I’m a recovering Conference Junkie. Recovering? Yep, not directly by choice, but having an expanding family (which also led to a more limited budget) forced me into an ‘almost-cold turkey’ situation. However, I’ve been around the block in terms of conferences. So come, friends, and listen to this shaky junkie on the mend.

Length of Stay. I’ve run marathons and--literally--had more energy after those than driving home from a long weekend at the SCBWI-LA conference. Most conferences are two or three days long and that’s enough for my delicate brain. Why the exhaustion? A few reasons. First of all, talking about craft and how to apply it leads me to mental jumping jacks. Secondly, if I’m sharing work with a group or (gasp) an agent/editor, the stress alone wipes me out. Finally, I’m an introvert, but I never want to miss an opportunity to connect with other writers and friends. It’s amazing how well we all get along, but it drains me.

Workshops vs. Talk-talk-talk. Some conferences focus on workshopping your work. At the extreme, you meet with the same group several times throughout the conference and read revised pages. Others are more lecture-based. Both have their advantages (though I prefer workshops), but be aware of what you are signing up for. How do you know? Take a look at the website, I'll bet there’ll be a schedule posted with exactly what to expect.

Craft or Business. With your handy schedule open, read through the topics. You’ll see pretty quickly if the topics are more about the nut’s’bolts of writing or more on the business side of things.

Living Situation. And not just if they assign you a roommate or not. The SCBWI-NY is held at a huge hotel in Grand Central, but most of the faculty agents and editors are native New Yorkers, so after they give their talk, they split. At SCBWI-LA, same type of big hotel…but same NY agents/editors, who now have to hang out in the bar with everyone else. It makes a difference. Another route: conferences that are intimate retreats. Attend these and you’ll find yourself eating meals at the same table with the faculty. These retreats may have fewer faculty members, but I think bonding with Mr. Big Shot agent over the fact that both of you are jacket whores is totally worth it.

Attendees. Are people screened to attend? As a “pre-pubbed” author, I look for conferences where there’ll be a level of attendees better than me. Selfishly, it’s important so I can up my game by soaking in the advice from those who’ve been in my shoes. But how am I able to determine the level of attendees? I return to the schedule again, but you’ll have to read between the lines. Lots of topics about why an agent is critical? Or how to write a query? While important, those sorts of subjects aim for people earlier on in their path versus a talk on how to effectively use social media marketing or creating high-concept fiction.

Faculty. This is the spot where most people fixate first. Obviously, it’s very important to hear who’s speaking, but based on all these other factors, it may weigh more or less into my decision. It’s amazing to hear a legend speak, but it might be more effective to sit down for two hours at dinner with an up-and-coming author.

In the end, though, the most important thing about conferences is connecting with other writers. Meeting the Muses at the Big Sur conference in 2010 is the sole reason I’m chatting with you today. But more than that, I’ve come as far as I have in my craft because of the help and encouragement given to me by my friends that I've met through these life-altering events.  

So sign up and prepare yourself to read your work aloud, sit next to a stranger, or take a seat at the bar alone. 

We're focusing on conferences this week. Here's a post from two years ago, slightly modified. Hope you enjoy it, and good luck on any conferences you might attend this year!

Conferences--both before and afterward--bring out my imagination muscles. I am so good at imagining the worst:

So many people! And they all look like they are much better writers than I am. That keynote? Never in one million years could I pull anything off like that. And did you see those people, just blatantly hanging out with MT Anderson like he's human? Like he's one of us? He is not one of us! He is MT Anderson! You're not supposed to just... talk to him. Seriously. Some people and their equality agendas...

My point is that, for an introvert who spends 50% of her time in pajamas, a conference can really hype me out. And it shouldn't. So many of us carry around the same insecurities when we emerge from our writing caves and blink, wide-eyed at the world.

Am I good enough? How do I fit into this crowd? How do I compare?

Well, I'm here to tell you: You are good enough, but you can be better. I heard recently that in yoga, everyone is a beginner until they are a master. I think writing is that way. We are all perpetual beginners. We are all striving, with every paragraph, scene, chapter, novel. So don't rest on your laurels. Work hard. Dig in and learn until you become a master.

How do you fit into the crowd? Well, you just do. Don't bother comparing yourself to others. We're too different as writers, thank goodness. If you want to compare, compare yourself now with yourself a year ago.

The Conference Commandments - This is something (very embarrassing) that I do before conferences. I write a list of reminders to myself. I look at this list a few days before, during, and after the conference. It helps to keep me level-headed about my expectations.

My list from a conference a year ago:

1. You are there to learn.
2. You love to write. 
3. You love your story and your characters. 
4. You are writing the story you want to read, and that alone makes it worthwhile.
5. When you receive feedback, most of the time you see the value after the burn.
6. You are not there to get an offer of representation so don’t pout if it doesn’t happen.
7. Keep working. Always keep working.
8. Don’t freak out if (insert agent and/or editor's name) hates your writing.
9. Don’t be the obnoxious person who talks too much during sessions. Listening is better. You can learn more that way.
10. You are there to improve so keep your eye on that ball and the rest will follow as it should.

