Pros and Cons of Writing Conventions

Later today, I'm leaving for our Kansas Authors Convention, held in Wichita this year. The lineup of speakers from morning to late afternoon on Saturday looks terrific. I'll be on a panel of four bloggers at 9 a.m. that day. We'll each present a short bio of our blogging life, then have a Q & A session.

Saturday evening, a banquet and keynote speaker will round out our day. Awards will be given for best cover design, best published book, best published poetry book, best history book, and best children's book. On Sunday, there will be some business meetings and a few more workshops, then lunch and the awards presented from our annual writing contest. I entered a few things, so I'll be paying close attention.

Besides all the opportunities for learning, I'll be able to spend time with writer friends I've made over the 20 years I've belonged to the Kansas Authors Club. I wish we didn't have the word 'Club' there because it sounds like all we do is have tea and cookies and maybe an occasional speaker. Far from it! Our 7 districts meet at different times throughout the year and around our state. We maintain a website and a Facebook page, and lots of us email back and forth about this and that.

We'll all be doing some 'active listening' this weekend. We'll listen and talk and trade stories about our writing life. Those who have published books this year will have them on display, and for sale, in our Book Room.

I try to attend this convention each year. I come home inspired to write each time. It's my habit to keep a small notebook with me to jot down ideas as they pop up in the various workshops.

Like most things, there are pros and cons to attending writing conventions and/or conferences. A partial list for each is below.

Pros: 

• Connecting with other writers, sometimes editors and agents (depending on the size of the convention)
• An opportunity to hear speakers from your own area and from distant places, as well
• A place to become inspired to write
• Immersing yourself for 2 or 3 days in a world of writers
• A place to market your own published book(s)
• A place to sell your published book(s)
• A place to find help for your writing problems

Cons:

• Can be expensive figuring registration, transportation, hotel and some meals on your own
• Can be intimidating if it is a very large convention/conference
• The workshops might not be geared to your special interest writing field
• If you're an introvert or a very shy person, it might be a bit overwhelming
• You can feel like an outsider if there are groups of old friends conversing all around you, leaving you on your own
• Getting away for 2, 3 or more days might be difficult

I'm looking forward to our convention this weekend. There are a great many writing conferences/conventions throughout our country and even abroad. You can use your favorite search engine to find ones near you. I would urge you to check to see if your state has an annual convention. Start there and move on to others if you enjoyed that one. Some are geared to all kinds of writing while others zero in on only one kind of writing--mystery, romance, sports and many more. Whichever one you choose, be an active listener.

Writing Conferences, Friends and Learning

Have you ever paused long enough to consider the number of friends and acquaintances you've made while on your writing journey? Thanks to social media, writing groups, and conferences, I can not begin to total the number of friends I've made as I've moved from a true newbie writer to where I am today. 

Some, of course, continue to be acquaintances while others are definitely in the friend category. Yes, even many who I know only online, never having met in person. One of the best ways to gain writer friends is to attend a writing conference. 

There are writing conferences all over the country and abroad. Some have huge numbers of attendees while others are quite small, and quite a few in-between. The big conferences have big name presenters--successful writers who you will look at with awe. Can you learn from them? Of course, you can. The smaller conferences have lesser known presenters but they are almost always people from whom you can learn more about your craft. They may also be more approachable if you want to ask questions or have a conversation after the presentation. 

I'm a proponent of small conferences. Maybe that is because I have attended several and have also been a presenter. I like the overall personal feeling of a small conference. When I refer to 'small,' I'm considering 100 or so, give or take on either side of that number. 

My online writing group is holding their conference next week in a state park in Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Twenty minutes from the airport and you suddenly find yourself in a cabin in the woods on the banks of the Potomac River. Our numbers usually run in the 20s. This is a women's international group, so it is nearly all women, with a few husbands who come to do the go-fer work. How do we get presenters for the workshops? Various attendees conduct them. The people who are the poetry writers naturally give us some knowledge of that field. The novelists are happy to share their thoughts, too. We've had a few guest presenters, often people who live nearby and are known to one of the attendees. Once, we had an editor of a travel website who talked about 'sense of place.' It was a fabulous presentation. 

