A Word about Writer’s Conventions, and Workshops

Share

For freely offered writing Resources go to RuthFordElward.com


A WORD about WRITER’S CONVENTIONS and WORKSHOPS

It may seem a bit out of place to discuss writer’s conventions or workshops in a publishing section. However, so many contracts, negotiations, connections, and publishing deals happen as a result of a direct meeting with an agent or editor from a publishing house that it bears mentioning in some detail.
Simply attending, without a game plan or preparation, however, will not yield sufficient results.


Find a listing of potential writer’s conferences, contests and workshops. A really extensive listing can be found on http://writing.shawguides.com/.
The conferences are listed by state, region, and geographical location (even internationally).
Choose a conference that is featuring guest speakers and workshop presenters who are particularly in line with the type of work you are producing and would like to have published.
Check the itinerary and see if there will be editors and agents on site and who are offering one-on-one interviews with attendees.


Make sure that you bring several things with you to the conference:

• Business cards

• Two sided pitch page (front page is synopsis of the book, back page is your query letter).

• Flash drive, or two, of your entire manuscript….because you never know.

• Pencil and paper…..seems like a no-brainer, but it should be said that if someone wants to give you some sage advice, or a contact’s name…having nothing to write with or on is going to be the low point of your visit.


It may shock many to read that you need a business card to attend a writer’s conference. In fact, you don’t need one, but many authors have negotiated significant deals with editors and agents primarily because the agent/editor was able to remember them.
Yes, they may lose the card…..but a follow up email will remind them of who you are.
Most will not lose the card and actually have a place to stack the countless collection of them that they will inevitably end up with. Make yours stand out.





Business Card Basics

Of course, having your name and contact information on the front of the card is a great idea, and most know this instinctively. However, including a small picture of yourself, or some symbol that represents the book you are writing can help jog their memory when they return to the office the next week.
Additionally, don’t neglect the back of the card. Have a 30 second elevator pitch written back there.
The ‘pitch’ is basically a 2 sentence synopsis of the book. Make sure to include a website (HAVE one before you go) as well as an email address so that they can contact you.