Me and my author friend, Jean Patrick, in Sioux Falls, SD
For the past twelve years, I’ve attended at least one writer’s conference a year. Though there’s never been a year in which doing so has not been a financial sacrifice, neither has there been a year when I’ve left a conference feeling the sacrifice was wasted.
The conference I’ve attended most frequently has been one for children’s writers and illustrators in
I also had the great privilege of attending the coveted Highlights-sponsored Writers Workshop at Chautauqua in 2002. I arrived in
For the past two summers, I’ve gone on a writing retreat at St. Benedict’s Monastery as a scholar through a program that has offered me reprieve from a busy summer at home and a haven in which to write, pray and eat without distraction.
This past fall, I attended the National Federation of Press Women communications conference in
Most recently, this past weekend, I enjoyed a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Sioux Falls, SD, an experience that afforded me the unexpected chance to not only learn from but dine with (twice) an editor from Simon & Schuster and an agent from Upstart Crow Literary, as well as other faculty and attendants.
Fresh from the benefits of this weekend’s conference, I felt inspired to mention in my debut post at Peace Garden Writer that if you are a writer, whether seasoned or otherwise, or dream of being one, don’t hesitate to consider and attend a conference. Do whatever you can to find one that meets as many of your expectations and needs as possible. They are everywhere, just waiting for you to show up and be transformed.
Perhaps if the above isn’t enough to convince you, this list of “Top Ten Reasons to Attend a Writers’ Conference” will be:
10. You don’t feel anyone takes your writing dreams seriously. A conference can be the beginning of you taking yourself seriously, which can start you on the path of becoming a true writer.
9. The food is generally excellent, and you don’t have to cook for yourself or your family for a day or two or more. (This alone makes it so worth the effort!)
8. You will have a chance to meet folks in the publishing world you would not have access to any other way – editors, publishers, illustrators, agents; i.e., the movers and shakers.
7. Oftentimes, editors at conferences, even if they are closed to submissions, will allow one submission from each conference attendant. They are looking to discover new authors, just as you are looking to be discovered. Sometimes they offer critiques of samples of your work, which can also be very valuable.
6. Even if you don’t get signed on with an agent or editor, you will be one step closer to reaching that eventual dream. You certainly will be closer than your friend who decided to stay home and catch up on re-runs of “Survivor.”
5. Everyone needs to get away from Dodge every once in a while. Here’s your chance to do that and learn some really awesome things that will have a direct impact on the success of your writing life.
4. If you’ve never been in a room filled with kindred spirits, it’s high time you experienced that amazing thrill.
3. By staying home, you’ll miss the chance to hear stories like how one author narrowly escaped death while observing leopard seals in the Antarctic (see this post).
2. If you don’t go, you’ll be denied the chance to hear about the debut best-selling novel, Puppies in Space. (This is an inside joke you’ll only appreciate if you attended the conference I did this past weekend. You don’t want to have to keep missing out on all the good inside jokes, do you?)
1. Impossible things are happening every day, and you won’t know if it’s your day unless you show up!
Q 4 U: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you at a conference? If you’ve never attended one, what would be your hoped-for outcome if you did have the chance?
Yeah! i’m the first follower!
Love this whole page my dear.
And, thank you for this post – it makes me feel better about the few hundren bucks we just shelled out so I could attend the writer’s conference in Madison, WI in 2 weeks! It will be my frist one and I can’t wait.
Awesome new site and great post! Your encouraging words helps to escape the guilt monkey that chases after me when I spend money and time on a “dream”!
Great new site, Roxane. Good luck with it. I am still dreaming about Puppies in Space:-)
Karin Larson
http://www.karin-larson.blogspot.com
Hi, Roxane, well done! Not only have conferences improved my skills and kept me current with the publishing industry, they have given me life-long friends, the best result of all. Are conferences worth the time and money? Yes!
So great to see your lovely faces this morning gals! What a way to launch my blog. I feel loved, and inspired. Happy writing today!
Making a lasting and deeper connection to you, my writer-mama-pal, and so many others. The kindred spirit element is the hook line and sinker. People at conferences “get” you. I would rather spend my travel dollars on a good conference than Disney World. Well done. Bravo on the new look, launch, and career!
Hi Roxane!
I’ve only been to one conference, but the best thing for me was meeting friends and being surrounded by hundreds of other people who loved writing just as much as I do. It was pretty inspiring.
Hi Roxane. Great post. I missed the UND conference last fall (just up the road from me in Grand Forks; I live in Mayville) and I missed Sioux Falls. I am going to a conference for YA and children’s writers at the Loft in Minneapolis May 1. Very excited! Even more so after reading your blog list today. Thanks for sharing.
