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01/29/2006: "Small conferences"

Man, are we snowed in. Sheesh. I just hope that the weather improves by next Friday because I have to drive to Salt Lake City for the conference. I'm so looking forward to it. Small conferences are one of my favorite things. I love doing workshops, and I love hanging out with all the other writers, and I love staying at hotels.

When I was first starting out, small conferences were more than just a pleasure, they were essential. I met editors, agents, and others who were where I was along the publishing road, as well as those who had come before me. I devoured the information given so freely by truly exceptional writer/teachers. I tried a gazillion different methods until I found what worked for me. I shmoozed with folks over lunches, over cocktails, in midnight sessions over chips and peanut M&Ms.

Back then, there wasn't the internet. Not like it is now, anyway. I was introduced to online chats with Genie, a wonderful DOS based bulletin board. There were no blogs at all, so finding out about authors and lines and the new hot books was a lot more personal.

But even with all the new technology, I still believe, for the beginning romance writer, nothing can replace the small conference. Not National, as terrific as that can be. Not online loops or boards. It's the actual, real networking that made the huge, huge difference in my getting published. Talking, laughing, learning, listening. If you haven't gone to a small conference, you should try it. Go to as many as you can. And even if it's not within your comfort zone, network. Editors and agents are just like any other people - if they know you, they'll probably be more open to looking at your work. It's not a guarantee or anything, but I've sure seen the connections made at conference pay off later down the road.

Replies: 8 Comments

on Sunday, January 29th, Sadhbh said

Jo - I hear you about the small conferences, I even agree, but I'm not likely to find any near where I live , so I'll just have to make do with the eharl boards and other online devices at my disposal
Unless all the Blaze authors would like to have a conference in SW France?
No?
That's what I thought

Hugs

Sadhbh

on Sunday, January 29th, dotes said

I'd love to attend a conference in SW France, personally.

on Sunday, January 29th, Jo said

You and me, both!!!

on Monday, January 30th, Jordan said

I keep swearing that one year I'm going to blow off the bigger conferences and focus on three smaller ones. I think you can meet far more people that way.

As for a conference in the SW of France, I'd be all over it.

on Monday, January 30th, Eve said

Let me get this straight - we're blowing off all conferences and heading for SW France? Okay - do I need a note from my mother? *g*

on Monday, January 30th, Glenice said

Dang! I will figure out a way to write if there is going to be a conference in SW France

Hello Eve! Glad to see you over here

on Monday, January 30th, MADDIE said

I SOO agree. I attended the local RWA -- Desert Dreams conference in Phoenix years ago and went on to publish my first non fiction work from the stuff I learned in those workshops. And it is a Romance Writer's conference!! But I learned about WRITING and perseverance and good habits from those presenters, and later from the local RWA group.

I did join the local RWA chapter and am giving a shot to romance writing, slowly but surely.It is the wonderful SMALL conferences and local groups who give so freely that show the novice HOW TO WRITE, HOW TO PERSEVERE, HOW TO NETWORK

ATTEND SOME!!

on Tuesday, January 31st, Sadhbh said

Is this where I'm supposed to ask when you're arriving?
Just for info - I live in a SMALL village (300+ souls) about 45 minutes drive south of Toulouse. The nearest town (4 miles away) is Cazeres sur Garonne, if you'd like to google it
One of these days I might get around to having a blog with photos of my garden...