The Good, the Bad, and the Truth About Writers' Conferences
I have been to two (count them), yes, two writers' conferences, so to say my experience is limited is to say exactly how much I know about them. But I have some advice about the writers' conference, both good, and not so good, nonetheless.
Here's the short version: Save your money.
Here's the longer version: Save your money. Save your money. Save your money.
Now for the extended-dance-party-mix-version...
The Good: At both conferences I got to meet face-to-face with agents, editors (a.k.a. Book Doctors), and other, more successful authors. Meeting with agents in particular was a nerve-wracking experience comparable to asking a supermodel out on a date or meeting God with a guilty conscience (NOT because they were all that good-looking or all-powerful, but because they had your heart and/or your fate in their hands). Some of their advice I still carry with me to this day, along with my later, more or less, tragic epiphany; which brings me to the bad...
The Bad: I payed close to $300 smackeroos both times. I wish I had figured out something the first time and saved myself (and my wife) the money. See it dawned on me after every agent I talked to was interested in my book idea that EVERY SINGLE agent I talked to was interested in my book idea. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Is it because my book pitch was so brilliant, so off-the-charts original that they just HAD to see it? Umm, as much as I'd like to say that was the case, it wasn't. I puzzled this out after lunch with a bunch of other hopefuls who, amazingly enough, also got semi-enthusiastic requests from agents to see them strut their writing stuff. The difference being that they hadn't figured out yet (as I just had) that the agents were telling EVERYBODY that. Why? To keep us coming, is my guess.
So here's the ugly (a.k.a. the truth): The writing business is about making money from talented peoples' artistic endeavours. If you go to a conference, go for the advice, the perspective, the companionship of others who are striving to become successful in a business that doesn't care if you are or not. If you're going to get published, chances are that won't happen any more expeditiously (50 cents please) than if you were to query agents via snail mail (the Internet, apparently, is still against the majority of their religions).
Or maybe it's just me. Either way, keep the faith. It'll happen.
Promise.
Here's the short version: Save your money.
Here's the longer version: Save your money. Save your money. Save your money.
Now for the extended-dance-party-mix-version...
The Good: At both conferences I got to meet face-to-face with agents, editors (a.k.a. Book Doctors), and other, more successful authors. Meeting with agents in particular was a nerve-wracking experience comparable to asking a supermodel out on a date or meeting God with a guilty conscience (NOT because they were all that good-looking or all-powerful, but because they had your heart and/or your fate in their hands). Some of their advice I still carry with me to this day, along with my later, more or less, tragic epiphany; which brings me to the bad...
The Bad: I payed close to $300 smackeroos both times. I wish I had figured out something the first time and saved myself (and my wife) the money. See it dawned on me after every agent I talked to was interested in my book idea that EVERY SINGLE agent I talked to was interested in my book idea. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Is it because my book pitch was so brilliant, so off-the-charts original that they just HAD to see it? Umm, as much as I'd like to say that was the case, it wasn't. I puzzled this out after lunch with a bunch of other hopefuls who, amazingly enough, also got semi-enthusiastic requests from agents to see them strut their writing stuff. The difference being that they hadn't figured out yet (as I just had) that the agents were telling EVERYBODY that. Why? To keep us coming, is my guess.
So here's the ugly (a.k.a. the truth): The writing business is about making money from talented peoples' artistic endeavours. If you go to a conference, go for the advice, the perspective, the companionship of others who are striving to become successful in a business that doesn't care if you are or not. If you're going to get published, chances are that won't happen any more expeditiously (50 cents please) than if you were to query agents via snail mail (the Internet, apparently, is still against the majority of their religions).
Or maybe it's just me. Either way, keep the faith. It'll happen.
Promise.
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