WRITER’S CONFERENCES
– Are they worth
the time and expense?
Before
judging the value of a conference, it’s important to decide what you want to
get out of it. If you’re a writer and want to receive tips on writing, you need
to find one that offers educational workshops.
Many
conferences are geared to readers. The Bouchercon is probably the most popular
of that kind. I attended one in St. Louis in 2011, and I did enjoy it, but
there were no educational sessions for writers. Almost every breakout session
consisted of a panel of writers discussing a particular topic. Panels of
writers tend to be more entertaining than educational, although it’s possible
to pick up some writing tips.
The conferences
I enjoy the most are ones that offer learning experiences, those that teach and
inspire. I attended Killer Nashville last week and it was a wonderful experience.
The quality of the breakouts was excellent.
For an
extra fee, I attended a 2-hour workshop with Jeffrey Deaver. What an amazing
experience! In addition to being one of the world’s best thriller writers, Mr. Deaver
is an excellent teacher of his craft. Having the opportunity to meet and learn
from Mr. Deaver made the conference the best I’ve ever attended.
Considerations before investing in a
conference:
1.
Is the conference geared
to writers or readers?
2.
Are there breakout
sessions that are educational for me?
3.
Is the conference
specifically for writers of my genre?
4.
Is the conference
geared mainly for traditional writers or does it include independent writers?
5.
What do I, as an
individual, want from a conference?
Dear Readers,
I must apologize for the huge gap in my blog posts. No
excuses. Just a promise to keep in touch in a timelier manner.
Hope your life is moving in the direction you want,
Marla
