How to Find Out about Writers’ Conferences

by Dee White

Following my posts about Why Attend a Writer's Conference and Preparing for a Writer's Conference, I recently had a question from a blog reader, "How do we find out about writer's conferences?"

Thus, this article is designed to give you tips on where to start. I also wanted to mention that there are a lot of writer's festivals around, too. These are great for being inspired by other writers, hearing how they write and learning about their work and what their favourite reads are/were, but I find that conferences are a usually a better place to meet and present your work to publishers and agents. Seeing as I write for children and young adults, I find that the best place to start for these conferences is The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCWBI). Their website is divided into regions, so you can click on any region around the world and it will take you to a specific page that has any upcoming conferences listed.

CONFERENCES BY GENRE                                                                                      One way to find conferences that might be worth going to is to look at the genre you write in and then research organisations for writers in that genre. Some of these organisations host their own conferences; others can give you information about them through newsletters and websites.

For example, there are organisations for

1. Romance Writers - Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America

2. Speculative Fiction writers - Conflux, Clarion

3. Horror writers - Horror Writers Association

4. Crime writers - Australian Crime Writers Association, Sisters in Crime

5. Children's writers - Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

6. Comedy writers

LIBRARY CONFERENCES                                                                                          Reading Matters Conference - Held every second year by the State Library of Victoria. Check with your state or national library - they may be able to give you information about upcoming conferences.

WRITERS CENTRES IN AUSTRALIA BY STATE

ACT Writers Centre NSW Booranga Writers Centre New England Writers Centre NSW Writers Centre Hunter Writers Centre Northern Rivers Writers Centre South Coast Writers Centre Sydney Writers' Centre Varuna - The Writers' House, NT Writers Centre QLD Queensland Writers Centre, SA Writers Centre TAS Tasmanian Writers Centre VIC Writers Victoria WA Writing WA Katherine Susannah Pritchard Writers Centre

If you're overseas - for example in the US -- Google writers’ centres in your state, area or town

PUBLICATIONS                                                                                                            ASA - Australian Society of Authors newsletters - There may be an author organisation in your country that produces a publication that will list conferences in it. BUZZ WORDS - for Australian Children's and YA writers lists conferences and upcoming events.

There are lots of conferences I haven't been to that I'm sure are fantastic, but I just wanted to finish by mentioning ones I have been to that have been extremely beneficial to me. My book, Letters to Leonardo was picked up by Walker Books after I pitched it at the SCBWI Australia Conference in Sydney. I recently attended the CYA Conference in Brisbane and received three manuscript requests from publishers and one from an agent. I attended the 40th Anniversary SCBWI LA conference and apart from being loads of fun it was a huge global networking experience.

This article first appeared in Buzz Words magazine, 2015. Dee White wanted to be a writer since she was seven-years old. She has published 16 books for children and young adults and many articles, short stories and poems. She has been lucky enough to combine her loves of writing and travel into a career which takes her all over the world writing, researching and presenting workshops. Dee is a certified writing teacher and mentor, passionate about encouraging new writers. Her blogs Writing Classes for Kids and DeeScribe Writing are full of career and writing tips for writers of all ages. https://www.deescribe.com.au

Publishing Lessons

by Dianne Bates

More than thirty-five years have passed since my first book, Terri (Puffin) was published. Those decades in this business of writing have taught me many things. They have also taught me that I have much still to learn. But today we’ll start with what I’ve learned thus far. My hope is this list will shorten your own learning curve.

1. Writing is a business. Treat it as such if you intend getting published. 

2. Keep records. Keep very, very good records and save your receipts. You never know when you’ll be audited, as I have been. (Thankfully, I passed the test.)

3.  Keep track of your expenses. Do you think that it’s too much trouble to record your mileage to a meeting or postage costs? Think again. Every cent counts.

4.  Invest in yourself. If you can attend writers’ conferences and festivals. Subscribe to industry periodicals such as Buzz Words, Bookseller + Publisher, etc. Join organisations such as ASA, FAW, CBCA and/or SCWBI

5. Invest in good equipment including a printer/photocopier 

6. Network. Even if you are an introvert, as many writers are, learn to network. You needn’t become a social butterfly at conferences, but don’t spend all your time in your room. Engage others in conversation. You never know who you’ll meet. It’s a good idea to have a business card with your contact details.

7. Have a support group. Writing is a solitary business. One of the best things you can do for yourself and for your career is to find a group of like-minded people. Or join an online group. Workshop your writing-in-progress regularly.

8. Find a mentor. A mentor can guide you in your writing, offer critiques, and tell you when you’ve gone off track.

9. Be a mentor. I’m a firm believer in giving back. Mentor a less experienced member of your writers’ group. Mentor a young writer. You’ll learn much in teaching others. If you are mentored, consider giving back to those who mentor you (perhaps offer to critique their work-in-progress)

10. Work to improve your craft. Take classes. Attend workshops and conferences. Above all, practice your craft and write. Also read regularly, especially in the genre in which you write.

11. It is a good idea to have a professional read and assess your manuscript before submission.

12. When it comes to getting published, don’t take the first offer that comes your way. In our eagerness to sell a book, especially a first book, it’s tempting to take the first offer, even a bad one.

13. Always do your research before paying anyone to edit your manuscript or help you self-publish

14. No agent is better than a bad agent. Don’t be in such a hurry to sign with an agent. Do your due diligence and check out any agent or agency before you sign. Ask around and especially ask the agent what his/her terms are. A contract with an agent does not mean you are married to him or her, but that you will be “bound together” for the lifetime of any book he or she sells for you.

15. Leave any agency or publishing house with good feelings on both sides. Any bad-mouthing about editors or agents on your part can and probably will come back to bite you.

16.  Keep in touch. When an editor leaves your publishing house, it pays to stay in touch. The same goes for agents and other industry professionals.

17. Volunteer at conferences, book fairs and your local library. You will not only be giving back, you will also be making valuable contacts.

18. Establish working hours. When you’re writing, you’re working. Let your family and friends know that. 

19. Don’t be afraid to say no to family and friends. This goes back to treating yourself as a professional and expecting others to do the same. If you are writing, you are working and need to be left undisturbed.

20. Give yourself a break now and then. It’s wonderful to write every day (or whatever your schedule is), but it’s okay to take a break occasionally. You need to experience life to write about it.

21. Don’t beat yourself up when you can’t make your word count. Double down the next day. The important thing is that you keep writing.

22. Treat rejection as part of the learning curve. Rejections are a way of life for many writers, including me. After selling 130+ books, I still receive rejections with depressing frequency. I once sold a book on the 16^th submission (and it went on to sell overseas). You need to believe in yourself!

23. Don’t pester your agent and/or your editor with constant calls, texts, or emails. It’s okay to stay in contact -- just don’t overwhelm them.

24. Meet your deadlines. Publishing houses operate on strict deadlines. If you don’t meet yours, you may wreck the entire schedule. If you can’t meet a deadline, let your editor know as soon as possible. Editors realise that emergencies happen.  

25. Don’t be so quick to send off a book. Revise and polish, revise and polish again.

26. Stay current. Know what’s happening in your genre. Keep up with the latest trends. You don’t have to write to them, but you should know what is going on. 

27. Keep learning. There is always more to learn!

28. Be active in social media. Publishers are on the look-out for new authors and like to see who is doing what, too! Make sure you have a blog and/or a website and contribute to them regularly.