Wanting to Go to a Writers’ Conference

Posted by SandyQuill in Quill's Corner | 2 comments

Getting Jealous on Twitter
or
Wanting to Go to a Writers’ Conference
by
Sandi Layne

“Going to #RWA twitterpeeps! If you’re gonna be there, @ me and we can hook up!”  “So excited to meet @JennyAuthor and @JennyAuthor2 and @JennyAuthor37 at #RWA!” “Come to my workshop at #ACFW: Can you say that in an inspirational romance novel?”

I read these types of tweets – all of them here were fictionally created but they do sound a great deal like what slides down my twitter screen every day lately – and sigh a little sigh.  I would really enjoy going to a writers’ conference. The Romance Writers of America – RWA – is having their annual shindig in New York next month.  The American Christian Fiction Writers – ACFW – will be hosting their conference in Missouri in September. I know people who are going to one or the other of them and they are so excited! This has to be a big boost to their aspirations involving publication or further marketability.

The Benefits of a Conference

Writing is a very lonely profession, traditionally.  When I first started in 1997, I didn’t have the benefit of Internet communities.  I actually started writing on paper in the privacy of my own living room.  I graduated to my keyboard within a day.

I wrote on my own, though, for years. Very productively, I might add, until I found a writers’ group online.  Still, I found writing to be lonely because, at its heart, writing is done between the writer and her imagination. My imagination is very well-peopled, but still, there are few other folk off whom to bounce ideas.

Frankly?  Not too many people choose to listen to my plot development ideas or characterization surprises.  I don’t blame them; it can be confusing.

This is one reason why a writers’ conference is so beneficial. A conference serves to remind each writer that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who know exactly how it feels to do what they do.  This is hugely motivating for the individual to keep working. To see those who have persevered and been successful.  To have the opportunity to network with them and gain new friends/colleagues with whom they can correspond or connect in other ways and keep their own writing mojo vibrant.

Additionally, you get the opportunity to attend workshops held by publishing professionals of all sorts of angles.  Editorial experts, niche-writers, erotica queens, marketing moguls… If you want to get insight into any avenue of writing and selling romance novels, going to the RWA conference is the absolute best way to do so.

Sometimes, too, there are highly-coveted opportunities to have face-time with editors from different publishing houses.  Practice your pitch, because you could have a few minutes to throw it to someone who actually makes acquisition decisions!

So Why am I Here?

To be honest, I haven’t pushed to go to a writers’ conference. I’ve pushed to go to ComicCon – I was an editor for a comic book at the time (yes, they DO have editors) and I went to work the Con with the creator of the book.  It was AMAZING.  But I never begged, cajoled or even worked my wiles on The Spousal Unit to be able to go to a writers’ conference.

I’m not even a member of the RWA or ACFW.

Part of this reluctance is my own personal rebellion, I realize.  I taught Sunday School for almost thirty years, but don’t like Sunday School curriculum. I wrote my own.  I enjoy writing books but I absolutely cannot market them.  I’m a writer and love developing my craft, but I refuse to take a formal course in writing.  I have a degree in English, but never took one creative writing course. Ever. I just…didn’t.

See? Rebellious.

A writers’ conference is infused with people wanting to improve and connect and be energized.  I want to improve and connect and be energized, too.  I just can’t seem to make this a formal step, though.  I think I have a fear that I will feel inadequate; like I don’t belong.

And I can see you now, Reader, shaking your head and telling me I’m being a goofball.  I probably am. Perhaps I should just take a deep breath and apply to RWA and make plans to be at a conference next summer.

Maybe. If I get very, very brave, I might not have to be jealous of all my “twitterpeeps” going without me next year.