How to Get the Most Out of a Writers’ Conference
Writers’ conferences offer a unique opportunity for exposure and growth. We want everyone to walk away from IUWC confident that they have achieved their goals and excited about their writing. That said, many participants might not take advantage of everything. We’ve comprised a list of five tips to make the most out of any writers’ conference.
Set Goals Before You Attend
Conferences are a great place to network and find a community of writers that you can talk to—and rely on—after the conference is over. Classes and panel discussions offer advice and strategies, and workshops provide valuable feedback to improve your piece. Readings may give you a spark of inspiration on a piece you are writing, or give you an idea for something new. With so many opportunities, it can be a little overwhelming. To make the most of your time while you attend, it’s useful to think about what you want to accomplish. Are there areas of your writing you particularly want to improve? Do any of the classes speak directly to those? Are you looking to find a writing group? Understanding why you are attending will allow you to shape the event and personalize your experience. Before the conference begins, think about where you are as a writer, where you want to go, and what parts of the conference you want to experience.
Take a Look At the Faculty Materials
Read up on the work of the faculty members. This is a good way to familiarize yourself with the writing of those that will be teaching, workshopping, or reading at the conference. Knowing their work might help you understand your own in a different way, and help you formulate questions about how they write. Google them and find some of their work online. You can find IUWC faculty books at our Bookshop.org page.
Take Notes
Whether you are attending classes, discussions, workshops or readings (or all of the above), you’ll want a place to jot down words of advice, poignant lines, or good ideas you will have while attending. Notebooks (digital or otherwise) are especially useful for workshop participants to keep up with the feedback from your peers and workshop instructor, as well as provide a place to gather thoughts as you comment on peer work.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make Friends
Conferences are great places for networking. Not only can you attend classes with and ask questions to established and successful faculty, you also have access to one of the most valuable resources—your peers. Writing can feel solitary at times. It is often a craft between a writer and their words, but writing doesn’t have to be a solo act. Take the time before classes, readings, or conferences to talk to other participants and learn about their writing journeys. Send messages on Whova, our virtual conference platform. This year we will launch a Facebook Group for participants. Take the chance to meet someone new, talk about writing, and make some meaningful connections.
Enjoy Yourself!
At the end of the day, conferences should be exciting. Also, possibly, exhausting, but in a good way. Attend the events that you find interesting and find people who share those interests. While attending a conference can be a great way to improve your work, you don’t have to be in student mode work the entire time. Take a break if you get overwhelmed, and remember that you’re there to meet people, learn, and most of all, get inspired.