Friday Speak Out!: A Worthwhile Conference

By GP Gottlieb

I just returned from Left Coast Crime, a conference for mystery lovers. Of the 550 or so participants, there were about 70 authors, and the rest are readers looking for books to read. Guess who’s got 3 published mysteries (and a 4th launch coming this summer)?

Soon after I got to the hotel, I ran into Ann, a fellow Rocky Mountain Sister in Crime. I love her series about a doctor balancing work and family (loosely based on Ann’s life, except for the crime).

My conference plan is always to meet as many people as possible, have as many good conversations as I can manage, and leave the hotel at least once a day. We lucked out with sunny weather the whole time and the city was cleaner than when I last visited, but what did San Francisco do with all the street people?

I brought postcards with one of my excellent recipes on one side and my books and contact info on the other. I also brought wrapped chocolates and candy because it’s nice to offer something sweet to everyone. I set out some of that candy during author-speed-dating, where I spoke to about 15 tables of 8-10 people about my latest culinary mystery (Charred, Book #3 in the Whipped & Sipped Mystery series).

I will admit that after describing the book 10 times, I zipped through my allotted two minutes in less than 30 seconds. I’d stand up and say, “Hi, I wrote a Chicago based culinary mystery in which some people get killed and everyone else eats breakfast and lunch. Here’s some candy. Hope you get a chance to try my recipe.”

They’d laugh, probably relieved. I’d pass out the other author’s bookmarks, sit down, and listen to her speak. When it was over, I went to my room and read. Then I attended panels like Writing Historical Mysteries and Crime in the Great Outdoors. All four days, I ran into Ann from Colorado.

There were 4 panels each day, plus famous author interviews and readings (One played Tartini’s Devil’s Trill on the violin – his book had the same title). I make quicker decisions about reading a book after hearing an author read (or perform) than I do when listening to an author blab about his/her book.

I loved getting to moderate a panel on Global Mysteries and sitting on a panel about Mystery Categories, although whenever I was the last to answer a question about why my book is a cozy, or what differentiates cozy from traditional mystery, I’d forget the question, say whatever sprang to mind, and inadvertently get a laugh. Oops.

I came away with a long list of books to download, but my favorite part of the weekend was hanging out with Ann, who also ended up being on my flight to Denver. We ate together before the flight. Even though the conference is about books, for me the most important part is the people.

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Photo credit: David Gottlieb 

G.P. Gottlieb loves her family, books, music, and dessert. Her three culinary mysteries (Battered, Smothered, and Charred) were re-issued by Anamcara Press this year (Pounded, Book 4 in the Whipped & Sipped series, will launch this summer). She has interviewed over 275 authors for New Books in Literature, a podcast channel on the New Books Network, has published stories and essays in a variety of journals, blogs, and anthologies, and her latest story will appear in the 2nd Rocky Mountain Sisters in Crime Mystery Merge. To connect, read her book reviews and essays, or see her stunning photos of roasted vegetables, visit G.P. Gottlieb on Facebook, Instagram, Substack, or GPGottlieb.Com.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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2 comments Friday Speak Out!, GP Gottlieb, writers conferences, writing conference tips

What Kind of Conference Attendee Are You?

I’ve just wrapped up another writer’s conference and as usual, there were moments when I wished I could’ve hit the “Pause” button, stop everything for just enough time to help myself or others running around from one session to the next. But alas, there’s no “Pause” button; there is, however, hindsight. And so I’m offering a few tips to help you at your next conference, no matter what kind of conference attendee you are. Because, friends, I’ve seen all these kinds of attendees. Heck, I’ve been all these kinds of attendees!

The Wet-Behind-The-Ears Attendee:

This is the first-timer at the conference, and you can always recognize this newbie by the deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. She may be just a few minutes late to the session (because she read the schedule wrong) or she’s extra early (because she doesn’t know anyone so there’s no stopping to chat along the way). She takes notes on everything! (She probably has a handy laptop, too.)

What I always want to say to this attendee is relax. All this information you’re getting is like trying to drink water from a fire hose: impossible to take it all in at one time. So look up from the notes and just listen. Connect. Take a few minutes to introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. At your first conference, you’re not likely to get an agent, but you might find a friend who’ll be with you on this journey for many years to come.

The Older-But-Wiser Attendee:

This isn’t the first rodeo for this attendee; she knows the ropes. She’s not only confident but maybe even a bit jaded. She might skip a session and hang out to talk with friends, and notes? Please. And when mealtimes come around, you won’t find this attendee sitting alone. She knows people everywhere and wants to hear everyone’s news.

