Seven Qualities of a Great Writers Conference
The Writer's Block, bi-weekly column by Antoinette and Jared Kuritz
It is a reality that more than 81% of Americans surveyed say they have a book in them. And while most never write that book, enough do so that there were better than 400,000 new books published in 2007.
Getting started writing is never easy; continuing to write is even more difficult. Despite how easy the best writers make it look, writing is hard work – work for which the art and craft must be studied and practiced.
Where do you begin? Where do you find out more about writing from those who have done it successfully? Where do you meet the agents and writers and editors who will help you get that leg up that may just lead to publication? A great writers conference is a good place to start.
With over 1500 writers conferences in the country each year, there are a lot to choose from. So, how do you go about choosing? What makes a conference great?
Quality of faculty: Are there successful writers on the faculty? While many people go to a conference seeking to connect with agents, successful writers who are willing to mentor an aspiring writer can do as much to forward a career as an agent – even bringing the aspiring writer to their own agent or editor and providing endorsements for future books.
Variety of courses: Does the conference address your needs with courses in fiction, non-fiction, and the art, craft, and business of writing. Is the conference comprehensive? Does it provide practical, useful information while helping you to hone your craft?
Types of courses: Are lectures balanced by workshops? Do the classes afford you the opportunity to interact with other attendees and faculty? Will you be reading your work for critique and assisting in the critique of others?
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Faculty-attendee ratio: The better the faculty-attendee ratio, the better the chance that you will get up close and personal with the writers, agents, and others who can help catapult your career.
Accessibility of faculty: Do the faculty members buzz in for classes and then leave, or are they there to field questions after class? Are they the type of people who welcome your questions? Are they there to teach?
Environment: Is the environment conducive to learning; is it conducive to a sense of community. For the time you are the conference, will you be enveloped into the writing community and made comfortable regardless of whether you are a beginner or a published author?
Also, is the conference non-commercial? Or is there up-selling? Will you get constructive, personalized advice?
Attitude: This is what it really all comes down to. Is the faculty knowledgeable, and also generous with that knowledge? Is the faculty carefully chosen for this? Have former attendees been published by substantial publishing houses, and have they been mentored by conference faculty along the way? Are faculty members the kind of people you can later ask to blurb your book?
Getting started writing can be intimidating. And once you are writing, you will spend enormous amounts of time by yourself. A good writers conference will provide you with interaction that will inform, inspire, and impact your writing in the best possible way while energizing you to keep writing. With over 1500 writers conferences available in the country each year, choose carefully. But if you are serious about writing, take advantage of all that a really great conference has to offer.
