Writers Conferences

A topic for writers interested in conferences: whether as attendees or presenters.
Know any good ones? Looking for something special?
Here's a thread for it

By the way, if you are a member of Linked-In and/or FaceBook, and interested in conferences, I have started groups for such discussions on both. Both titled "Writing Conference Link-ins".

Self-publishing was a major topic at both conferences I attended in February, and the acceptance is on the upswing.

Here's a post about that.

http://mexipost.com/linrobinson/linrob.php?itemid=101

#4 --

I have no interest in conferences, but others may, so the flagging is arrogant and rude.

Thanks, Jnagarya. I think it's part of personal harrassment. The rude part is not saying why. I'm new here, maybe I'm screwing up. But flagging without telling me, either privately or in a post tends towards the pissy revenge interpretation. But I could be wrong. Hard to say when people can just anonymously censure your information.

I was not exactly flagged when i joined, i simply had my photo removed on the author page. someone did bother to explain why, but not one of the flaggers. I agree that they should say why. Self-promotion seems to be the most common from what I have seen, but blatant self-promotion, appropriate self-promotion in the appropriate--stated--place, and mentioning something about yourself, writing, speaking, conference are all different and open to some interpretation, enough to deserve an explanation.
As practiced, the flagging is definitely rude.

Thanks, Rick.
I had a suspicion that (if not just vandalism) I was getting knee-jerk forum cop "promotion" interpretation. (By people who aren't even posting in the thread)

Kind of silly. What do I have to promote other than my books...which are listed and linked to right on my author page?

A very well meaning and kind member directed me around. I hope someone does the same for you. I don't know my way well yet. I think the point is for this site to be immune from an invasion of self-promoters, to be used for a variety of folks who love books, many of whom would be annoyed to be constantly interrupted by promotional voices. This group shouldn't be so sensitive to that (writersreaders?). The group Salon...Carries on group readings. You can try them. Otherwise a memo to the organiser may be in order.

"Literary books are known for the non-descript blah cover. (I mean what are you going to do, photograph intense, wringing depictions of obscure emotions?) You see the stock vauge photograph, the color arrangment with no artwork, etc. They should just stamp "If you listen to NPR, check this out" on them all."

LOL!

if there was a flagellant abuse i would check it for #11

The substance of the posts in 2/3 and 4/5 in no way violate LT's terms of use, and may be of interest to some - that said, please don't resort to name-calling and personal attack, because that is inappropriate and not welcome on LibraryThing.

>12 RickHarsch:
Huh? I was just quoting from LintonRobinson's blog. I thought it was a funny passage, that's all. What's the problem?

#7 --

There is an individual who populates some threads -- noteworthy being those on writing workshops and the like -- with two basic rants:

1. How writers workshops are a waste of time, a rip-off, etc., etc.

2. How wonderful a writer -- and therefore his writing -- is.

I have no use for writers workshops, etc., but others may. So that individual's constant bashings are beyond tiresome.

As well, I have once or twice received the equivalent of unsolicited and uninvited spam -- one or another writer notifying all subscribers to particular groups/threads that s/he just published her/his latest.

That is offensive, and to me unacceptable (a reason I am here is to escape the constant commercialization of everything); the result being that one who was in my "friends" list was removed not so much because he'd done that the once, but because he showed no indication that he wouldn't do it again. His "regret" was the "loss of a friend," not for how that had happened.

If the original poster were promoting a presentation series or venue that he sponsors, and from which potentially benefits personally/professionally, it would be different than simply starting an isolated thread in which he presented information about the presentation, and separately about the venue which allowed his sort of presentation.

I'm of two minds about the value of conferences.

One thing they do offer is contact with the publishing world. Being able to actually sit down and talk to an agent of publisher's editor might well be worth a few hundred bucks to many writers.

Many go to them the same way kids go to summer camp, as a social thing, contact with other writers.

The reason I do this is kind of ironic: for contact with agents and editors--which contact is much more easily done with a "staff" badge than an attendee badge--and my ticket to ride has been speaking on self-publishing. Clever? Hypocritical? Your call.

