How to Get the Most Out of a Writer's Conference

Do you leave a writer's conference refreshed, inspired and ready to further your career, or worn down, depressed and bitter at the state of publishing today? Follow these tips to get the most of your registration fees.

Choose your conference wisely. Well-established conferences and those connected with a university are often more worthwhile than new events. Be especially wary of conferences hosted by a publishing company or editing firm, as they will probably be hard-sell marketing tools rather than learning experiences.

Research your one-on-one partner. If you sign up for a personal critique or pitch session, do your research. Use the agent's website or the biographies on the conference material to make sure that your partner's interest match what you are trying to sell.

Don't pay for a pitch. These are scams. Agents and editors who participate are looking to make quick money, not to find new clients.

Network. Get out of your comfort zone a bit and talk to the people sitting beside you. You never know what connections you might make.

Don't raise your expectations too high. Sure, it's possible that an agent or editor will spot your genius and talent. It is more likely, however, that you will work yourself up so much that you come off like a nervous wreck when networking. At every conference there are a couple of people that are overly emotional. Don't be one of those people.

Don't be afraid to break out of your genre. Attend a session or two that are outside of your regular area. If you write nonfiction, check out the short story workshop. If you write young adult fiction, spend some time in the technical writing area. Stepping out of your normal boundaries may spur your creativity in new ways.

Take a snack. Unless you like stale pastry, pack yourself some fresh fruit or even a small sandwich. Don't forget a bottle of water. The air in conference centers is often quite dry.

Take notes. Don't expect to remember all of the hints, names, suggested exercises and recommended books that come up. Take a small notebook and write it all down. Review your notes each night, while the day is still fresh in your memory, and fill in any blanks.

Follow up. If you promised someone the first five pages of your novel, be sure to send them promptly.

Present yourself well. Dress professionally but comfortably. Don't talk badly about other writers, agents or publishers. Think about the impression you are making, and how you would perceive someone who looked, talked and acted that way.

Take it all with a grain of salt. Writer's conferences can be wonderful networking experiences, but they can also be filled with pompous name-droppers eager to put new writers in their place. Use a conference as a learning experience, both about writing and about people.