How to Make the Most of a Writing Conference
A Guide for Newbies Joining the Writing Community
This the second in a two-part series for first-time writing conference attendees. For Part 1 on what to expect and how to choose the right conference for you, click here.
As I stood at the entrance of my first writing conference, surrounded by authors greeting each other with news of landing agents and publishing books, cold panic ran through me. My heart pounded in my chest. These were real writers. What was I doing there?
But I couldn’t turn back, I’d paid good money to attend the conference. So I did what I always do when I get nervous — I struck up a conversation with the person next to me.
Funny enough, this was also her first conference, and she was so nervous she was shaking.
That’s the moment I realized we all start somewhere, and maybe my experiences could help someone else overcome that initial fear.
Writing conferences can propel your writing career forward in ways you never expect, if you open yourself up to the opportunity.
Below I’ve included tips on how to make the most of your first conference, and how to tap into a superpower you already hold.
Taking That First Step
You made that first step by choosing and registering for a writing conference. But as you’re about to head out the door, you’re all butterflies. What now?
First, breathe.
These people are your peers. They are attending this conference because, like you, they also want to geek out on their writing craft.
Writing conference attendees are the people you can debate third-versus-first Point of View (POV), and the people who will happily explain it to you if you don’t know, just so you can join in on the discussion.
So, relax. If you write, these are your people.
Review The Conference Schedule
You may have had a chance to review the workshop schedule ahead of time, but now is the time to review it at length. You’ll want to take note of the following:
- Workshops you don’t want to miss
- Any interview times you’ve secured to meet with an agent or publisher
- Free time in the schedule
Believe it or not, free time is critical.
Packing so much new information into only a few days of workshops results in information overload. You need a break.
Empty time slots on your schedule can be used for writing, checking out a book signing, or to meet up with other attendees if the opportunity arises.
Or, you can sneak back to your room for a nap. Nobody’s judging. You paid for the conference, so make the schedule work for you.
Personally, I like to use down-time to organize any new contact info I’ve received, and to make notes to remind myself why I want to follow up with that person after the conference.
Customize The Conference To Fit You
Now that you know your schedule for the next few days, remember it is flexible.
You don’t have to attend every session. Likewise, if a workshop isn’t quite what you expected, slip out the door. Leaving is perfectly acceptable, so long as it isn’t too disruptive.
With a free time block, you can either hurry into another workshop you might be interested in, or take advantage of the down-time.
I’ll let you in on a secret : You probably won’t benefit from the workshops you should go to as much as you think.
Go to sessions that spark your curiosity. This is the time to explore what you don’t know, so follow a whim. Sit on a session on humor, sword fighting logistics, or writing sex scenes. You’ll likely find yourself more inspired afterward, which will be an incredible boost your craft.
I’m In The First Session, Now What?
Before the session starts, introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Tell them this is your first conference. You’ll likely get a business card in return, or perhaps an opening to conversation later.
On my first day, I asked the person next to me a question about what to expect from the panel we were about to hear.
As it turned out, she was a conference faculty member, who opened my eyes to the industry when she said I could pay for a pitch session with a top agent but instead use the time to ask specific advice on genre selection and positioning my book in the marketplace.
My mind was blown. And if I hadn’t taken her advice, I wouldn’t know half of what I understand about the industry now. I wouldn’t have even known where to start.
Pro Tip: Not sure what genre your manuscript fits into? Schedule a pitch session with an agent or publisher and ask. It will be well worth the money and save you a ton of time and wasted queries. Plus, if they’re interested, they’ll ask to read it. Win-win!
In addition to approachable faculty, many of the presenters will also share their contact info. Write it down or take a quick photo of the presentation.
Presenters already want to help, so you know they’ll be receptive to questions. Otherwise, why would they have shared their info?
Remember, you belong here. If you have a question, raise your hand and ask. Or seek out faculty afterward. You paid for the experience, so take advantage.
You’ll find most people are eager to help, because if one thing is true about the writing community: Writers love talking about writing.
Which leads me to your superpower.
Embrace Being A Conference Newbie
As a writing conference newbie, you have an instant excuse to strike up conversation, randomly join discussions, and ask the “dumb” questions. (Spoiler Alert: There are no dumb questions.)
You have a free pass for no judgement, so use it.
Not only will you learn even more, but you’ll find many writers are welcoming and want to help you become part of the club.
Say hello, ask questions, and straight up ask for help from strangers. You’ll be glad you did.
First person you talk to doesn’t seem interested in starting a conversation? Move to the next. Sometimes an introvert is just tapped out. And there are many introverts among us, so be kind.
Some of the more seasoned conference attendees are eager to help new writers find their place in the community. You’ll know us when you see us — chatting excitedly wherever we are: panel audience, lunch line, restroom line… Come talk to us.
Even if you don’t have the courage to speak up, join the group conversation. We will notice you.
I always try to introduce new folks and bring them into the discussion. Truly, some of us live for making writer connections, so make of use the one time you get to ask for help without feeling at all embarrassed by what you don’t know.
Information Overload
As the conference races to a close, you’ll likely feel dizzy and overwhelmed from all of the new information rushing your way.
That’s OK. In fact, it’s pretty normal.
Even the most seasoned conference attendees struggle to retain the sheer volume of information.
Set aside time each day, more frequently if you can, to review your notes and highlight anything you really don’t want to forget.
In the moment, a tip from a presenter can feel like a lightning strike, but after a full day of workshops it will be lost in all your notes.
Make note of any time a presenter offered more information on a website or handout. These will be easier to digest when you’ve returned from your conference and have the time to thorough read through the materials.
Also note any people you want to follow up with later.
I use a highlighter to draw a star by all contacts that worked their way into my notes. Since it usually takes a few days to decompress after a conference, this ensures I won’t overlook or forget any important contacts.
Conferences Are As Much About Networking As Craft
Writing may be a solitary pursuit, but it’s the community that makes all the difference in your success.
Ultimately, a writing conference is all about the opportunity to meet other writers. The workshops are educational, and some real opportunities come from conferences, but the real, long-lasting results include a bigger writing network.
Some of the people you meet may turn into a beta reader, a critique partner, or even a lifelong writing friend who helps you keep your sanity through the manuscript submission process.
These are the people who understand the struggle of getting words on a page.
They are the ones who understand how much a bad review can gut you.
Those people you stayed at the bar with until far too late last night? Make sure to get their contact info. Anyone you click with might be helpful as you work your way thought your writing projects.
Give As Much As You Receive
Most importantly, recognize your own value at this conference.
If you’re new to writing conferences, you may be working in a different industry at your day job. That’s useful knowledge. Writers are always looking for new topics and new professions to explore. (Ever notice how tons of protagonists in books are writers? Give us something new!)
Maybe you have useful skills or insight to share based on life experiences.
Or maybe simply providing your observations as somebody new to the community can help us improve. Conference coordinators are always looking for feedback on how user-friendly a conference is.
Start small, but start giving back to the community now.
Networking is about giving as much as it is receiving. You’ll find that the more you give, the bigger the results that come back to you.
So get out there. Make some writer friends, sit back and take in the luxury of consuming nothing but your interests for the day. And if we happen to be at the same writing conference, come up and say hello!