So, yeah.... That's a taste of the inner monologue that's running through my mind during a conference. You've seen a bit of all of this in the other Muses posts this week. 

Conferences offer terrific opportunities to learn, socialize, and recharge. Also, you might have the extraordinary opportunity to actually say hello to MT Anderson, who I am almost completely certain is human and nice. Say hello to MT Anderson. I am putting it right at the top of my next list.

What are some of your tips for being mentally prepared when you head into a conference?

As we're writing about conferences this week, I thought I'd pull out a post that first aired in May 2011, about managing your conference expectations.  I hope you enjoy it!

Conferences are exciting and let’s face it, a little nerve-wracking.  For people who spend most of their time alone with a keyboard and imaginary worlds, the prospect of interacting with a lot of strangers in the real world can be daunting.  Throw in the fact that you may also get to meet authors you admire, editors who publish actual books, and agents you’d love to have represent you, and it can all seem overwhelming.  It doesn't have to be.  Here are some tips to keep your conference expectations in check.

1.    1.  Expect to be Bored

Yes, after enduring a sleepless night in a strange hotel room with nerves that rival those you had on the first day of school, you will be tired and yes, occasionally bored.  Not every speaker will address topics that apply to you or your work.  Not every speaker will be as entertaining as Bruce Colville or as funny as Rachel Vale.  It’s okay.  No conference can be everything to everyone the entire time.  Don’t feel bad.  For every session you’re bored with, there are ten other people who are getting just what they came for.  Conserve your energy for the sessions you really need.  Take a breather.  You don’t have to see it all.

2.        2.  Expect to be Inspired

It’s impossible to sit in a room with a lot of people who love and hate writing as much as you do without rediscovering the parts you love and drawing inspiration from those who have found success.  I love hearing about how Author X couldn’t get an agent for ten years before finally finding success, or how Editor Y found a best seller in the slush pile.  I love learning how books went from the author’s head to a manuscript I know and love.  I love getting a writing tip that I can’t wait to try on my own manuscript.   I’ve never been to a conference that didn’t remind me why I devote so much of my personal time to writing.

3.       3.  Expect to be Embarrassed

It won’t happen to everyone, but I figure that as long as I know going in that at some point I’m going to say the wrong thing, or do something stupid, it can take the pressure off when it actually happens.  And, um, yes, this has happened to me.  There was the time I approached an agent at my very first conference and immediately pitched my book.  No “hi, nice to meet you, thanks for the information,” just “I heard you were looking for YA books, and I have a YA book.”  Except I didn’t have an elevator pitch, so I basically rambled and may have accidently compared myself to Sarah Dessen when I meant to say that I am inspired by her.  And I may also have seen myself a few weeks later in said agent’s blog post about how authors should not proclaim themselves as the next Sarah Dessen.  Yeah.  That was me.  But you know what?  This agent was kind enough to ask for pages and we both got over it.  We all make newbie mistakes.  We all make middlebie mistakes.  I bet even the pros say things they regret later.  You know what?  It’s okay.  Be nice.  Apologize if you need to, and move on.  I guarantee that whatever you think you’ve done, they’ve seen worse.

4.      4.  Don’t Expect to be Discovered

You won’t sell your manuscript off a two minute pitch.  You won’t get an agent with your sparkling personality.  Your ten page sample is not going to make everyone in the room stop what they’re doing and demand the rest of the manuscript.  Don’t be discouraged.  Your pitch may be good enough to get a request for some pages, or even the whole manuscript.  Your sparkling personality may lead to a friendship that lasts a lifetime.  Your pages may catch someone’s interest and get them to request more.  But no one is going to read your entire manuscript right then and there.  If you get a request, it will be sent electronically after the conference.  And it’s your entire manuscript, not your pitch or even your first ten pages that must be sparkling.  And you might not get a request.  You might get some valuable feedback on your concept or pages.  You might just find out that your work isn’t a good fit for a particular agent or editor.  That’s okay.  You’ll get there in time.  A conference will help you on your path to publication, but it is never the end of it.

5.       5.  Don’t Expect to Be the Star of the Show

Unless you are giving the presentation or leading the critique session, don’t expect to be the star of the show.  We’ve all been in conference sessions where one attendee dominates the session with questions that have little relevance to the topic, makes comments that are a rehash of what the speaker just said, or personal pitches for their own work.  For the most part, you are there to listen.  Let the speakers talk.  Do ask thoughtful questions that are on topic and are general enough to apply to the room.  Just don’t use the opportunity to ask questions as a platform for your personal agenda or projects.  There’s time after the session for that.  (See No. 3!)

6.       6.  Expect to Make Friends

You will be surrounded by people who share a common interest.  You all love books and writing.   You already have an opener- “What do you write?” Ask people about their work.  Find out how long they’ve been writing and what they’re working on now.  Even the shyest of us can be coaxed to talk about our writing projects.  And the most supportive family and friends won’t understand what you’re going through the way fellow writers will.  We know how hard it is to get that first draft on paper, how much that first request for pages means, how disappointing it is to put a book in the drawer.  Exchange emails and Twitter info. In a profession that’s so solitary, we’re all in this together.  That’s why writing conferences are so cool. 

