Writers' Conferences, What do you think?

I'm going to two this year and have been to three others. In truth, I really haven't had a negative experience. But I also researched them online first to see if they would even be a good fit. Some conferences have agents and publishers and name authors attending them. Others are done by colleges, with the focus on learning the craft, rather than selling it (those always seem to have writers I've never even heard of).

You do have to keep your expectations in line when you go, though. I think a lot of people go just because they think magic will happen, and they'll get their foot in the door. The problem is that your story still needs to be able to stand up for itself. If it doesn't, meeting the agent isn't going to make any difference from sending them a query letter. But meeting the agents does give you a chance to see their real people, see how they work, and with some conferences, actually talk to them.

There are two thriller oriented conferences this year. One is the International Thriller Writer's conference in New York: http://www.thrillerwriters.org That one is very expensive.

The other is one that will likely have a thriller emphasis, and that's the Backspace conference. http://bksp.org/

Some more conferences are listed over the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller board.

I've only been to one conference, and while I wouldn't call it a negative experience, there were definitely elements that made me feel that perhaps it was a bad fit. Here's a list of my general impressions, so I don't know if it will help, but for what it's worth:

Socially, it was interesting because I was way (way, way) younger than most of the other attendees. I also had a different kind of education, different reading tastes, and even though it was a genre conference and I write fantasy and horror, it seemed like I write different stories. There was nothing bad or disappointing about these differences themselves, and I met a lot of really interesting people. However, I often felt that many of the conference-goers were inclined to treat me more like a child than an adult. I believe that it really was out of kindness and a desire to mentor, but I had well-meaning people explaining self-explanatory things to me constantly—about writing, publishing, networking. All kinds of people were cautioning me against various newbie mistakes and giving me writing tips, and it became kind of exhausting after awhile.

The agent and editor panels were wonderful and entertaining. It gave me a chance to see a side of publishing that I don't know a lot about, and to really get an understanding of the way people's sensibilities differ across the board, just like with anything else. I liked listening to editors and agents talk with each other about projects and concerns and what they get really excited about. This was the part that seemed most “worth it” to me.

I was not at all impressed with the workshops. Because each generally ran only about an hour, the information was very cursory, and mostly reiterated things I've either read on my own or studied in school. A lot of the books that the presenters used as examples were books that I hadn't read, or else books that I don't particularly like and certainly don't think are shockingly good (Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Laurel K. Hamilton). I know that's a matter of taste, and these are books that sell extremely well, but I generally didn't find what the presenters had to say about them informative. It was especially frustrating, because I would get very excited about the titles of the workshops—they promised so much—and then by the end I would usually wind up feeling cheated

Although you do find all different types of people everywhere, it seemed that the conference proportionately drew more people who were likely to monopolize discussions, argue senselessly with the presenters, and generally exhibit very poor social skills. This does not at all represent the group as whole, but these types certainly made themselves more visible than those who were content to listen and behave in a more civilized way.

It seems like there are many writers who enjoy conferences, get a lot of out them, and make useful contacts. My experience just doesn't happen to mirror that. I'm glad I went, but I don't think I would want to go to another one. In the end, I just didn't feel like it was worth the money.

P.S. The food was excellent, though.

Conferences vary so widely that it's almost impossible to offer an overall positive or negative, Rob B.

Small local or regional conferences may give you some idea of whether they're a good fit for you. Check local newspapers, check with colleges and universities, bookstores, and Google your genre/area -- or ask in forums such as this one.

The national conferences put on by the ITW and Backspace have been rated highly by attendees. Various mystery groups put on yearly conferences.

The thing is, you really do need to figure out what you need or expect from a conference. Workshops can cover anything from basics (manuscript formatting, for instance) to how to understand legal terms in publisher contracts or how to build your readership through promotion. Some cons offer editor or agent appointments (which tend to be brief, hectic, and stressful), or just opportunities to schmooze with other writers and people in publishing during lunches or cocktail parties.

You also have to keep in mind that some workshops may be "taught" by people with little more -- or even less -- experience than you have yourself, so weigh the information offered carefully.

Even experts in the field and Big Names are still, virtually always, offering their own opinions based on their own experiences.

All that said, conferences are great ways to build social networks with other authors, and while the internet has allowed us to form a different kind of long-distance social network, there's nothing like sitting in a hotel lobby or at the bar talking one-on-one with someone else sharing useful information.

