More Questions? Join our
FACEBOOK GROUP
for Conference attendees!
Conference is almost here!
In addition to the previous conference day-by-day walk-through info post, here is some practical information to help you get organized:
Parking: Parking is free at the hotel for conference attendees. Yay! You’ll need to validate your parking ticket at the front desk before you leave.
Airport Train Info: From the airport, you’ll need to take the Light Rail train, ($9.00) to the the Central Park Station, which is 0.7 miles from the hotel. If you arrive and there is no shuttle present, call the hotel. They will pick you up at the station. For more details about train times, station stops, and other info, download the RTD info flyer or check out the LIGHT RAIL schedule. There is no longer a free shuttle from the airport.
First-Timer Meeting: On Friday at 12:00pm (before conference officially begins), our New Attendee Liaison, Kevin Wolf, will be hosting our “first timer meeting” in the Vail Room. This is an opportunity to meet some of the RMFW conference staff and get a brief orientation about conference. We will also have a special prize to give away to one lucky attendee! This meeting will last about 30 minutes. Feel free to bring lunch or purchase a boxed lunch from the hotel kiosk.
Conference Badges: Your 2017 official conference badge must be worn AT ALL TIMES. If you are not wearing your official conference badge, you’ll be asked to retrieve it. Without your official conference badge you will not be able to attend the meals. If you RSVP’d to bring a guest to any meals, your guest must wear their official guest badge in order to attend the meals. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Don’t Forget! Bring a Blank Journal to Conference! 
RMFW Special Guest, Stuart Horwitz, is delighted to share: Book Architecture has partnered with Cocoon Journal, a non-profit organization that puts blank books in the hands of high school writers.
The idea is that by writing, they can clear their head (and maybe generate the first draft of a future project). Do you have some blank journals lying around that you aren’t using? Now, the solution: BRING THEM TO CONFERENCE! Cocoon Journal will be collecting unused, blank journals during Colorado Gold this September. You can also ship blank journals to: Cocoon Journal P.O. Box 740340, Arvada, CO 80006.
Classes to Prep For: If there are classes on the schedule that you’re planning to attend, be sure to read the class description in the event the instructor wants you to bring something to use in class. Some that have requested a mention:
- Deep Revision Master Class – Heather Webb: Bring a some pages of your writing to work on in this session.
- The Joy of Writing Great Sex – Andrea Catalano & Heather Webb: Anyone who’d like to participate in an anonymous critique may bring one printed page from one of their scenes without a name on it. We’ll read aloud and talk about what’s working and what isn’t.
- The Art of the Author Reading – Aimie Runyan: please bring a short cutting from one of your works! Laptop, printed pages, bound book–anything you can read from comfortably.
- The Faster I Go, The Behinder I Get – Becky Clark: Check the handouts download and bring a paper copy of the calendar with the times down the side. We’ll be doing an exercise with that one
Handouts: Handouts are available online. Check the HANDOUTS page often as we get closer to conference and more are added by our presenters. Please download handouts to your device or print them at home. You *can* download them at the hotel using the public wifi in the common areas of the hotel, but you will have to leave the classrooms to do so. While there is Wi-Fi in the hotel, there is NO Wi-Fi in the classrooms.
Wi-Fi: There is wifi in the hotel public areas but there is NO WIFI in the classrooms for presenters or attendees. If you wish to access the handouts for a class but your device requires wifi, you will need to download them before your class.
Agent & Editor Pitch Appointments: If you requested one, your specific appointment details will be included in your registration packet. There will be a separate check-in table for the pitch appointments located on the third floor. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment. If you have any questions or conflicts regarding your pitch appointment, you will need to speak to the volunteers at the third-floor check-in table. Additional pitch appointments are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis while space allows. Any questions about booking additional free pitches should be handled at the check-in table for the pitches with our Pitch Master, Mike Ruchhoeft, and his team of volunteers.
Preparing for Your Pitch Appointment: We always have many questions about pitch appointments. Remember to relax and know that the agent is there to hear about your story. It’s ok to be nervous. It’s ok to ask questions. Your appointment should be a conversation. It’s not a requirement that you have your pitch memorized; bring notes and read from them if that’s what you need to get it right. For more prep, here is an excellent blog post from RMFW Pitch Coach, Susan Spann.
Have a Special Appointment? Arrive 10-minutes early please! If you have an appointment with Pitch Coaching, Mentor Room, One-on-Ones, or Agent/Editor Pitches, etc., please arrive 10-minutes before your appointment. This helps everyone stay on schedule and prevents delays.
Leaving Classes In-Session: If you signed up for an appointment, it is likely that you will have to leave a workshop in-session in order to attend. If you need to leave a workshop in-session, this is perfectly fine and happens throughout conference. Simply gather your things and quietly depart. Once your appointment is over, feel free to return to any workshop in-session.
Conference Check-in/Registration: Conference Check-in will be at the bottom of the escalators, accessible from the lobby. If you’re attending a Friday morning session (Master Class or a Critique Round Table) check-in opens at 7am. If you’re not attending a morning session, check-in opens at 10:30am.
Need Help? Have Questions? “ASK ME”: We have a whole army of conference veterans who know the ropes and are there for you to ask questions. If you see someone with an ASK ME ribbon on their badge… don’t be shy! Also, the Registration Table is HQ for conference. We will have volunteers there just about all the time throughout conference, so this is another place to go if you need assistance.
At-A-Glance Schedule & Brochure: The AAG is the go-to document when you’re looking for the workshop schedule. There are lots of shifts that happen with the AAG over the months leading up to the conference, and the brochure updates lag behind. In the event the brochure elves slip up and there is a discrepancy, the AAG is the true schedule.
Workshop Recordings: All the open workshops/panel programming at conference are recorded. If you’re unable to be in two places at once, or if a class was especially helpful to you and you want to listen to it in the future, purchase a copy during conference at the recording room, next door to Boulder Creek. Orders placed before the end of the day on Saturday will be available on Sunday. Orders placed on Sunday will be shipped to you.
What to Wear: Dress comfortably for conference, and wear shoes that make walking easy. You’ll do a lot of walking at conference. Dress in layers to be sure you aren’t too hot or cold as the temperature shifts. Some people do dress up for the Friday Kickoff and Saturday Awards Banquets, but you’re going to see everything from jeans to cocktail dresses and capri pants to suits. Don’t be afraid to dress up, but be equally assured that you can wear whatever makes you comfortable.
Need a Break? Take a Break! You don’t have to attend a session every hour. If you need to take a break, then you’re totally welcome to skip a session, go back to your room, hang in the open areas, or find a quiet place to write.
Drink Water! CO is very dry, and if you’re not from here, it can come as quite a shock how easy it is to become dehydrated. Drink lots of water. Drink lots of water. Drink lots of water. And if you’re not sure… DRINK LOTS OF WATER!
Meals: Your conference registration includes several meals:
- Fri Lunch – ON YOUR OWN
- Fri Dinner – Kickoff Banquet, Plated Meal, Included
- Sat Breakfast – Continental style, Included (7-8a)
- Sat Lunch – Buffet style, Included
- Sat Dinner – Awards Banquet – Plated Meal, Included
- Sun Breakfast – Continental style, Included (7-8a)
- Sun Lunch – Buffet style, Included
Conference Badges: Your 2017 official conference badge must be worn AT ALL TIMES. If you are not wearing your official conference badge, you’ll be asked to retrieve it. Without your official conference badge you will not be able to attend the meals. If you RSVP’d to bring a guest to any meals, your guest must wear their official guest badge in order to attend the meals. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Excellent! Thank you. I admit to being a bit anxious ; this list helps.