The first International SCBWI conference I attended was in Los Angeles.  I'm a northern California girl, so heading so far south felt like traveling into a different country to me.  I spent the entire time in a state of high anxiety, but also a state of wonder.  I met agents.  I didn't get my pages in front of an editor.  I networked with some wonderful authors.  I partied at the big Red and Black Ball.

But the moment I remember best was getting a book signed by the amazing Sara Pennypacker.  I had attended her workshop on "Beginnings".  I was at the beginning of my career.  I needed to revise the beginning of my novel.  In that workshop, she introduced me to The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler, and it changed my life.  So of course I wanted to buy one of her Clementine books.  And of course I wanted to have it signed.

I got to the front of the line and handed her my book.  The little sticky note on the title page read "Katy".  She looked up and smiled.  "Is this you?" she asked.  And then, "Is this your first conference?" (did it show??)  When she finished signing, she wished me luck and I carried my treasure trove out into the lobby.  I had other books--for my kids, for the school, for my sister--but this was the only one I'd bought for myself.  I opened the book to the title page.

To Katy--Welcome to the Tribe.  Sara Pennypacker

Attending a conference is an induction.  You become part of the tribe.  Whether it's SCBWI or RWA or a Science Fiction conference, it's your tribe.  These are your people.  And in my experience, every single conference brings one of these moments.  Reminding me of what I am.

I'm a writer.

I’m going to be honest with you. Every big break I ever received in children’s publishing was a direct result of attending a writing conference. It all started several years ago when I attended my first national writing conference. I stepped onto a crowded elevator in LA and met a woman—Big Break #1. That chance meeting led to writing one of the top 500 bestselling children’s books of all time (according to Publisher’s Weekly) and also writing several episodes of a very popular children’s television show for PBS. I’ll tell you that story in a future blog post, but this week the YA Muses want to share how writing conferences have helped us in our journey toward publication and highlight some of the best.

After that chance meeting in a LA elevator, life happened. I eventually stopped writing for children to focus all my efforts on writing for tenure at a research university. I was granted tenure, but I longed to write something a little more creative than “The applied multiple regression correlation of the blahblahblah” and “Complexity arises in the behavioral sciences when one departs from the orthogonality of factors in the blahblahblah.” Attending a conference seemed a good way to get back into the game, so I signed up for the Big Sur of the Rockies conference sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI. From the beginning, the conference was different from my past experiences. I was required to submit manuscript pages ahead of time and had to be accepted to attend. I submitted twenty pages of my first attempt at a middle grade novel, Boob Blogs, but had little more than that completed. My biggest hope for the weekend was that I would be motivated to finish the book.

So on a crisp, fall weekend I checked in at Chautauqua in Boulder, Colorado. That night at dinner I saw my personalized agenda and knew this definitely wasn’t like any other past conference. The weekend was organized around two different critique groups. Each small critique group was led by one of the faculty members and met twice during the conference weekend. Writing time for revising the manuscripts, based on the feedback, was scheduled between the critique group sessions. Large group presentations, featuring the editors, agents and authors that served on faculty, were also scheduled—but the focus of the conference was on the critique groups.  Later that evening, I found myself sitting on a couch in a quaint cottage with four other writers nervously passing out stacks of papers. Agent Andrea Brown sat in the circle with us, smiled supportively, and asked, “Who wants to start?” I didn’t know it at that moment, but it was to become Big Break #2.

Big Sur of the Rockies was an amazing experience. Both critique groups that weekend were thoughtful, tough and encouraging. More importantly, both resulted in better manuscripts. I certainly left with the desire to finish my book, but I also left with amazing connections that eventually led to my signing with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I also learned that the Rockies conference had been patterned after the original Big Sur Children’s Writing Conference organized by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. That December, I attended the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshop in California. It was designed very much like Boulder, but the faculty was even larger and more impressive. Top agents, editors and authors were everywhere! This time I had the privilege of having bestselling author Ellen Hopkins and Abigail Samoun, editor at Random House/Tricycle Press, as my two critique group leaders. Once again the groups were small, intense and focused. That weekend I received incredible, enthusiastic feedback on my writing from multiple editors. It was definitely a Big Break moment, but not in the way I thought it would be. Big Break #3 ended up being the small group of writers I met in my critique group who became the YAMuses. I might never have met them if not for Big Sur, and I thank my stars every day for their support and encouragement. Nobody understands this frustrating, exhilarating world like they do.

I realize my big breaks involved some elements of good fortune. I could have missed that elevator, or had someone else as my critique leader, or been in another small group. I could have also had all these opportunities, yet not been able to take advantage of them if I hadn’t also followed the “put your butt in the chair and write” rule. Nothing takes the place of that. That being said, if I hadn’t been at those conferences, making connections, and putting my writing out there—those particular breaks would have never come my way.

So enjoy our journey through the writing conference world this week and leave us your questions and comments.