getting the most out of writers conferences

1. Do your research: Carefully research the presenters of the professional development sessions being offered. Some will be diamonds, some will be coal. Don’t waste your precious time and money sitting in a session that is not going to meet your needs. Ensure the workshop will be providing information to your level of knowledge on that specific topic. There’s nothing more disappointing than sitting in a workshop only to find that you know more than the presenter on the topic!

2. Find out who may be attending the conference: Sometimes, you can learn more from your fellow attendees than you can from the presenters. If there is a fellow writer attending who you’ve always wanted to meet or spend time with, get in touch with them in advance and ask if you can join them for lunch, coffee or a drink sometime during the conference. Make the most of your time by having a few questions prepared that you’d like to ask them.

3. Get a roommate: I’ve found that my conference experiences have been greatly enhanced by sharing a room with a fellow attendee. It’s a great way to get to know one of your fellow members, reduce your costs as you’re only paying for half the room, and debrief (share thoughts) on the happenings of the day. Just be sure to do a bit of research when selecting a roommate so that there aren’t any clashes once you’re committed. (i.e. if you have severe allergies, or are greatly opposed to smoking, alcohol consumption, etc., it’s best to state that when you’re putting out the call for a roommate.)

4. Take notes, share them, and follow up: Even if handouts are given at the professional development session, take brief notes on what strikes you as being particularly important. And if you’ve taken detailed notes on a session, share them with members of your association. Those who were unable to attend will thank you sincerely, and hopefully reciprocate on a future event. And be sure to follow-up on contacts you may have made. Send a friendly e-mail to those you particularly enjoyed meeting. This connects you electronically to the individual and opens the door for future communications.

5. Get or be a conference buddy: If you’re new to the organization and don’t know anyone, ask ahead to have someone paired with you as a conference buddy, to help introduce you to others, answer any of your questions and help enhance your conference experience. If you’re a seasoned member of the association, offer to be a buddy to a first-time attendee. You’ll be surprised how much fun it can be, and there’s no doubt you’ll make a new friend along the way.

I’ve been a freelancer for the past 18 years and during that time have attended many conferences. My memberships in various professional associations such as the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and attending the conferences and events put on by these associations has helped build my career. When’s the last time you attended a writers conference and what was the most important thing you learned at it?