Ari's right, I've spoken there a couple of times and have chaired quite a few panel discussions, usually the ones with agents.
Just seen this on Twitter. Has anyone been before? I'm most interested in the 1-2-1's. I've provisionally booked one with an agent who seems to have childrens books on her 'wants' lists but I'm not 100% sure what I'm really doing and as it's £174 it's a lot of money for me to waste on just having a general brief chat with someone.
Any advice etc?
Thanks.
It is a LOT of money to spend, but if you're gregarious and have stamina it's a fun event to attend.
The one-to-ones are very brief, though: they're limited to just five or ten minutes and while I know a few people who give very good advice in the ten minutes they're assigned, I also know a few others who are less organised and focused. Also, if the publishing professionals giving you the advice have been heavily scheduled they're going to be tired and might not be as together as you'd want them to be.
It can be a bit of a lottery. But it can be very helpful too. BUT you can get just as good advice here at AW for free.
I've found one of the agents doing 121's does MG which is where my MS is positioned. It's going to cost me £240 to attend a number of talks and workshops but most importantly for me is that 121.
It's a lot of money but I'm very tempted....
Again, the one to ones are helpful, but they are limited by the short period of time you have with the agent or editor concerned.
I have the exact same worries and concerns as you - new writer, haven't got a clue what I'm doing, know I'm going to make a fool of myself.
But the equation I did turned in a conclusion that:
Concerns of making myself look stupid < my desire to get my MS published.
I did the same equation on:
£240 < how much I'd pay to help me get my MS published.
Going to York is not going to get you published. Writing a good book, revising it well, and submitting it appropriately, might.
If you think you'd enjoy a weekend of talks and meeting new people and late nights and early mornings then go, attend, you'll get a lot out of it. But if you're only going in the hope of being picked up by the agent who gives you a one to one, or of being told a Great Publishing Secret by that agent which will get you published, think again. There are no guarantees.