>All conferences are not created equal
Posted: August 5, 2008 Filed under: journalism conferences, Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism, Society for Professional Journalists, writers conferences 2 Comments »>I just returned from the Willamette Writers conference in Portland, Oregon. It’s a great conference. They broke records for attendance again this year. I usually only attend conferences where I’m teaching, but I went to this one because I’m on the board of directors, representing the Oregon Coast chapter, and I get to see a lot of friends there. I also had a book to pitch. Would I have gone and benefitted if I were just your average newspaper freelancer? Apologies to my WW friends, but no. The emphasis at this conference is on selling books and screenplays to agents and editors. Yes, there were a couple classes on article and column writing, but for somebody whose focus is newspaper articles, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Hundreds of conferences take place across the country and around the world. Each has its own personality. The Southern Oregon Coast conference where I taught in February was a lot more about writing and a lot less about selling, but I was the only one talking about newspapers.
Conferences can be real boosters for your career, allowing you to network with VIPs in the business and filling you with information and inspiration. Most of them cost several hundred dollars, plus travel and lodging, so it’s important to find the right conference. If newspapers are your thing, look for journalism conferences rather than generic “writers” conferences. For example, the Society for Professional Journalists is hosting its annual convention in Atlanta next month, and the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism takes place in Boston in March. Google search “journalism conferences” for more options. The conference season is almost over for this year, but you can plan ahead for next year.
I’m already booked to teach at the East of Eden conference in California Sept. 5-6 and the Chattahoochee conference in Columbus, Georgia Sept. 26-28. I’ll let you know how those go.
>Conference exhaustion
Posted: August 6, 2007 Filed under: Willamette Writers, writers conferences 1 Comment »>I spent the last four days at the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland, Oregon. I did some critiquing, taught a workshop, sold and signed books, took classes and networked. By Sunday afternoon, I found myself outside on a bench between pots of posies and roses thinking if I heard another word about marketing, cover letters, platforms or anything like that, I would run screaming from the building. Not that it wasn’t a good conference. I came away with new contacts, new friends, new ideas I can’t wait to put into action, four new books to read, a commemorative coffee mug, and a pile of dirty clothes.
Conferences are held all over the country, especially during the summer. They have different themes and personalities. This particular one emphasizes pitching books and screenplays to editors and agents. All weekend, it’s pitch, pitch, pitch, with nervous writers of all ages clutching their manuscripts and looking pale or delirious, depending on where they’re at in the pitch schedule. Other conferences focus more on writing or on poetry, short stories or articles. Writers looking to learn about their craft or jump-start a sluggish muse should look into attending at least one conference. They aren’t cheap. Between lodging and conference fees, you might spend a thousand dollars. Seriously. But it might be an important investment in your career. Look at www.writersdigest.com or google “writers conferences” and you’ll find plenty to choose from.
Of course, if you’d rather just stay home and write, do it. All the conferences in the world won’t make you a writer. You have to write.
Anyone want to share conference experiences?
Sue