This conference has been held several times, 18 months to 2 years apart. It takes a lot of planning on our moderator's part, but others are willing to pitch in and help with the planning. Each time the conference has been held, the list of attendees differs. Some come to every conference, others are there for the first time. Some try to make them all but have to miss for various reasons. I will not be able to attend this year and it saddens me more than I care to admit. We have been online friends, but once we have spent time together at a conference, we're friends forever. 

Besides the friendship factor of a small conference, I can honestly say that I come home with a tremendous amount of knowledge and an equal amount of inspiration. Inspiration to write is one of the best parts of any conference, large or small. It's like getting a booster shot. 

If big, crowded sessions aren't for you, do consider finding a smaller conference to attend. Many state organizations have smaller meetings. I'm thinking primarily of states with sparser populations. In California, a state writers conference could be huge. I imagine they have multiple conferences in different areas of the state rather than one big one. 

Do a bit of research online to see what conferences might appeal to you. The bigger they are, the more costly they will be. Those who plan the meeting have to pay big bucks to get the big name speakers, and that cost is passed on to you. Ones closer to where you live are going to cost less for transportation. My conference in VA means I have to fly when I go, so that is an added expense. Our weekly cost includes our cabin and our food for the duration of the conference. 

One of the conferences I hear about often with high praise is for Highlights, the children's magazine. It's held in New York state on a lake. If you write for children, it would be one to consider.I beleive they even offer scholarships for some attendees. Do a search online for the type of conference you are interested in. Compare them and give one a try.  Remember that, if you make enough money writing to pay taxes, then you can write off the cost of a conference. That can help. 

Whatever kind of conference you attend, you will see old friends and make new ones. I can almost guarantee that. 

Attending Writing Conferences and Conventions

I spent the weekend at the Kansas Authors Club annual state convention in Hutchinson, Kansas. The convention began with the Friday evening Youth Awards Ceremony. Children from around our state enter a writing contest, both prose and poetry, in hopes of winning some recognition for their work. I enjoy seeing these young, and often talented, people given an opportunity to showcase that talent. I couldn't stop watching the joy on those little faces  as they walked forward to receive a certificate, a medal on a ribbon and a print book filled with the work of all the winners. Writers for the future!

Saturday flew by as several workshops were in session throughout the day. I taught The Basics of Writing--Building A Strong Foundation in the morning and again during an afternoon session. Prior to my own workshops, I was able to attend some others. One was on writing songs, lyrics and melody. I'm no songwriter and never will be but found the topic fascinating. I came away with a much greater appreciation for those whose talent points to this kind of writing. 

A final session in the afternoon proved to be a fascinating history lesson about the salt mines that surround the Hutchinson area. Two local men have gathered many historical photos and delievered a powerpoint presentation with commentary. 

Sunday morning brought business meeting, a short church service and a time for memorials to the members of the organization who had died within the past year. The final workshop of the convention involved the writing and self-publishing route of a children's book author. I didn't it expect it to be as fruitful and interesting as it was. The author held her audience in the palm of her hand throughout the presentation. Self-publishing is such a biggie today that all writers want to learn all they can about doing so. Her book falls into the Easy Reader category, a picture book that a new reader can read on their own. Tight writing is a must. Too many think wriiting for kids is an easy task. Having done it, I know it is difficult. That old write tight admonition comes into play here. By the time the author and her illustrator/husband had published the book, they had invested $5,000. You'd have to sell a lot of books to make a profit. She showed us another book they'd published on CreateSpace which was an investment for them of only $200. I kept wondering about that adage that warns You get what you pay for.

Saturday evening, we had a dinner and program given by a Wichita TV news anchorman. Awards for authors who have written books of special merit and another for service were announced. Awards for the state writing contest were announced after the Sunday luncheon. I noted that many of the writers were winners of more than one category. I could almost see the neon sign blinkng above their head that said Here is a good writer. 

The final awards given were for the Poet of the Year and Prose Writer of the Year. Ronda Miller, whose poem I had featured here one day last week, was the Poet of the Year. A well-deserved honor. If you would like to read more of Ronda's poetry check out this page. 

Throughout the weekend, attendees wandered through the Book Room, where many of the authors at the convention had books for sale. I wish I could have purchased all of them, but I settled on two, both autographed by the authors.

