As promised, we’re back with more great advice for conference-goers from a few of your regular RMFW Blog contributors
1) Remember that all people at the conference are approachable, but it’s best to have a few questions to ask. Things like “what do you like best about writing?” or “where do you see your publishing career a year/five years from now?” are a start. Just be sure you’re interested in finding out the answers.
2) Go to the sessions. Yes you get a lot out of the networking, but many of the sessions are absolute gold for information and training in your writing life.
3) Buy CDs and books. The CDs are helpful reminders (and the keynotes are almost ALWAYS motivational) and the books are generally by people attending the conference. How better to support the people who are sharing their gifts with you?
1. Workshop sessions are valuable to every attendee–we can all learn something–but select carefully. Read the descriptions and choose those aimed for your craft level and step-in-the process. If you’re a new writer, stick with the basics and concentrate on where you are in the process so you are not overwhelmed. Advanced writers should focus on advanced craft or marketing or writing life sessions to complement their social recharging.
2. Take advantage of the FULL conference experience. Boost your knowledge by attending sessions. Energize by socializing with other writers. Charge up your commitment to writing by setting new goals.
1. Don’t beat yourself up for not doing it “right.” There are many ways to take in a con experience. You can go to the same con five, six, ten years in a row and never follow the same pattern.
2. Don’t be afraid to take a break. In the past, I’ve spent so much time trying to do everything I thought was important that I wore myself down. If you end up flat on your back from exhaustion, con crud, or whatever, even what you’re able to take home from the con isn’t going to do you as much good as is could have if you listened to your brain and your body.
3. But…don’t be afraid to try anything and everything. Don’t limit yourself because you think an individual workshop might be “too hard” or “too basic,” or not in your genre or whatever. If it looks interesting, or if something’s just tweaking your brain about that event, go. There’s so much to choose from that I’ve been known to close my eyes and point at the program to decide where to go. OTOH, I’ve been to conferences where I picked through the program and created a throughline for myself, following a specific topic from presenter to presenter.
I guess my basic advice is honor yourself even if you feel like you’re wimping out, because you’re probably not, and don’t think because you didn’t do what you think you should that you didn’t get what you could have gotten out of the con. I have no idea if that makes sense, but I know I started enjoying this kind of thing a lot more when I started honoring my need to just get the hell away from everything and everybody from time to time.
1. I think the most important piece of advice I can offer is don’t be afraid to approach an author you’ve read and liked and tell them how much you enjoy their books. That’s a great ice breaker. After an intro like that, every author I know would be more than willing to answer a few questions and perhaps share a tip or two about succeeding in this crazy business. And where to find the authors? If not on a panel, the bar is always a good place to start!!
Again, feel free to add your own conference tips in the comment section. And if you’re attending Colorado Gold for the first time, have a wonderful time.
Great advice! As an conference junky, I can add a couple of things. 1) As Liesa said, go to the sessions–and that gives you things to talk about with the panelists. 2) Choose you panels for what interests you, and if a panel isn’t working for you, or is not what you thought it would be, don’t be shy about slipping out. There will be people coming in and out of every session for various reasons, and no one is going to point a finger at you and yell, “Stay!” I second Jeanne Stein’s advice about approaching “famous” authors whose work you love. I did that at my last conference with one of my all-time favorites and she promptly bought both my books. I have had wonderful conversations with people I admire tremendously. And if they don’t stop to talk, it doesn’t meant you’ve made a mistake–it may mean they need a bathroom break or have someplace they have to be.
I attended my first RMFW conference in 1997, and will never forget the warm welcome, generous sharing, and new friends I made! I’m still attending, and am excited to be giving back to the organization and people who have given so much to me. I’ll be sharing some marketing info in my Sunday morning workshop – come in and learn how to polish your promotional messages for your e-book and/or back cover copy! Looking forward to seeing my good friends, and making some new ones! –Janet Lane