So what about you? Are you a conference goer?
No?
Have you been dying to go to one, but there's something that's been stopping you? Or have you chosen not to go to conferences?
Yes?
What have been some of your favorite conferences to go to? Which conference are you looking most forward to going to in the next year?
Gosh. I am so very much in the mood to go to a conference RIGHT NOW. Who's with me?
34 comments:
I just recently registered for my first writing conference. It is not until May - I can hardly wait! I am hoping to go to a few others as well.
I haven't been to a conference, yet. Last year I attended a 2 day workshop with Orson Scott Card. It was amazing!!!!!
This year, I'm hoping to either attend his week long writing boot camp, or David Farland's writing death camp, which is also a week long.... doesn't that just sound super awesome?
I went to my first conference last summer and it was amazing. Do you all know about Writeon Con? It's an online free writers conference held in (I think) August. It'll be all over the blogging world this summer, so keep your eyes peeled. I found it to be really great this year.
Writers conferences are wonderful. If it wasn't for money, I would go to more of them.
The past two years, I've been to the James River Writers Conference. This coming year, I'm going to a small conference in my hometown. I don't know if I'll get to many more than that next year, though.
I love the annual SCBWI conference in L.A. each summer. The keynote speakers, workshops, the people--all wonderful. And I am heading to the Miami SCBWI conference in January. I am really looking forward to it!
I'm with you. I love writer conferences and immersing myself with writers who have been successful and who know their stuff. And I admire those who are brave enough to stand up and speak to everyone. As you know, I've just spoken to class of 10 year old children about the craft - and it's not as easy as it looks but A LOT of fun. I loved it and loved answering their questions...
I haven't been to one yet :( It's one of those things that has to take the back burner because of how my and my hubby prioritize our needs vs wants. Unfortunately, wants don't get addressed too often, but one of these days...I will make it to conferences!!!
I have only done WriteOnCon, it's a free online conference. It was fanatastic. But I do plan on going to one in the spring. I'm so excited/nervous, because I've never been to a real conference before.
I went to my first one last year. I LOVED it! At first I was a little scared, but I just threw myself into it and it was wonderful. (I'm pretty sure it was the same conference you went to in May :)
I live here in St. Louis, so not a whole lot happens around here. My work schedule just hasn't allowed it, although attending a conference is near the top of my objectives for the new year.
I can be fairly shy, so my first few conferences I didn't get much networking or chatting done.
But I started volunteering at our SCBWI regional conference and discovered it's a great way for me to get over that shyness. Strangely, I'm fine with public speaking (it's just those first few sentences one-on-one that are so huge for me) so when I'm in a volunteer capacity I feel like I've already broken the ice with people. Or the desire to be helpful cancels out the fear of looking foolish, one of the two!
The other advantage is that volunteering for conferences often gets you free or reduced registration. And we all go out to dinner afterward with the faculty and speakers--we got to spend an evening sitting next to Bruce Coville last year and had a great time!
The LUW conference was my first one and now I am dying for more to come. LTUE and STORYMAKERS! Agh. I wish it was time for them right NOW! I'm obviously going to be a conference fanatic.
I would love to go to a writing conference. One day, hopefully :-)
I've been to many Engineering conferences. Totally not the same I'm sure but...wait! Wait! I do have a point :)
I like going to those engineering conferences because you're surrounded by people who have this major commonality with you. It's invigorating and there's such a sense of community. I can't wait to feel that at a writer's conference :)
I have not been to a conference. I would love to go, but, like Cassie, conferences for me have not shifted from 'want' to 'need'.
I love going to writers conferences. The classes, the chance to pitch, and mostly the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow writers are all invaluable.
I've been to three. It depends on what you're looking to get out of it. Some are better at craft or networking than others. But in general, it IS really cool to be in a building full of people like you! :-)
I love going to conferences and writing events but this year I have been sadly lacking. For me, it is a trip back to uk anyway, and the last few times we visited the time was taken up by other things... Maybe next year??
Yes. I love conferences. Lately I end up going just to meet and chat with people. Incredible what can be accomplished through networking! :)
i have never been but would love to go! that treminds me to start looking into it for next year!
Being the poor, ramen-noodle-eating woman that I am, I haven't had the opportunity to attend a conference yet. I'd love to in the future, though! :)
You know I'm always up for a conference. LTUE in Feb?
Hopefully heading to Iowa's Writer Festival next summer and planning to check out the next one for SCBWI KC.
It would be so fun to be with a bunch of people that actually understand what I'm talking about.