CheshireCat said:

You also have to keep in mind that some workshops may be "taught" by people with little more -- or even less -- experience than you have yourself, so weigh the information offered carefully.

Click to expand...

No joke. A few months ago I checked out a regional writing organization to see if I wanted to be a member. They had several local workshops on getting published. I decided to pass on membership after I checked out the publishing credits for the writers giving the workshops--all the writers had been published through Publish America!

Rob, you might do a search for writer's conferences, we've discussed various ones (and conferences in general) at length before. You might find something interesting.

Some are less worth while then others. Depending on the costs and investment required to attend, and your goals.

Linda Adams said:

No joke. A few months ago I checked out a regional writing organization to see if I wanted to be a member. They had several local workshops on getting published. I decided to pass on membership after I checked out the publishing credits for the writers giving the workshops--all the writers had been published through Publish America!

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's like turning up for a booksigning only to find that every other author there self-published their Magnificent Novel (which they discuss that way, capped and emphasized) and is engaged in aggressively hawking it to every startled passerby.



One of the problems with conferences, I believe, is that too often it's the newbies "teaching" workshops, mostly because (again, IMO) they're still in that no-man's-land between books #1 or #2 and around book #5 or #6.

That's when you think you actually know what you're doing, and are eager to share your wisdom.

If you're lucky enough to reach book #5 or thereabouts, you generally discover that you actually don't know shit.

It's a curiously freeing discovery.

And you stop teaching workshops.

I've attended a few. I think the most valuable thing about conferences is NOT workshopping, panels, or getting chummy with agents but meeting other writers, and if you can find a person who is as serious as you about writing, that can be an invaluable experience.

I've attended a few local conferences and I had a good time. I met a couple of my favorite authors, which I enjoyed from a reader's perspective. I met an editor and an agent and both were quite nice and friendly. Most of all, I met some other people who are wannabes and we have a bit of a support group going on. I have volunteered at a conference and got free tuition for my efforts.

A piece of advice (not necessarily for the OP, but for anyone who is interested):If the money is a problem, contact the organizers and see if you can work for a discount. I did not miss any sessions but I spent the day before setting up and checked in now and then to see if my help was needed.

I had fun, socialized, learned some stuff....

ETA: The Hillerman conference in ABQ focuses on mysteries, if you are interested in that.

I've attended one conference. I met my former agent there, which at the time I thought was great. Unfortunately, after a year of representing me, she was unable to sell my book and we went our separate ways. She's a reputable agent, but in retrospect I wouldn't have signed with the first person who offered.

I've been to four writers conferences. One was local, more of a presentation by a single speaker on how one could get published. One was a regional conference, with writing classes and appointments with writers--no editors or agents. The other two were national conferences, Christian oriented. Both were valuable in terms of craft development and networking, and meeting with editors and agents. However, at $1,000 a pop by the time you add in travel, not including burning almost a week of vacation for each, I don't think the value justified the cost. All of my appointments with a&e did not pan out, with one still not completed either for acceptance or rejection. At this point I have no plans to attend any others, though I haven't ruled it out for next year.

NDG

I posted a link to International Thriller Writers on your Newbie Room thread, Rob (not realizing you had two threads.) But I'm also asking a few thriller writers I know down in Florida what they'd recommend, so stay tuned.

Oh, and BTW--I notice you're responding to each individual post. Just so you know, there's a much easier way! If you look next to the QUOTE button on the bottom of posts, there's another button with an end quotation mark ("). If you click this button on EACH of the posts you want to respond to and then click the POST REPLY at the bottom, they'll all show up in a single post, so all you have to do is type between the quotes to respond. This is a BRAND NEW thing on the forum, and it's very cool!

Go if you enjoy going to them for their own sake, not for what they might or might not do for your writing or your ability to sell material.

Rob B said:

Thank you. Can you tell me anything more about the Hillerman conference?

Click to expand...

As a thriller writer in Albuquerque and a Hillerman fan, I can answer that. Click here for more information. They also have a great contest.

I've been to 3 conferences in the past year and each was very good. If you are in the Eastern Pennsylvania area, I would recommend:

Greater Lehigh Valley's Write Stuff

Philadelphia Writers' Conference

Montgomery County Community College Writers Club's Conference (note: this is held in the fall and they still have last year's info up).