Get More from a Writing Conference When You follow These Seven Tips

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted
As more and more conferences kick into gear, the tension is rising. If you are a first-timer, then it’s especially stressful. I’ve just come off of directing the Asheville Christian Writers Conference and there were a few things I noticed in new conferees that I wanted to share with you. These are things that I hope will ease the stress of attending your first conference.
Let’s walk through a few things together.
7 Tips to Make Your Time at a Writing Conference Better1. Take a deep breath: conference should be fun for you. Relax, make friends, find your peers, and make them your tribe. What is a tribe? A tribe is your group of peer supporters who understand, cheer you on, and help you be accountable, so take time to make friends and build a tribe.2. The word NEWBIE is a joy: Don’t let the word newbie throw you for a loop. If every Corporate business would use this word as a joyful thing, employees would learn faster and not feel shamed in the learning process. My son just took a new job at a high-tech computer company. They have the Newbie track, and the great thing about that, according to him, was how willing and helpful seasoned techs were when they learned he was learning a new job. The stigma attached to the word “newbie” is wrong. It’s a joy to be new and learning. When others know you are new, then they extend a special hand of grace and help to you. Take heed. Being a newbie is an awesome thing.3.Take classes WHERE YOU ARE in your writing: There will be a blue-zillion classes to choose from. Don’t be embarrassed to take newbie classes. A conference benefit is that you are face-to-face with faculty who can help you where you are currently in your writing career. Choose classes that address where you are in that process. Don’t jump to advanced classes. Writing is a craft. Learn it in order. I didn’t understand that at my first conference, and I took classes way over my head. Though I learned tons, I needed to understand the plot before I could build a novel. 4. Buy the MP3s: ALWAYS buy the MP3s of the conference. Why? Because you can continue to learn year-round. If you took the newbie classes at the conference then you have the remainder of the conference on your desktop. BUY the MP3s. It’s a wise investment.5. Take a little downtime: There is so much going on at a conference that it’s important to take a little downtime. It’s okay to miss a class to get your mind reset. There is so much activity at a conference, and it’s physically impossible to be everywhere at once. It’s okay to find a seat and just sit down for a bit. Take in the atmosphere. Rest. Then, you’re ready to roll again.6. You don’t have to find an agent: Nope, you don’t have to pitch a book or find an agent at your first conference. In fact, pick their brains about your project. But understand you do not need an agent until you have a completed project for an agent to sell. Let go of the stigma that you must find an agent at the conference. They can’t sell what is not written. So, make friends with them. Pick their brains. Run through your project with them for valuable information. But give yourself a break and let go of the fact that YOU MUST find an agent. Once again, do things in order. Learn the craft, write and complete a project, edit, find an agent who will then find a publisher. (I’m waving my hands over you right now: You are free from this worry).7. Learn the craft: This is my mantra. Learn the craft. You cannot and will not sell quality work until you learn to write well. So, take classes that will help you learn writing. Nail those. Practice. Work and write. God’s timing for your project is perfect. Step out of His way and let Him guide the path.
These are just a few things that, if you are new to a conference, you might take heed. Remember, you spend good money to attend, so make the best of the time you are at the conference. Be wise in how you choose and spend your time. Network. This is one of the most valuable things at a conference.
Finally, relax. Enjoy. Make your conference time, time well spent.
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Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and she is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and WWW.CHRISTIANDEVOTIONS.US, as well as WWW.INSPIREAFIRE.COM. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at WWW.CINDYSPROLES.COM or www.wramsforwriters.com.