#AuthorToolBoxBlogHop: How to Prep for Your First Writer's Conference

I recently attended my very first writer's conference and let me tell you, it was a decision years in the making. For so long I had entertained the idea. I'd heard such great stories from other writers about how much there is to learn and all of the great connections one can make. Still, whenever it came time to purchase a ticket, I always held myself back.

If you are anything like me, an introvert with socially anxious tendencies, then the idea of a writer's conference probably sends a chill down your spine. Socializing with a large group of strangers, participating in discussions, and generally putting yourself, not to mention your work, out there can be intimidating.

However, over the years I've found that preparation is an excellent coping strategy for such nerves and will ultimately ensure a much more positive and productive experience. It was through my preparation that I ended up having the BEST time. Talking to agents, participating in sessions, and making some wonderful writer friends. (More on this later when I share my video recap!)

So if you're a writer who's always hesitated to take the next step or you've signed up for your first conference and are looking for pointers, this blog is dedicated to you.

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Here are all of my preparation tips for your first conference:

Research the Speakers/Agents

If you do nothing else before a conference, please, for the love of writing, do this. It was one of the primary takeaways from my research and honestly, it was the #1 most helpful thing when it came to pitching. Go to the conference website and read through it. This may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people at the conference skipped this step and regretted it.

Small disclaimer here that a lot of the advice in this post will be geared toward writers seeking traditional publication. While you're always welcome to disregard any information in my posts that isn't useful, please keep in mind that if you are a self-published author or an author with plans to self-publish, some of the pointers in this post are not tailored for you. 

The very first thing I did was go to the list of speakers and scan for agents. What am I looking for, exactly? I want to see if the agent represents my genre, who they represent, and get a sense of their style, plus any kind of information I can use as a conversation starter to create a connection. Sometimes this is obvious in their bio, but you may have to go their agency website or social media to get this information. Write down each of the agents you find that are interested in your genre and memorize those names. When it comes time to pitch, you'll have the advantage of being one of the first in line.

So why is this important? For many reasons. More than I can go into in this one post. But you'd be surprised how many people approach agents not having a clue who they are or what they are looking for. This reflects poorly on the writer, as it seems that they don't really care who is representing their work, just so long as they get a book deal. 

And if what I witnessed is any indication of the average, most agents won't even want to hear your pitch if they don't represent your genre. So don't waste the precious time you've been given to form a valuable connection with an industry professional. 

Order Business Cards

This was the general consensus that I found online. A business card helps solidify a connection, whether it's a writer friend, a potential mentor, or an agent. Unfortunately, most people struggle with names and will likely forget yours within minutes of an initial encounter. A business card is a tangible reminder of who you are and a great place to provide additional contact information, such an email address, phone number, or social media handle.

But remember to include a picture of your face! It's likely that whoever you're giving your card to will have a stack of others just like it, so if they can't put your name to your face, it becomes a challenge. 

If you don't have business cards, I recommend vistaprint.com. They have a large selection of templates that you can browse through and find a style that fits your personality and genre. I was very pleased with the design I chose from their selection and received a ton of compliments. 

And it also doesn't hurt to have a stylish business card holder. You can find some really nice, affordable options. Here is the one I purchased on Amazon.

Know Your Story

You may or may not have a polished manuscript, which is why I'm leaving this category open to interpretation. However, whether you're in the early stages of writing your first book or you have several completed manuscripts under your belt, it is extremely beneficial for you to come prepared with a few of the following:

• The genre of your book
• The word count of your book
• Comp titles
• Your favorite authors
• Authors with a similar style to yours
• Your pitch

Throughout the conference, you will hear time and again the question, "what's your book about?" Even if you're early on in your process, it's helpful to have some information to share that will help you develop like-minded connections and who knows, maybe even a critique partner. But more than that, if you do have a pitch ready to go, you can get some valuable insight and constructive criticism. 

Now comp titles are a larger subject than I can elaborate on in this post, but I will have a video coming soon, so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you're interested in that. And I'm definitely open to sharing what I've learned about the pitch, so let me know if you're interested in that as well! 

But taking the time to think through of each of things will pay off not only throughout the conference, but during your querying journey as well, if you're looking to traditionally publish. If you're planning on pitching to an agent at the conference, I advise you to have your word count, comp titles and pitch ready to go as these are the three key elements that agents will expect you to know if you're serious about selling your work. 

Items to Bring

Since I am a lover of lists, I thought I'd share a few of the items I brought with me to my conference that I found especially helpful:

1. Tote bag - You'll want to bring a bag large enough to fit all of the following items, but light enough that it won't weigh you down.
2. Light jacket - Even in summer, which my conference was, the rooms can get quite cool. I don't typically get cold in these environments, but at one point found myself using the table cloth as a blanket, if that gives you an idea. We were also blessed with early-morning thunderstorms, so a jacket that doubles as a raincoat is a bonus.
3. Snacks - Depending on the venue, there may not be many options when it comes to food. And even if they have it, it may well be expensive. Save yourself some money and think ahead. Prep some snacks and pack a light lunch, if you can. 
4. Water bottle - My conference had water available, but you may want to plan to bring an empty bottle that you can fill up at the water fountain, just in case. 
5. Notebook - I have been loving this notebook binder that I found on Amazon. When I first found this product, I thought it was pure genius. The notebook style makes it super simple to fold over to write in small spaces, but it has the convenience of being able to sort and pull out pages like a binder. 
6. Pens
7. Business cards
8. Extra Cash - Aside from food, you'll likely need money to pay for parking, so bring some cash to be safe. You may also want to set a little money aside to purchase books. Most of the speakers who have been published will use the opportunity to sell their work, and you could use the opportunity to get an autograph. 

Plan to Participate

One thing you'll want to get familiar with after you've purchased a ticket to your first writer's conference is your own personal pep talk. As Tony Robbins would say, make your move! Whatever personal credo that makes you feel empowered. I recommend doing this several times leading up to the conference and each morning throughout the event. Remind yourself why you're there, what your strengths are, and how much you love your work. This enthusiasm will really help to carry you through and give you the confidence to participate. 

Read through the conference agenda and see what kinds of activities invoke participation that you may need to plan for. My conference featured a first page panel where three industry professionals read through first pages and critique them on the spot, in front of everyone. The concept was to paint a picture of the agent reading through the slush pile and pinpoint the variety of reasons that an agent might pass on your novel. 

While at first I rejected the idea of sharing my first page for criticism, I reminded myself that this was my best shot at a personal, focused critique of my work. The most I'd ever gotten outside of college were form rejection letters. So I decided to take advantage of this valuable opportunity and I am so glad that I did. 

So plan to participate in whatever opportunities that come up. Ask questions during sessions. Say yes to invitations to lunch or dinner with other writers. If you're nervous, just remember: these are people who share the same passion as you. So when in doubt, ask them what they're working on and the conversation is sure to flow from there. These are ways to get the most of this experience that you've invested in for your career and for yourself.

In case you're interested, I attended the WriterCon conference in Oklahoma City. You can read more about it here. 

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If you're prepping to attend your first writer's conference, I wish you all the best of luck. These activities certainly helped me get the most out of my conference experience and I hope they do the same for you. If you have any questions about anything that wasn't covered, feel free to reach out and ask me and I'll do my best to answer them. 

If you've attended a writing conference, let me know your favorite memory or words or wisdom you received down in the comments!

This is the September 2019 Author Toolbox Blog Hop, hosted by Raimey Gallant. Be sure to check out the rest of the awesome bloggers here!