I've been to a lot of geek conferences like Gen Con and Archon. I attended the writing seminars at them and loved them. Gen Con has the Writers Symposium, a great program for writers. I want to attend an actual writers' conference, though. I'm a member of RWA now. I need to get to one of those!
Krista-- Ooo! A conference in May? Is it Storymakers?
Cristina-- The workshop sounds amazing! I didn't even know Orson Scott Card did those! And yes- a week with either him or Dave Farland does sound super awesome.
Shell-- I LOVE WriteOnCon! I think it's amazing! I love that everyone has access to it regardless of where they live, and that it's free.
Cherie-- I would go to more of them if I could, too. I hope you have a blast at the one in your hometown!
Cynthia-- I've always wanted to go to the LA SCBWI conference! And you're going to the Miami one, too? Hi, Cynthia. I'm jealous. Nice to meet you.
DRC-- Aaa! I'm glad you had fun doing it! I'm really excited for you! It sounds like the perfect place to get your feet wet.
Cassie-- You just need to change it from a want to a need. ;) But I totally get what you mean.
Melanie-- I'm so excited for you! Which conference are you going to?
Angela-- Oh! I wish I'd have known you then! Are you going again this year?
Jay-- I hope you get your chance! WriteOnCon is a fabulous conference, because you can watch each of the sessions later if you have to be at work during them. It's pretty awesome!
Angelica-- You just made me totally want to go volunteer to help at a conference! It sounds fabulous!
Leigh-- Ahh. A fellow fanatic. <3 I have heard that the annual LUW conference is amazing! I still haven't been, though. I'm definitely going to LTUE and Storymakers, though! I'm excited to see you there!
Sarah-- I hope you get to go to one soon, too. In the mean time, check out WriteOnCon! It's free, and it's all online. I'm pretty sure you can still get to everything from the last conference.
Kelley-- Yes! Sharing major commonalities and a sense of community! Some of the very best things about conferences! I'm excited for you to go to your first one.
JeffO-- Some day they will, and you'll wonder how you ever thought they used to be a want. ;)
Stacy-- I couldn't agree more.
Christina-- They definitely aren't all created equal, but you're right- they all have that same thing in common. People like us. :)
Pat-- Yes, there is ALWAYS next year. Sometimes, awesome trips just have to take precedence.
David-- Meet and chat with people. Two of the very best things about conferences. :D
Tara-- Yes! Start looking! (Is it weird that I'm getting so excited for you to look for a conference?)
Carrie-- Then WriteOnCon is perfect for you! I think they market it specifically as the conference for Ramen-noodle-eating women. ;)
Jessie-- You know it!
Sarah B-- Ooo! Sounds like so much fun! And we don't get to be around people who understand what we're talking about nearly often enough, do we?
Christine-- I haven't been to the geek conferences, :) but I've heard they are a lot of fun! I went to my first RWA conference in October. It was a lot of fun! It was a smaller conference, so it felt like I really got to know everyone (including the agents) so much better.
My first conference was Storymakers this year. I'm going to LTUE in Feb. and hopefully Storymakers again as well! :D
It was so fun to actually meet other bloggers face to face!
I plan on going for the first time in 2012, I'm just not sure which one to attend! I was going to go to the ACFW in Dallas to pitch my Christian novel, but I've also just written a YA novel and would like to attend SCBWI.
I would SO love to go to a writers conference. I don't have the opportunity with working full time right now but next year, who knows - maybe I can get a weekend off? ;-)
I love going to conferences, and I REALLY want to go to SCBWI NYC in Feb., but alas time constraints and financial considerations often get in the way!
Chantele-- Wasn't it so much fun?! I wasn't blogging yet at that conference (except for my personal blog), so I didn't know very many writers. I'm going to LTUE and Storymakers this year- I'm excited to meet you!
Rachael-- Those sound like great conferences! I'm excited for you to have such great choices, and to go to your first one!
Talei-- Wait... You never get weekends off?! Dang, girl. I hope that someday you get a chance to go to one.
Susanna-- Some day...SOME DAY, I am going to go to the SCBWI conference in NYC. How fun would that be?! A conference right in the heart of the publishing world? It sounds like so. much. fun! I hope you get the chance to go soon, too!
I have not gone to any writer´s conference yet...
But I am planning to, I need to see if there are some in Germany :-)
I haven't been to a conference yet, but I'm hoping to! I'm just slightly bummed that the soonest one is months away!
commutinggirl-- I hope you're able to find one!
Diana-- I'm excited for you to go to your first one! (Even if you do have to wait for months. Grr. :))
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