by Jean Sidden

Created on: May 20, 2010

As writers seek to become better at what they do and learn more about the publishing business, they may find themselves drawn to writing conferences. Conferences are events that gather professionals in the publishing business and credible authors together and offer a variety of talks, seminars, workshops and time to pitch a writer's work. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity but, as with everything, there are pros and cons to be considered.

Pros:

1)  Writer Credibility:  Attending writer groups, workshops and conferences is a way to gain credibility in the profession. Agents and publishers like to see that an author is striving to be the best that they can be and conferences can give you points with the professionals. Groups and conferences are ways to prove that you are serious about writing. With so many people deciding they want to spend their retirements and leisure time writing it's difficult to tell who is sincere and who isn't. Attending conferences can help gain you that credibility.

2)  Exposure to the Industry:  It's wonderful to be able to get out with like minded people and network. Conferences offer opportunities to workshop and learn more about the craft of writing as well as providing time to sit down with agents and publishers to pitch your work. The addition of being around so many people with the same interest and ambition is highly motivating and energizing.

3)  Diversity:  Just when you think the genre you are focusing on isn't understood by your local writer's group the state wide writer's conference offers you four separate workshops to help you shape your work. A conference has so many opportunities for creative development that it can be a wonderland for any writer. If you know what you want to get out of a conference you can shop carefully and find exactly what you're looking for.

Cons:

1)  Who Are These People?:  You might find that you are unfamiliar with the authors who are presenting or conducting seminars at the conference. It would be impossible to go out and read what all of them have written so often you take your chances that they really are qualified to offer assistance. Taking the time to attend a workshop where all that's offered is a writer talking about him or herself and their work can be deflating when you were really hoping for solid guidance.

2)  Cost:  Conferences are expensive. When you consider how many of them there are it seems like the world of conferences is simply a large industry unto themselves. The one that you really are interested in attending may be in another city where accommodations and transportation are necessary. Unless you really know what you're getting into the cost may be more than the benefit you get from attending.

3)  You Get What You Get:  Similar to not knowing who the presenters may be, the disappointment of bad or useless seminars and workshops makes writers want to demand their money back. Writers may be wonderful at writing, but this doesn't mean they're wonderful at teaching. They may come to the conference unprepared and uninterested in working with other writers in a substantive way. They may cancel and you'll find the conference isn't offering what you thought it would. There is no guarantee that your money will be well spent.

The pros of conferences center mainly around writer credibility and networking. The cons are all about quality versus cost. Hopefully you will have enough disposable income to gamble on whether a conference will live up to your expectations or not. There really is no way to guarantee that it will so it's best to keep a very open mind and shop carefully for what you want. 

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