Writing Conferences–What & Why

So you’re a beginning or aspiring writer and considering attending a writers’ conference. Perhaps you’ve never attended one and don’t know what to expect, or maybe you’ve attended other literary events that offered a writing seminar or two and were disappointed that you didn’t quite find what you were looking for. Perhaps you attended a conference that offered panel discussions which stopped short of delving into what you really wanted to learn. The fact is there are numerous types of writers’ conferences, and it’s essential for you to know a few things before you make plans to attend one.

What is a writers’ conference? Why attend one?

A writers’ conference is a gathering of writers to discuss writing and selling written works. Attendees range from aspiring writers to seasoned authors, literary entrepreneurs, and publishing professionals. The three basic reasons to attend a writers’ conference are to develop skills, to increase your knowledge, and to expand your network. Contrary to what some might think, the main reason to attend a writers’ conference is not to sell a manuscript. Very few manuscripts are actually sold at conferences, although conferences can and do facilitate introduction to people who can help get your manuscript sold; however, this, of course, falls under “expanding your network.” For the beginning writer trying to break in, a writing conference gives him or her a chance to meet other like-minded people that are passionate about writing.

Types of writing conferences

Before deciding whether to attend any writing conference, you must first determine what you can reasonably expect from the experience and what it is that you hope to get out of it. To get a realistic view of what to expect, you have to know which type of conference it is.

There is a distinct difference between a writing conference at which the sessions are geared toward people who want to know “what great writing (or literature) is” and those who wish to learn “how to write it.” One easy way to discern the type of conference at a glance is to see whether it’s made up of panels or workshops. Conferences that consist solely of a series of panel discussions are generally intended to offer attendees a town hall style analysis of the subject matter based on the panelists’ opinions. Conferences comprised primarily of workshops and seminars are typically structured to give attendees a practical understanding of the topic along with knowledge and tools to apply what is learned after the session ends.

All conferences are not created equal

It is also useful to distinguish between the different types of conferences and their purposes. Some conferences tout “big-name” authors and feature panel discussions that focus on theory and rhetoric rather than examples and practice. Some offer a program containing several beneficial workshops along with a few fillers (may often be random, moderately interesting workshops or panel discussions intended to simply fill leftover time). Others may offer an assortment of sessions that barely scratch the surface.

Many conferences are genre-specific, or “specialized,” like the Romance Slam Jam, African-American Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Conference, or the National Association of Black Journalists Conference.

Then there are conferences like Black Writers Reunion & Conference that offer a program comprised of a mix of hands-on workshops and informative seminars that cover a broad spectrum of focused topics, yet remain firmly affixed on topic.

Who is the conference for?

Another consideration when scrutinizing literary events is that you must also pay attention to whether the primary purpose of an event being promoted as a literary conference is to sell books OR to teach writing. A book club conference offering a one-hour seminar on writing, for example, will probably not come close to whetting the appetite of someone seriously wanting to learn the craft. If you’re just starting out and looking for a writers’ conference, Book Expo America would not be a good choice. If you’re simply wanting to network with professionals in the publishing industry and get your hands on upcoming book releases, BEA is definitely an event you’d want to attend.

Presentation, reputation

The best conferences tend to be well organized before the event as well as throughout. The website should offer ample information to help you to decide whether or not it’s what you’re looking for. When considering attending a conference, look for feedback that addresses the organization of the event. Past attendees of great conferences tend to freely share what they personally got out of the conference, how it inspired them, and what growth they experienced because they attended—and not just on the conference site but on their own sites and blogs. You should not have to search far to find past attendees praising great conferences. There should be testimonials on the conference website, and top search engines will likely lead you to them as well. Contact those you find offering feedback. Ask about their experience at the conference. They’ll more than likely be happy to share.

An investment in yourself

A writers’ conference can offer you the opportunity to make a tremendous investment in yourself through the skills you’ll develop and contacts you’ll make. There’s also the income tax benefits. You may be able to deduct the conference fees along with travel, lodging, and meals from your income taxes and enjoy a vacation at the same time.