The Top Ten Reasons Writers Go to Conferences

& How They Matched my Experience 

10. To attend autograph parties —

Yes, there was an autograph party, and no, I didn’t attend, because it started after 9:00 p.m. and my coach turns into a pumpkin after 8:30. I was lucky to be awake for the keynote.

9. To eat catered meals with people uncomfortable talking to each other

— Since I prepaid for the meals, I ate them. And I bonded with my fellow writers over two gripping questions.

First, if there are eight place settings per table, why are there only six desserts?

Was is a secret social mixer?

The atmosphere tingled with the unanswered question — Who would be the first to say, “I never eat dessert?” No one.

Next question: Are there more desserts in the back?

Final question: If we grab for the desserts, should we just start eating before we know if everyone receives a dessert? Because otherwise we might have to offer to share?” These questions extended beyond the dinner hour into every session I attended the next day.

Second Question: If there are over 600 people in attendance, why is there only one bar station? Surely they know many writers drink. People were reluctant to voice this question with the same intensity as the mystery of the missing desserts, perhaps because they don’t want to come off as a people who drink. But I figure, hey, no one stopped reading Hemingway because he drank.

8. To learn how to self-publish a book.

I failed this class.

7. To learn how to write a successful novel.

Edit-Revise. Repeat endlessly. Put this novel aside and start the next one. Question – what is meant by the term “successful”?

6. To find out how to use social media.

After you set up the accounts, you pretty much have to figure that out yourself. Thanks – that doesn’t help.

5. To find out what a platform is.

Social media + Web page + Blog. And, you should know your audience. So if you’re writing a book on dog grooming, blogging about cats probably won’t help. OK.

4. To learn about tax write-offs.

Alas this topic wasn’t covered. Possibly because few attendees earned enough to qualify for write-offs.

3. To find out why editors are so critical.

Possibly the wrong question. The first issue is to figure out what sort of editor you need. Developmental editors look at the whole piece to make sure you have a coherent story. Copy editors make sure that the character with a limp in chapter 2 still has the limp in chapter 18, unless, of course he’s had a miracle cure. Finally, there are proof readers handle typos, commas, etc.

2. To learn how to sell a book.

It’s all about marketing. *head bang*
Finally, the number one reasons writers, despite their voiced intent to self-published, to to conferences: To meet an agent –

This I managed to do. Two publishing editors and seven agents thought my description was interesting enough to request email submissions. This, of course, made me happy. The tricky part is whether my written work catches their interest.

So, there you have it — how I spent my weekend. I learned a bit. I met nice people. And I affirmed that I’m on the right path to bring my story of RAMA to publication. If you’d like to know more about that project, you can read about it by selecting the “Project” tab above.

The post Sandra & The PNWA Conference first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

So, what do you call it when 400 or so writers congregate in the same place? A Writers’ Conference. These events occur across the country this time of year, and, as social events, they’re distinctly odd. People clutching bags or briefcases line up alphabetically to retrieve their registration packets. Most keep their eyes straight ahead, trying to remember why they wanted to come to the conference. Which is why today I’m sharing my version of the Top Ten Reasons Writers Go to Conferences.

Top Ten Reasons Writers Go to Conferences:

10. To attend autograph parties filled with people gushing around a successful author hoping the fairy dust will rub off. – Wow! So that’s what success looks like.

9. To eat catered meals with people uncomfortable talking to each other, but trying to be pleasant. – Are you going to eat your dessert?

8. To learn how to self-publish a book in 18 excruciating steps. – What do you mean by “upload the manuscript”? Up to where?

7. To learn how to write a successful novel. – Noooo. Don’t make me take out the prologue.

6. To find out how to use social media. – I don’t want to and you can’t make me.

5. To find out what a “platform” is and how to build it – My book is my platform.

4. To learn about tax write-offs. – The trip to Paris should be tax deductible. It was research.

3. To find out why editors are so critical – I’m not cutting the scene and you can’t make me.

2. To learn how to sell a book – Honestly, it’s so fabulous it’ll sell itself.

1. And the Number One reason writers emerge from their caves: To meet an agent who will fall in love with my book and get me a six-figure advance. – Please, please, please like me.

I’ll be attending the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Conference at the end of the week. Once again held at the Sea-Tac Airport Hilton. I’ll let you know what happens.

Acknowledgements:

Featured Photo – a Portrait of Jean Mielot by Jean Le Tavernier, 15th Century, US Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

The post TEN REASONS TO GO TO A WRITERS’ CONFERENCE first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.