enter the room. (See my previous post on pitches.) Also practice-pitch people, who sometimes provide more useful feedback than pets.

Sign up to pitch. Check what pitch opportunities will be offered and make your bookings. (This may involve an additional charge.) Research the agents and editors who will be receiving pitches so you can use your time and money wisely.

Swag. Get business cards at the very least, bookmarks and other swag to give away if you want.

Pack smart. This is a professional conference. Think “business casual.” It’s not a shorts, tee-shirt, and flip-flops event. If you want to be treated as a serious professional, dress and act the part. And bring a sweater or jacket. Those convention hotels can be frigid.

At the Conference

Network. Network. Network. Many if not most people will be in the same situation as you—relatively new, knowing few people. Be brave. Acquaintances you make during the first hours will be faces you recognize throughout the event, safe havens at seminars and meals, and best friends by the time it’s over. Keep a smile on your face and keep meeting new people all the way through.

Be brave but smart. The famous authors, agents and editors are there to mingle. But be humble and polite, confident but not arrogant. Don’t try to monopolize their time or accost them in the restroom. If you have a specific request, like needing author quotes, better to ask after you’ve gotten to know someone—second or third time you chat, perhaps.

Take care of yourself. Be rested. And, sorry, don’t drink too much.

Engage. Ask questions at seminars. Be on topic. Don’t make a speech. Among other benefits, this gives you an opening to approach the speaker afterwards, and might motivate someone to come talk to you.

Be a good student. Take notes, then review them when you get home to reinforce all that learning you paid for.

Walk Out. (Yes, Walk Out.)

Not all sessions are worthwhile. If something is really bad, boring, useless, or just not what you expected, as subtly as you can, move on to something else. Sitting on the aisle helps. (I look at my phone, like something urgent just came in.) You can move on to another seminar or take a break. You might make a friend or find an important contact at the coffee bar.

Follow up. Collect all those business cards, make notes about who’s who, and send “Nice to meet you” emails ASAP, during or after the conference, with specific reminders or material as appropriate. Also, Friend and Follow your new contacts on social media.

Which Way to Go

There are writers’ conferences all over the country, some broad-based, some focused on genres or regions. Here in Florida, we have the Florida Writers Conference in Orlando in October and many others, including Sleuthfest in Deerfield Beach in early July (this year only), FAPA in Orlando in late July, and conferences or festivals in Key West, Miami, Sanibel Island, Amelia Island and many others. And that’s not to mention local events throughout the state.

Nationwide, some of the big conferences are Thrillerfest, Bouchercon, Writer’s Digest, and Left Coast Crime. Search the internet for events in your genre or area, or someplace you’re planning to visit anyway.

A Return to Conferences Will Inspire Us, If We Can Just Get Past this Stinking Virus

Seminars and networking are important. But for me, the greatest value of conferences is inspiration. The speeches, seminars and networking always energize me to higher levels of output, and perhaps even higher quality.

So, when you’re ready, get going. Learn, network, pitch, and be inspired. How many things in life are both useful and fun? (And perhaps tax deductible. Not accounting advice. Consult a professional.)

Look for me at the Florida Writers Conference and elsewhere around the circuit. I’ll be the one talking to everyone and trying not to drink too much.