It's well to choose cons carefully. Some (the La Jolla conference as an example) are nothing but feeding fests for people trying to get authors to give them money. So you pay to hear somebody tell them you can succeed if you pay them a lot more money.

Also, it's well to be sure that agents you are paying to sit down with are really looking for you. I've seen agents charging fifty bucks for a 15 minute pitch session when their website says they are not open to new clients.

(PS I laughed out loud at "flagellants", Rick)

Personally, I counter flagged message 4 and 5. They are appropriate to the thread and someone offering links to something that is of interest. I saw no true advertising in them.

That being said, I wish I had money for conferences, because I'd love to attend just one, to see what its like. As JNagarya stated, there are those who feel the conferences and workshops are worthless. I'm of the mind that I'm still learning and always will be. A new experience can only add to the value of my writing.

thanks gilroy.

That's a problem with cons... they aren't cheap.
The only one I attended I won in a screenplay contest. Since then I attend as "staff". Some conferences offer scholarships. Some have volunteer workers.
The latter is interesting. Volunteers aren't always able to attend all events because they are checking registrations or hooking up video cameras or whatever, but the often enjoy closer relationships with visiting speakers and agents and stuff because they are on staff, and often helping those people out.
You might look into it if there's one in your area.

I'd have to say that the question of the value of writers conferences also radically differs depending on what it is you're hoping to sell. Genre-based cons in the mystery and romance world are really helpful for that, and they don't have to be the biggest, most expensive ones to be useful. RWA (Romance Writers of America) does have a national conference every year that's great, but it's very expensive. Smaller, local conferences also host agents and editors, without being as pricey. MWA doesn't have the same kind of national conference, but there are local ones like Sleuthfest in Florida or Crimebake in Massachusetts, and I am sure many others around the country!

Good points, Laura.
Romance seems to be the mostly highly organized, powerhouse system of interlocking publishers, writers and readers of any writing genre.

You seem to know a lot about conferences: I'd invite you to join my "Writing Conference Link-ins" groups on LinkedIn and/or Facebook if you're a member.

Another thing about romance, BTW: along with erotica it's the most powerful market for self-published and mircro-press books.

Absolutely. But mystery is also very strong in those fields -- both conferences and small press! I am not sure how to find groups on Linked In, but if you know how to invite, my email is laura.kramarsky at womenofmystery.net

Oh, and on FB I have a couple of pages that I run: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Parlor-Cozies/158005304241544

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Safehouse-Thriller-Suspense/148338838545654

I will see if I can dig up your FB group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=106835086022311

On FaceBook

Genre groups definitely have more and smaller conferences. When I wrote SF/F/H short fiction regularly, I went to NECON (http://www.campnecon.com/) in Rhode Island. Intimate collection of writers, artists, publishers and fans. Neil Gaiman regularly attended and Stephen King dropped by from time to time. I'm off to the Historical Novel Society conference (http://hns-conference.org/) in June. Unfortunately, this one is held only every two years.

Two year gaps make it more historical. Wow, intimate conference with Gaiman and King. Doesn't get much cooler than that.

Rick I made the same mistake. I put photographs up of book covers and flowers and a certain poster was yelling in capitols. At first I did not understand the reasoning but someone was kind and sent me a private message.

On topic:
Is anyone going the the LA TIMES Book Festival at USC next weekend?
I am going to attend all day Saturday and hopefully Sunday. I hope to meet authors, publishers but mostly readers.
Any tips?

This is an ancient thread but I didn’t see a newer one on this topic. Has anyone attended an Algonkian Writers Conference? I’ve signed up for one soon but I’m wondering if I made a mistake. Thanks.

Could you mean the Algonquin hotel in NYC? Many years ago, my Dad worked for the New Yorker magazine, and took me to the hotel several times to meet many of the writers who ate and socialized there. It was an awesome place; I have goosebumps just remembering, even though today it's just chills the thought of NYC gives me. Good luck, check it out first, carefully.

>27 eschator83: I think they mean these conferences:
https://algonkianconferences.com/index.htm
(I am not affiliated nor am I advertising these, just helping give context to the question in >26 varielle:)

>28 gilroy: Yes. It’s spelled differently but still causes confusion.