Last updated on August 15, 2006

Conquering Conferences

 by Linda O. Johnston

            Writers’ conferences.  You may love ‘em.  You may hate ‘em.  But no matter how you feel about them, I’d suggest that you learn how to choose and use them!

            There are an infinite number, so I’m only going to attempt to list a few here.  Suffice it to say that there are dozens of national writers’ organizations, most with local chapters.  They run the gamut of fiction and nonfiction genres, plus there are many that promote all kinds of creative writing.  And many, if not most, of those organizations hold conferences each year.  

            For example--not a big surprise to those of you who are reading this--the Romance Writers of America holds an annual meeting.  This year’s is in Atlanta, from July 26-29.  Recently, the Mystery Writers of America held the Edgar® Symposium and Edgar® Banquet in New York.  The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America holds its Nebula Awards® Weekend in May.  The International Thriller Writers hold an annual Thrillerfest.  The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators holds two conferences a year--one in L.A. and one in New York.  And so forth.

            In addition, local chapters of these and other organizations--such as Sisters in Crime--hold conferences, sometimes annually and sometimes not. 

            Then there are the conferences that exist solely because people who love a particular type of writing, and those who write it, simply (or not so simply) want to get together to promote their beloved genres.  For example, I recently returned from a trip to Malice Domestic in Alexandria, Virginia.  It’s an annual conference that promotes cozy mysteries, and is well attended by those who love that genre--including both writers and readers. 

            Still others are commercial and promotional, such as the Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine Annual Booklovers Convention.

            Obviously, no one can go to all of them.  Who has the time and money to be a perpetual convention-hopper?

            So how do you decide which to attend?

            Figure out first what you want from a conference.

            Is it solely to support your favorite genre(s) and its writers?  Or are you a writer, too--which I assume you are, if you’re a member of the Los Angeles Romance Authors who is reading this! 

            Do you want to simply meet other writers, published or not, who love your genre?

            Do you want to attend workshops to help you hone your craft?

            Do you want to meet editors and/or agents with the idea of letting them associate a face with a name when you submit something to them--plus be able to add the coveted “requested material” to the outside of your envelope?

            Are you published, and do you want solely to schmooze with the publishing professionals whom you already know?  Do you want to attend workshops on the publishing industry and publicizing your work?  Or do you want to promote what you have written, let readers know what you’ve got going on?

            In case you have never attended an annual Romance Writers of America conference, you may not be aware that you can do any and all of the above, and more, at RWA! 

            Does it sound as if I’m partial?  Well, I am.  Why not choose one conference each year and potentially get everything you may be looking for?  RWA’s national conference has lots of workshops, and they’re categorized by track--those to appeal most to unpublished writers wanting to learn how to write, others to PRO members who have finished at least one manuscript but haven’t sold yet, and still others to published authors.  There are meals and speakers and the awards ceremony.  There’s the huge literacy signing, where authors autograph books that are donated by publishers, and their sale benefits organizations that promote reading.  There are sessions in which writers can meet editors and agents and pitch their work. 

            Plus, there are lots of parties!

            On the other hand, RWA National isn’t perfect.

            It’s not cheap.  The registration fee is on the high side--this year, it’s $325 for early registration, and that does not include your transportation to and from Atlanta, your hotel bill or most of your meals... or any books you might purchase.  Of course some publishers hold signings where their authors’ books are given away.

            It’s huge, so you may not get the editor and/or agent appointment you want.  If you’re an RWA PRO member, you get more choice, but even that is no guarantee.

            Therefore, you should consider whether it’s right for you.  Or if it’s right for you in addition to one or more smaller conferences given by local chapters, or even those farther away, which will be attended by the publishing pros you particularly want to meet. 

            For one thing, as I write this, I’m looking forward to the upcoming Los Angeles Romance Authors’ Workshop and 20th Anniversary Luncheon.

            I’m not quite a conference junkie, but I’m considering other conferences this year in addition to the ones I’ve already mentioned.

            Will I be at RWA National in Atlanta?  You bet!  I’ll even be on a workshop panel, in which I’ll be discussing “Adventures in Love and Murder:  Putting Romance into a Mystery, and Do You Really Want To Go There.”

            I hope to see you there!           

            This article first appeared in the LARA Confidential, newsletter of the Los Angeles Romance Authors, in June 2006.