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Carmen Leal is an author of five books, including You Can Market Your
Book, a marketing toolkit for Christian authors, and WriterSpeaker.com,
an Internet research and marketing guide for writers and speakers. Her |
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Conferences Make a World of
Difference Carmen Leal, Naples, Florida |
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There are many reasons for attending a conference, and
connecting with editors is only one of them. If your primary focus is marketing
a manuscript, it's important to look at what magazine and book editors will be
there. Who's teaching the continuing education track might also be an
important consideration. Maybe honing your skills is your primary focus and that
help often comes from seasoned freelance writers. There are certain authors I'd
make it a priority to sit under because I could learn so much from them. The variety of additional workshops might be a deciding factor.
Each conference has a unique flavor and some people like one over the other. For
instance, I've known writers who say they always go to Mt. Hermon simply
because it's so huge and has myriad opportunities with both editors and
freelancers. Colorado Christian Writers Conference and Greater
Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference directed by Marlene Bagnull
are favorites for many because of the spiritual emphasis. Last year at both of
those conferences I found a nurturing spirit. Many first time writers came away
encouraged where maybe in a larger, sales focused event they would have been
discouraged. We in this country are blessed with so many conference
opportunities, and I am very grateful. One of the main things to do is plan in advance. A conference
across the country doesn't have to break your budget if you keep your eyes open
for good airfares. Don't forget that scholarships do exist, but you have to ask for them. I attended my first conference on a scholarship. Even a partial scholarship can help. In the past I've opened my home to writers who want to save on hotel and house, and we commuted to the conference. I'm not able to do that now, but with the relationships we build through our CWFI Family Email Conference, there's a good chance you can find someone to stay with if you ask. This is just one way to cut costs. The decision to attend any conference should begin with prayer.
Pray that God will show you the right reason to attend a conference and which
conference to attend. It truly isn't all about sales. Even if you don't talk to
a specific editor because you don't have a finished manuscript, you can still
submit when you have a finished manuscript and remind an editor in a cover
letter that you met him or her there. The fact that you have invested in your
career by attending a conference shows the editor your commitment to presenting
yourself as a professional. I have sold only a few things as a result of a conference. But I
have learned so much, and I have had my call to writing affirmed over and over.
Last week I heard that an editor I met two years ago at a conference was now
struggling with his wife having Huntington's Disease. He said it was my book
that had gotten him through these years. Powerful stuff! If I never sell
anything else as a result of that conference, it will be worth the time and
money I spent attending. |