Besides all that I learned at the convention, I managed to interact with dozens and dozens of other writers which is one of the top benefits of attending a writing conference or convention. If you've never attended a meeting like this for writers, give it a try. I don't think you'll be sorry. Ours is relatively small next to those happening in larger population states, but big or small, you'll come away with more than you had when you arrived.

The Kansas Authors Club is 110 years old and is the oldest writing club in the nation. That says something positive. Check and see if your state has an organization similar to this one.

Thoughts On Attending My State Authors Convention

My Weekend Destination

This afternoon, I'm driving to Wichita, Kansas to attend the Kansas Authors Club state convention. Last year, my district hosted the annual event and I had a lot of responsibilities. I was happy to do it, but this year I can be there as only an attendee and enjoy all of it without the weight of hosting sitting on my shoulders. 

The logo above shows the theme selected for this year. Our Town--It's Not On Any Map---True Places Never Are is also the theme for one of the contest categories. I entered five categories in the prose and poetry contests but, try as I might, I couldn't come up with anything for the theme category. It pays the biggest prizes so is well worth being a winner. I'm sure many others did write something for this category. I'm looking forward to hearing the titles when they are announced at the Sunday Luncheon. 

The first few years that I entered the state contest, I didn't win anything. As I honed my writing skills, my contest entries began to place and I've even been fortunate to win 1st several times. I won 1st in the theme category one year for a poem about Kansas. That was really a thrill, particularly so, since I have no formal training in writing poetry. Any poem I write comes from the heart and maybe a bit of instinct. 

I have been a member of Kansas Authors for 15 years but this will only be the 4th convention I've attended. Not because I didn't want to. The date for the meeting is always the first weekend in October and K-State more often than not has a home game at the same time. Going to those games with my husband has been a priority for me, because I think it's important that we do things together and this is one activity we both thoroughly enjoy. So, I put my guy first and my writing convention second every fall. I'm delighted when I can manage to get to the meeting.

Tonight, the first event of the convention is an Awards Ceremony for Youth. Two of our members run a Prose and Poetry contest each year for young writers from 1st through 12th grades. The winners are invited to attend tonight's ceremony with their family. It's a thrill for the young writers and their parents and will leave a lasting impression of the writing world on them. Some of these young writers do a really fine job. I've served as judge a few times and have been so impressed by some of the entries and also totally disheartened by others. 

Later tonight, there will be a Read Around for those who care to participate and just a gab session for others. Tomorrow, workshops will run all day long, 3 at a time. That presents a problem in that I must choose only one for each time slot and looking at the program, I know that will be a hard task. A banquet is on schedule for tomorrow evening with a Keynote Speaker--Marci Penner, author of 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook. Sunday morning, there will be a Devotions time for those who wish to attend, a business meeting and two discussion groups. I will be the Leader of the one that is titled "Past, Present and Future of Kansas Authors Club" Like most groups today, we need new and younger members to keep this 109 year old organization alive and well. We're very much alive but I'm not sure how much longer that will be the case.

Sunday luncheon will conclude the convention. It is after the meal that the contest winners will be announced. We'll all head to our various homes around the state with new goals and ideas for new stories to write. Motivation places high on the list of convention benefits.I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making some new ones, also to meeting writers I've met online but have not in person.  I'll report on the weekend next Monday, so be sure to check the blog that day.

What's Your Convention Personality?

The Kansas Authors state convention is this week-end. I've been on the planning end of this one for the past two years. Writers from all parts of our state will be attending. The theme this year is "Encouraging Words" which covers a lot of territory. Writers can spread encouraging words with whatever they write. Readers receive encouraging words when they read the novels, stories, article and poetry the writers offer. Writers need the encouraging words spread at a week-end conference like this. We used a play on words from the song "Home on the Range." You know the one that has a line that says, ...not a discouraging word...  We turned it into a more positive but are keeping with the Kansas theme of the place where the buffalo once roamed (and still do in a few areas in our state), where the wheat fields dot the landscape along with tallgrass prairie, the Flint Hills, and the flatter lands of western Kansas.

I've been thinking about how people participate at writing conferences, whether they are attended by small numbers or large. Some sit and absorb, taking copious notes, but never offer an opinion or thought when they attend the workshops. Others are more vocal and share their knowledge and experiences in the writing world with no urging.

