Writers Conferences
I’m spending the coming weekend (October 7-9) at the La Jolla Writers Conference <http://www.lajollawritersconference.com/> here in San Diego. I am teaching one class by myself–alternatives to traditional publishing–and three more with my friend and colleague, Peggy Lang--one on the use of story-telling techniques in non-fiction writing and two on writing memoirs.
I’m looking forward to it, even to my 8 AM class on Saturday morning. I don’t normally get business from conferences like this. But I do get recharged. Writing, editing, publishing, and book packaging have at least one common drawback: you spend a lot of time alone. I’m not sure it’s healthy. In fact, I suspect that the first Morlock was a writer, editor, or publisher, and you know what’s going to happen to them!
The La Jolla conference gets me out of the office and into the company of stimulating and interesting people. Some of them are old friends whom I see at similar events throughout the year. Some of them attend this conference year after year. Some of them are flourishing writers whose success and discipline (I hope) will rub off on me. Most of them are aspiring writers whose passion and enthusiasm always lift my mood.
I encourage everyone to attend writers conferences. They are everywhere. Check out the Shaw Guides <http://www.shawguides.com/> for an exhaustive list of conferences. Writers in particular stand to gain a lot. You rub elbows with experienced authors, some of whom you may have admired for years. It’s inspiring to learn that they are almost always nice people. You pick up tips and pointers. You get constructive feedback about your writing from people who know a lot and like to share what they know. You get to visit a place like San Diego in October, Whidbey Island in the Spring, or Gotham anytime. Best of all, you get fired up all over again.
Find a writers conference near you and sign up!
I’m looking forward to it, even to my 8 AM class on Saturday morning. I don’t normally get business from conferences like this. But I do get recharged. Writing, editing, publishing, and book packaging have at least one common drawback: you spend a lot of time alone. I’m not sure it’s healthy. In fact, I suspect that the first Morlock was a writer, editor, or publisher, and you know what’s going to happen to them!
The La Jolla conference gets me out of the office and into the company of stimulating and interesting people. Some of them are old friends whom I see at similar events throughout the year. Some of them attend this conference year after year. Some of them are flourishing writers whose success and discipline (I hope) will rub off on me. Most of them are aspiring writers whose passion and enthusiasm always lift my mood.
I encourage everyone to attend writers conferences. They are everywhere. Check out the Shaw Guides <http://www.shawguides.com/> for an exhaustive list of conferences. Writers in particular stand to gain a lot. You rub elbows with experienced authors, some of whom you may have admired for years. It’s inspiring to learn that they are almost always nice people. You pick up tips and pointers. You get constructive feedback about your writing from people who know a lot and like to share what they know. You get to visit a place like San Diego in October, Whidbey Island in the Spring, or Gotham anytime. Best of all, you get fired up all over again.
Find a writers conference near you and sign up!
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