What I always want to say to this attendee is something my mother often said to me: “You’re not half as smart as you think you are.” The attendee who’s been around for a while is a bit harder to teach because she thinks she already knows it all. And so though she hears the speakers, she may not be listening. My tip for this attendee is to open your mind when you open the door to any session; you may be surprised at what you’ll learn. (And P.S. Maybe grab a newcomer and invite her to sit at your table; introduce her to your friends. That newcomer has thousands of questions and you have thousands of answers. It’s a match made in conference heaven!)

The Attendee-on-a-Mission:

This is the attendee who has one goal and she’s not leaving until she’s achieved it. It may be to get an agent; it may be to schmooze with an editor or an art director, angling to make a personal connection. Maybe her book has just recently been released and she wants to let as many people as possible know about it. The single-mindedness of purpose with this attendee is pretty impressive, and yet…

What I always want to say to this attendee is dial it back a bit. This attendee works a room like a Hoover vacuum, rolling through everyone to get to every nook and cranny (or agent or editor or whatever). And really, it’s not a terrible thing that you’ve come to a conference for one specific reason but you might miss all kinds of lovely things as you bulldoze your way through. So go after that goal, but stop and smell the roses, too.

The Behind-The-Scenes Attendee

You’ll recognize this attendee by the harried look in her eyes. She gets to sessions late or leaves early because she always has something to do! She’s checking her phone constantly and when all is said and done, she probably has very little idea of what was said and done. Such is the life of the volunteers who work behind the scenes, bringing the conference to everyone else but themselves.

What I always want to say to this attendee is thank you! When we stop to talk to the volunteers, we’re often coming with a crisis because that’s the nature of any event. The AV isn’t working! The elevator is too slow! The meals are too mushy! So next time you’re at a conference, how about taking just a moment to compliment rather than complain. Or better yet, volunteer. (P.S. And get someone to take notes for you!)

~Cathy C. Hall (who's way too tired to say anything else!)

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9 comments attendee tips, Cathy C. Hall, writer's conferences, writing conference tips

Writing Conference Do's and Don'ts

This past year, I made it a goal to take another step forward in my writing career and sign up for a few conferences. I eased into it by attending a one-day conference for freelance writers back in April and last weekend, I braced myself for the larger SCBWI Carolinas Conference. Luckily, I had some friends who have attended this particular conference over the past few years, so they helped me find my way around and provide moral support. Because of conference policy, I can’t blog about specific sessions I attended at the conference or share any handouts, but I would like to offer some conference do's and don’ts I picked up as a result of my experience.

1. Do make sure you stay hydrated and pack a few extra snacks in your bag. I know this sounds like advice we all should know, but I overlooked it when I packed for my first day. I was more focused on making sure I had copies of my manuscript for the critique I had signed up for, along with business cards, a notepad and pens that I completely forgot any sort of snacks or even a bottle of water. My first session was a four-hour industry intensive that definitely took a toll on my blood sugar and left me parched, and I made a note to myself not to make that mistake again.

2. Do introduce yourself to new people. This can be very hard for me as I consider myself a pretty introverted person, but I was pleasantly surprised at how genuine and approachable the other writers I met were. The conference nametags really came in handy for that reason and helped me break the ice with several people. I made some great connections over the weekend and picked up a few books I can’t wait to read, too!

3.  Don’t let critique sessions dampen your enthusiasm. This conference had both manuscript critiques (one-on-one critiques with a conference faculty member) and late night “red-eye” critiques, where you were grouped with other writers of the same genre and asked to critique one another’s work. I signed up for only one manuscript critique session and as a result of the session, walked away doubting my entire book. While I knew it probably needed some work, I took comments too personally and almost let that experience ruin my whole weekend. I’ve heard similar stories come out of the critique groups too—it’s unfortunate, but it does happen.

4. Don’t forget to silence your phones. I was amazed at how many times phones went off during keynote speeches and conference sessions, and even more amazed by the people who would actually answer them instead of simply turning the phones off and missing a call. (I obsessively turn off my phone before every session but that's another story entirely).

Overall, I had a great time and can’t wait to go back! I got so many great ideas, was introduced to some incredible agents and editors, and learned some invaluable information from all the sessions I attended. I can’t wait to dive back into my manuscripts now.

Do you have any conference dos and don’ts you’ve picked up over the years?

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who blogs at Renee's Pages.

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4 comments conference dos and don'ts, Renee Roberson, SCBWI, writing conference tips, Writing Conferences