Author Cons: Prioritize the Hallway Over the Schedule

The first writing conference I ever attended was the Romance Writers of America in Times Square. I walked through the lobby of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, looked at thousands of people in name badges greeting each other like old friends, and thought: my god, what have I done? (Yes, I do love the Talking Heads). Conference season is here, and if you’re anything like me, the question every year is some version of: is it worth it? The price tag adds up fast, and you usually come home with the post-conference crud and you’re also emotionally drained.The honest answer is: sometimes. It depends on which conference, what you want from it, and whether you’re willing to skip a session to take a nap.This week on YOU SHOULD TOTALLY WRITE THAT, LL Kirchner and I talk about how to actually get something out of an author conference without burning yourself out.We cover:* Marketing or craft? Pick one. (And why you should usually pay for marketing and study craft online.)* The conferences I’d recommend — NINC, CozyCon, WFWA, Romance Author Mastermind when it was running — and the ones that felt like sales pitches * Our single best tip: prioritize the hallway over the schedule* “Caucusing by genre” — finding your people at a conference* Pitch fests: when they’re worth the extra fee, and how to talk to an agent * The conference behaviors that make everyone hate you (yes, including pitching in the bathroom)* How vendor tables are an underrated part of a big conference for indie authors* Practical stuff: layers, water, a written itinerary, permission to skip a panel* What’s worth paying for, what isn’t, and how to read an agenda before you commitWhat conferences are YOU doing this year? Drop them in the comments — we’re nosy.SHOW NOTESEpisodes referenced:* Episode 18 — Front Matter & Back Matter Conferences & organizations mentioned:* NINC (Novelists, Inc.) — https://ninc.com* CozyCon (run by Becca Syme) — https://www.becca-syme.com* WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writers Association) — https://womensfictionwriters.org* AWP — https://www.awpwriter.org* AnchorCon* Author Nation (Las Vegas)* Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference (Middlebury)* SleuthFestWhat we’re watching:* LL: Big Mistakes (Netflix) * Tara: Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youshouldtotallywritethat.substack.com