Conferences: credibility, and finding the right one

[WilliamMJones]

Hi Nathan,

I like the new format. It looks great.

I have three questions about Writer's Conferences, and I couldn't find anything in the blog.
First, are all/most conferences credible, or are some of them scams? Is there a place we can check them, like the Preditors and Editors webpage for checking agents?

Second, is there any website you would recomend for finding the right one? Is there some list that you can search to find one in your area between certain dates?

And third, how useful are they really? I remember reading on your blog that verbal pitches don't really help you, that you prefer to see the idea written down. Does that mean that queries are the better way to go, or does meeting the agent before you query help your chances?

Thanks.

[Nathan Bransford]

I would first narrow down the conference by what's nearby you, where you'd like to travel, or conferences dedicated to your genre, and then look at the faculty. A good sign would be if there are agents or editors you'd like to meet or from agencies/publishers you've heard of.

A conference is not a ticket to representation, but at a good conference you'll do have the opportunity to meet other writers and hear great keynoters, and there's just something to be said for being in a room full of writers who are experiencing all the same things you are. That camaraderie can mean a lot, and you can make great friends. It's also an opportunity to meet people who work in the business.

If you can afford it and it seems like your thing, great. They're not mandatory by any means, but I think they can definitely be valuable.

[dgaughran]

I'll share a personal experience of conferences, which might help sway the undecideds.

I went to my first conference in March, The Festival of Writing in York, England http://www.festivalofwriting.com/. It was a conference purely aimed at unpublished writers. I was really unsure about whether to go or not, it was expensive, £500 (about $800) for two-and-a-half days including 2 nights’ accommodation and all meals. This was a lot of money to me as I am unemployed, and I would have had to fly from Dublin (another US$150), but there were going to be a lot of top agents and editors there. The blurbs said that all of agents and editors were appearing without being paid a fee as they were all keen on discovering new talent. But there was still the problem of the cost.

A friend dragged me into a casino one night, and I turned a $20 roulette stake into a $1000 win, and as soon as I got home I booked my ticket for the conference. Included in the price were two one-on-ones with your choice from a selection of agents, editors and successful writers. These sessions were a little difference from a standard pitch session in that they would receive (and review) your writing in advance, and then you had ten minutes with them to receive and discuss their feedback and ask them questions on the industry in general.

On top of that, and some excellent keynote speeches, there were talks and workshops. Some of the talks were a little basic if you have been querying for a while or if you know a fair bit about the industry, but some of the hands-on workshops were excellent, and I learnt a lot about techniques that I wouldn't have otherwise. Some of the lessons were painful, particularly that I should stop sending out my MS and rewrite large chunks of it, but you have to be open to everything that is being said, or you are just wasting your money.

I kept in contact with one of my one-to-ones (who works for a large UK agency), and he advised me throughout the revision process and is now reading my revised full. It may turn into nothing, but his advice to date has been invaluable. I made a couple of other contacts through the conference which have been useful.

Overall the experience was positive, and worth the money. I think the key is to research the conference as much as possible, make sure the attendees that you can pitch to accept the kind of work you are writing, and make sure you can afford it! I won't be going to another conference anytime soon, but if I had the money, I would definitely consider it.

Dave