Some network like mad with the other writers while others sit quietly and listen. Like all things, there are myriad personalities in our writing world. Some people write because they enjoy working on their own, are perfectly happy in a quiet one-person atmosphere. Others need that personal contact that these conferences offer. Both can benefit.

Whichever personality you are, there is much to be gained from the workshops and keynote speakers. For the quiet people, I would urge you to step out of your comfort zone and participate fully in the workshops. And for the more vocal, reach out to the quieter people, draw them into the conversation. A writers convention or conference is meant to enrich your writing world. Enjoy the time spent in workshops, the gathering together for meals or maybe a glass of wine, at the Read-Arounds and in the Hospitality Room.

This is the schedule of workshops we have lined up. Wish you could all be there.

Saturday Workshop Presenters:
Nancy Julien Kopp “Creative Nonfiction & Writing for Anthologies"
Mark Bouton “Let's Write a Novel”
Kevin Rabas “Writing Flash Fiction and Narrative Poems”
Judy Entz “In the Know Concerning Self-publishing”
Ann Zimmerman “Songwriting Should Not Be Left to the Pros”
Jim Hoy “Serendipity, the Writer's Best Friend”“Finding Gold in the Flint Hills or Wherever You Live" 
Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg “These are the Materials; the Transformative Power of Fiction” & Keynote:“Wreckage, Wonder and Ways Through the Impossible; Writing Life's Hard Stuff in Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction"

How Do You Deal With Opportunity?

When a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade!


A bank in our town puts memorable, witty sayings on their marquee. The one above reached out and grabbed me. What good advice that is, I thought as I drove by the sign.

Only weeks ago, I attended my 50 year college class reunion. The picture posted here today was taken there. Carol was my college roommate, and we've remained friends all these years. We live 8 hours apart and rarely see one another. When the letter arrived in early spring detailing the two day reunion, I could have pulled the shade on that little opportunity. It's  too far away. I have other things to do in mid-June. I'm not sure I want to see how classmates have aged. All those reasons for staying home. But I didn't pull the shade down. I made plans to attend and was ever so glad that I'd done so.

Carol and I spent a full day together catching up and recalling old times. After about thirty seconds together, it was as if we'd never been apart those fifty years. Taking advantage of the opportunity to go to the reunion turned out to be very satisfying. We both look like we are having a good time, don't we?

We often run across writing opportunities, too. They appear out of the blue. It might be a contest to enter, or a new anthology call for submissions. It could be an editor who contacts us to come up with an article on a particular subject. It may be a conference for writers that is only two hours from home. So, what do you do?

You can pull the shade because there are too many reasons that you don't want to pursue the opportunity. Or you can list the pros and cons of following or not following the chance to publish or grow as a writer. I have a feeling that, in most cases, answering the opportunity positively will be the choice you select when looking objectively at the pro and con list.

Writing opportunities appear, but it's up to us to pursue them. Sure, you might have a few doubts. You might be too busy and stressed-out, you could be afraid to tackle a major writing project. There will always be obstacles of one kind or another. Move on and meet the challenge instead of pulling down the shade.

Writers As Friends

I got to thinking last night about how many writers I know who have become my friends. The photo above was taken at the last conference my online critique group had in April of 2010. We spent several days together listening, learning, and socializing. Every one of the women are writers, but they're also the kind of people I am happy to have as friend. With the daily back and forth we do with subbing and critting and off-topic chatting, we know one another well.

I've met other writers at conferences but not all have become friends. Even so, many of them have reached out in one way or another, and a friendship grew. I post a lot of my work at an online community of writers and readers  called Our Echo. I've become a regular there and have gathered several friends who also post frequently and make comments. One no longer posts her work there, but she and I have kept in touch.

A few of my writer acquaintances have become bloggers. By reading and commenting on their blogs, our relationship has become a friendship.

Having friends who are in the writing world means you have someone who really understand when you whine about rejections. They are also great people to listen to your grandiose ideas for a new writing project. They are helpful in editing your work, if you ask nicely! And all that works in reverse, You have a lot in common with other writers which is a good base on which your friendship stands.

Take a few minutes today to list all the friends you have in your writing world. And then be thankful for them. You might even tell them that you value their friendship when an opportunity rises.