Writing Conferences: Newbie Dos and Don’ts

Writing conferences present a fabulous opportunity to network, improve your craft, and advance your career. I met my first agent at a Romance Writers of America national conference. A senior editor I pitched to at a Pacific Northwest Writers Association annual conference took my manuscript to acquisitions. (Where, alas, it was ultimately turned own.) To this day I treasure friendships that were forged over a decade ago at my first RWA national conference and at a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators annual conference. At writing conferences, personal and professional opportunities abound. Here is how you can maximize your conference experience:

Things to Do Now:

Prepare

1. Business Cards: Unpublished and published authors alike need to bring business cards. If you don’t yet have any, order them now so they will arrive in time. Online companies such as Vistaprints offer professional and affordable cards. Include your real name and/or pen name, profession (even not-yet-published authors should list author or writer), phone number, email address, and website if you have one. Your card should be easy to read (no tiny or super-fancy fonts). Keep in mind that your business card is an extension of your author brand. Design it to reflect your writing style.  
2. Bookmarks: If you are published, bring bookmarks. You may want to hand them out instead of business cards or plant some in the conference Goodie Room. I use Next Day Flyers. They also offer business cards. If you aren’t published yet, then collect bookmarks at the conference. Save the ones you like. You can refer back to them when you are ready to design your own bookmarks. 
3. Character Trading Cards: Like classic baseball cards, character trading cards contain a photo (or avatar) and a brief description of the character. Be sure to include the title of the book/series the character appears in. Use them in the manner described above for bookmarks.
4. Sign up to Volunteer: Volunteering is an excellent way to make friends and meet authors, editors, and agents. Most writing organizations allow you to register in advance online to volunteer. Pick a volunteer position that furthers your conference/career goals and fits within your comfort zone. Outgoing? See if there are any moderator positions still available. Introverted? Volunteer for a low profile position. RWA uses lots of volunteers at their annual Literacy signing. They need people to pack up the books at the end of the event or ring up sales during the event. Or volunteer to be a room monitor. They pass around speaker handouts and collect questions.
5. Create a Web Presence: Blog, tweet, create a Facebook pro page, and/or a website. Conference goers who ask for your business card or who pick up your bookmark, may look you up online. Agents and editors like authors, even aspiring authors, to have some sort of web presence. Just remember, social media can eat up your writing time. You don’t have to do it all. Pick at least two types of social media you enjoy and do them well.
6. Make a Game Plan: What is the main thing you want to accomplish? Improve your craft? Network? Land an agent or editor? Figure out social media or the business end of publishing? Study the seminar guide. Multiple workshops and author/publisher events occur simultaneously. Before the conference, create a tentative plan. If there are two seminars or events happening at the same time that you really want to attend, see if either one repeats at another time. Ask experienced conference goers. If lots of people tell you a certain speaker is really great, then consider switching course if the speaker is addressing a subject that interests you.
7. Write and Practice Your Pitch and Tagline: Even if you don’t have an editor or agent appointment, prepare a pitch. Sometimes appointments open up, so be prepared. Do not be thrown if your editor or agent appointment turns out to be a group pitch. Also practice your elevator pitch. People will ask you, “What is your book about?” Develop 1-3 sentences that convey the essence of your book. For example, for my Young Adult romances I use:

For Spell Check:

Two girls, one guy, and a Spell Book—What could possibly go wrong?

For Spell Struck:

What if the one person who saw through your lies and loved you, harbored a secret that could cost you everything?

Dos During the Conference:

1. Do Dress Professionally and Wear Comfortable Shoes. The weather may be in the triple digits outside, but inside, most hotels follow a practice called “icing down the room,” which means cranking the air conditioner to artic levels. At one conference I attended, the hotel was so cold; one panelist gave her talk wrapped in a blanket. Unless you are experiencing frequent hot flashes, bring a pashmina, sweater, or blazer. Also, check the conference materials beforehand for special events. SCBWI and Romantic Times love themed costume parties. At RWA, people dress for the gala awards ceremony like they were going to the Oscars.
2. Do Keep Your Editor or Agent Appointment. At many conferences, if you are a no-show, you will be banned from future appointments. If the appointment is a group appointment, be respectful of the time. Everyone at the table is just as anxious as you are to garner a manuscript request. So quickly figure out how much time each person will be allotted, then stay within the timeframe.
3. Do Network. Find your tribe! Check the message boards. Look for Hospitality rooms and events sponsored by writers with similar interests and publishing houses you wish to target. A lot of the events need advance tickets like FF&P and Beau Monde events at RWA. Do say hi to the person in the seat beside you. If you react badly to too much stimuli, take mental health breaks outside the hotel or escape to the quiet of your room for some down time.
4. Do Silence Your Cell Phone during workshops.
5. Do take photos for your social media accounts. (When permissible.)

 Don’ts During the Conference

1. Don’t stalk anyone. Some editors and agents get very stressed at conferences. My second agent turns her badge so no one can read her name or the word “Agent.” It is okay at the end of an agent or editor panel to go up and introduce yourself while they are still seated. If you are one of the last people, you may have a chance to give them your tagline and business card. For example:
   Author: “Hi! I’m Ariella Moon. I just wanted to introduce myself and commend you on a great workshop. I really learned a lot!”
   Agent/Editor: (Smiling and reading your badge) “Thanks. I’m glad you liked it. What do you write?”
   Author: “I write sweet paranormal YA about friendship, magic, and love.”
   Agent/Editor: “Great. Be sure you take one of my cards.”
   Author: “Thanks, I already did. (Snatch them up fast before they run out!) Give a huge smile. Hand her your card, and unless she asks you more questions, move out of the way so the next person can say hello.
   With any luck, you’ve made a positive impression; the editor/agent will keep your card, and she or he will check out your website and books.
   
2. Don’t thrust your manuscript at anyone. Don’t even bring a hard copy of your manuscript unless you plan to edit on paper rather than computer. Workshops will generate ideas on how to improve or finish your manuscript. For those reasons, it’s great to bring your work-in-progress. But do not bring a copy with the expectation of handing it to an editor or agent. They do not want to lug manuscripts with them back on the plane.
3. Don’t forget to have fun.

Dos and Don’ts Post Conference

1. Do Follow-up:
2. If you received an agent or editor request, polish your WIP and send whatever they requested.
3. If you collected a card from someone you liked or who might be able to help you with your writing career, send the person a friendly email or “Like” his/her author page on Facebook. (Hi. Loved meeting you at Brenda Novak’s workshop in Atlanta! I’m sending you a Like.)
4. Don’t Be Discouraged. If you didn’t get a manuscript request, analyze why. Did you pitch to the wrong person or publishing house? If so, improve your research. Was your pitch too convoluted? If you can’t explain your manuscript simply, then it may be because the plot is convoluted and needs tightening, or the characters lack definable goals or motivation.

Every time I attend a writers’ conference I walk away with something – a new way to improve my writing – new friends and contacts – valuable information – or a recharged focus on my writing. Follow the above tips and you’ll have a terrific conference experience!
©2013 Ariella Moon