|
NC Writer's Network Fall Conference |
|
I ventured to
Winston-Salem to attend the
North Carolina Ùs WriterÙs Network 2007 Fall Conference from November 16-18. While conferences can be expensive by the time you add up hotel, registration and travel costs, the benefits can justify these expenses. The main question is: what do you hope to get out of attending a writerÙs conference?
Conferences are a great place to network, receive feedback on a manuscript and even pitch a manuscript to an editor or publisher. They provide avenues for inspiration and to break out of the writing blocks and ruts we find ourselves in everyday. For example, I have a manuscript finished and have found myself overwhelmed by the lists of literary agents and publishers to research before sending the manuscript out. While I have looked at sample pitches and query letters, I had trouble writing my own. The NC WriterÙs Conference gave some ideas to look at why this research is important, what publishers and literary agents are looking for, how to write a pitch and the expectations between writers and editors during the publishing process. There are seminars for everyone, including writing prompts and exercises to honing writing skills of a specific genre and finally pitching and publishing. Coming away from the conference, I find myself more focused, inspired and ready to get back to work.
|