Is it bad that #9 sounds the most appealing?? Lol, I’m (mostly!) just kidding! 🙂 I’ve never attended a conference, but I hope to in the near future. There’s a couple big things we’re saving for right now, but a writer’s conference is next on the list! My hoped-for outcome would be meeting writer friends.
What a beautiful new site — clean, attractive, stylish. Love it! I am so excited about this new forum for you, Roxane.
And this is a great post to launch it. Reason #1 is so true and so compelling. And like Laura, I’m partial to #9 too (and I don’t even have kids yet!)
Congratulations on the new site! It is wonderful! I have just signed up for an online writing class (starting next week) and this is getting me motivated to write!
Laura, I could easily have moved #9 to a more prominent position. Not having to think of food preparation is a huge luxury for a busy writer! (I am thinking of the post you wrote last week about forgetting to make dinner :))
R.K. Mortenson, you may not have been in Sioux Falls but your name came up. It was good, which is why you probably didn’t feel a twitch in your nose. (Or did you?) 🙂
Melinda, Christina, Mary, Natalie: Your nice comments remind me that some of the benefits received at a conference can also be obtained through having supportive friends, online and otherwise.
You’ve all made my debut very enjoyable. Thanks!
I love your new blog, Roxane! It’s informative and inspirational.
Speaking of writing conferences, have you considered attending the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN) conference in Penn. this August (2nd through 4th)? The Catholic Writer’s Guild is connected with it.
I will most-likely be presenting again this year. Last year I gave a talk along with one of my publishers. This year I may give a talk on Mother Teresa and also one with my publisher again about publishing!
God bless you and your work, Roxane!
Donna, another incredible experience for you! That sounds like one I should put on my list of hopes for the future. It would be great to meet you at a conference one day! (Feels like we have met already — will be good to solidify our friendship in that way.)
My name came up? Well, my nose wasn’t twitching before, but now… 🙂
I go by Randy, btw.
The only thing I question about your blog is the time. Literally. It says I commented at 7:35AM. I was up, but not quite posting then. 🙂 (And I was really amazed at the other early bird comments.)
Writerly blessings,
Randy, from here on out, you are Randy. I just keep seeing you all over (well, Rachelle’s blog at least) and the RK stuck. I do remember you from Grand Forks though. 🙂
Thanks for the heads up on the time. I’ll have to check on that.
Writerly blessings back!
Hi Roxane!
Lovely new blog. Thanks for the heads up. (I love your picture!) I’m thrilled for your new venture! And what a great list about conferences! For me, the best thing was getting to meet some friends that I’ve made online through blogging. I’m looking forward to that opportunity again in Sept. at ACFW.
I think the camaraderie between fellow writers would make it all worth it for me. As you know, I’m dying to make it to a conference and share that coffee with you! I long to spend quality time with other writers, to visit with the agents and editors I know only by name and reputation online, to present my lousy pitch…the usual. 🙂
This is a very professional site, well done! I only attended one conference years ago & saw all of these esteemed writers/authors…thought I might someday become one of them; not happening yet. Conferences provide that motivating factor writers need to continue their personal creative journey.
Clara.
Jody and Shannon, glad you found me here. I was excited to share my writing blog with you two. And Clara, thank you. Oh, and know that you ARE an esteemed writer. We all have the capacity to affect others through our writing. I hope you’ll have a chance to experience more conference and writing high points in the coming year.
Ohhh… you’re making me long for a conference!!! I’ve gone to one the last two years, but this year will probably be the first year I have to miss out. I’m expecting baby #4, so the ones I was going to go to… well, one of them is going on over my due date, so THAT isn’t going to happen, and the other is 2 months after baby arrives, and I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to do that… I’m still praying about hubby, baby and I going, but it’d be a challenge, and I’m so sure God doesn’t want us to sit this year out.
Loved all of your points though! I’m with Jody… one of the GREATEST things is meeting other writers and connecting with those you have a virtual friendship with. It’s what I will miss the most this year!!!
Krista, first of all, congrats on your “promotion!” I’d seen this news on your blog a while back and am so excited for you. You will find a way, as I did all those years while toting a baby, even if it’s not your first-choice conference. Plan B can be just as wonderful. They all have something to offer. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Like your idea of a separate blog with focus on writing. Great picture and post.
What a wonderful site! I’ll be sharing it with people who approach me about learning the nuts and bolts of writing. God bless!
Wonderful, Roxane!! Way to go –and many blessings on this new venture! You are amazing 🙂
Roxane, a very timely post as I’m about to leave for a writer’s conference tomorrow! I think the ultimate goal of many writers attending conferences is that they land an agent, publisher, or at the very least, a new writing assignment. I managed to get a steady blogging gig out of the last conference I attended, and I’m hopeful that something similar will happen this time. Congrats on the new blog!
Roxane, my first day as a civilian and I am reading your new blog. I love it so far. I will be attending my first conference in Seattle this July. I am so very excited. I will keep you posted!