{"id":22635,"date":"2020-02-14T03:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T11:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=22635"},"modified":"2020-02-10T06:33:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-10T14:33:38","slug":"your-writers-career-needs-a-boost-go-to-a-conference-by-keri-kruspe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/your-writers-career-needs-a-boost-go-to-a-conference-by-keri-kruspe\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Writer\u2019s Career Needs a Boost? Go to a Conference! by Keri Kruspe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Your<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist Keri Kruspe<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cYour Writer\u2019s Career Needs a Boost? Go to a Conference!\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

In <\/strong>last month\u2019s article<\/a><\/span>, I talked about listening to different podcasts geared for writers.<\/strong> I really enjoy keeping up to date on the various trends authors have to keep track of. One of the main situations brought up on all of the podcasts were writer\u2019s conferences.<\/span><\/p>\n

That brought back memories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I finished my first novel,<\/strong> it was 2008. I was living in South Lake Tahoe and it just so happened the new group I joined, Romance Writers of America (RWA), was having their annual conference in nearby San Francisco.<\/span><\/p>\n

Totally unprepared for the wild world of writing, I eagerly signed up and took the four-hour trip to the exotic tundra of the Bay Area. Looking back, I\u2019m a bit embarrassed at the naivet\u00e9 I had. I was convinced I\u2019d get an editor\/publisher\/agent to begin my author career right then and there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t work out that way.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What did work out was the abundance of first-hand knowledge\/advice other authors provided along with the comrade of meeting others like me. Of course, my favorite thing to this day was all the <\/span>FREE<\/span><\/i> signed copies of books I took home. They are still treasures I jealously guard. Not to mention being a complete fan-dork when I met one of my favorite authors, <\/span>Sherrilyn Kenyon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(nicest person ever!).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back to the podcasts I mentioned.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In almost every episode of any of them that I listen to, they talk about some convention they\u2019d just attended or were about to attend. That piqued my interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Purpose of Attending a Writer\u2019s Conference?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"audience\"<\/a>During my research, I came across an article by <\/span>Scott Allan<\/span><\/a> outlying that very thing. Here are some of the highlights:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Conferences are usually annual.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. They cover an in-depth agenda featuring experts to share\/train on particular topics for authors.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A place for writers, authors, and publishing professionals to meet and greet.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Can be hosted according to specific subjects, writing niches, or genres \u2013 OR- are more broadly based.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Choose Write\u2019s Conference Best for You<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \"choice\"<\/a>I was surprised to find out there were a gazillion writer\u2019s conferences out there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In this article, I\u2019m only going to cover some of the \u201cbigger\u201d ones, not necessarily meant for a specific genre or area of the mainland United States. But don\u2019t be fooled, there are wonderful international ones out there I\u2019d love to attend.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Things to consider when making this momentous decision:<\/h2>\n