Writers Conferences: Too Expensive for Beginning Writers?

Beginning writers often say, "But a writing conference is so expensive. Can't I just read a good book on writing, instead?" Of course you could but, in my experience, no book can take the place of actually attending a good writers' conference.

My husband pushed me into the first writer's conference I attended. I had dozens of excuses why I shouldn't go, the top one being that it was too expensive. And, who would take care of our kids? I was also nervous about the idea of being around "real" writers since my only sale at the time had been a 250 word article to a Sunday school take-home paper for primary kids. Maybe no one would even talk to me, and I certainly didn't have a backlog of writing to show an editor,

But he insisted and I went, and I'm so glad I did.

That first conference was just three days long and, I came home with a notebook full of ideas that spurred my writing career for months afterwards. I still use things I learned from that first conference and have highlighted some other things I plan to use if I ever find the time to do a little more research on them.

Since then, I have attended many conferences, and can honestly say that I have always-always found something new to help me as a writer from each conference. And, in addition, there is always the fun of running into people I have met at previous conferences and catching up on how their writing career is going. If you write, you need to attend a writers' conference now and then.

I know that times are tight, but don't let that discourage you from attending a conference. Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to go to one of the 3 or 4 major conferences around the country that will cost you several hundred dollars for tuition plus the expense of travel and lodging that will leave you struggling to pay off for months after the conference has ended.

Not a pleasant situation, but it doesn't have to be that way. Look, instead into attending a nearby conference that you can drive to and from daily, or into sharing driving expenses and a room with a writing buddy.

If possible, join a state writers' association. They often have a 3 or 4 day summer conference within daily driving distance from where you live and may offer several one-day conferences during the year. Our state association has three one-day conferences held at different places around the state each year so that the driving burden is not on the same people all the time. The cost to attend one of these conferences is under $20, including lunch. What a bargain.

A class I took at a one-day conference was called, "How to Get Your Web page Online for Less Than $5." It was only a one-hour class but probably the most valuable hour I have ever spent in a class of any kind.

Another way to avoid "sticker shock" when planning to attend a writers' conference is to start planning early. Announce to your family that you are planning to attend and let it be known that donations to your conference fund in lieu of gifts on your birthday, Mother's Day or Christmas would be greatly appreciated. Consider using bottle return receipts or other small amounts of unexpected income as additions to your conference fund. When you have a lot of change in your purse, dump it into the fund. You'll be surprised at how quickly your goal will be reached.

So don't avoid attending a conference because you think they are too expensive. You can find one that fits your pocketbook and still offers exactly the right information to help you further your writing career. And remember, what you learn at that first conference can become the catalyst that will start you on a career that will more than pay for your next conference, and the next, and the next.