How can I gain the most from a workshop/conference?

[sarah_create]

I searched and looked through the threads and was unable to find anything about my question.  If I missed this topic, let me know and send me in the right direction.

I will be attending my first conference and workshop next month.  I plan to take notes.  What other suggestions do you have so I can learn the most from this opportunity?

[andracill]

Talk to everyone   Not just the agents and editors (who can be surrounded by people all day long), but the other writers.  Make friends and share your writing adventures.  Conferences are great at recharging batteries -- and at helping you add another layer to your stories.  Enjoy yourself!!

[Pickles]

Go without any other expectations except to learn, meet people, and have a good time.

[LindaB]

The best advice I can give you is to relax. The majority of children's writers are wonderful, giving people. They not only go to conferences to learn, they go to meet new friends and catch up with old friends. Even if you are shy, talk to people. Don't be afraid to talk to the conference organizers, either. I can tell you as someone who organizes events, I like to meet new people as well.

If they have informal critique groups, join in. It's a great way to meet people.

LindaB

[Laura Manivong]

Not sure what your experience level is, but I'd learn as much as you can aboaut kidslit--subbing, format, market, etc--through other sources before you go to conference. That way, you won't waste time asking questions that could have easily been answered elsewhere, for free!

[RebeccaL-G]

Do your homework on speakers ahead of time.  Use google to check on editors or agents  who'll be speaking and see what kind of work they handle, etc. See if you can find any interviews they've given on blogs or other conference threads.  As you read up on the speakers prepare a thoughtful question or two ahead of time.   :
Also, if you plan to purchase any books by authors who will be speaking I find it really helpful to look up their titles ahead of time on Amazon and have a list with me of specific titles I want to purchase when I get there--that way I avoid the impulse to overbuy.   :
Bring a hard writing surface to take notes on.  I use a spiral bound book that can be bent all the way back so that it lays flat and has a metal cover that serves as a writing surface--makes it much easier to take notes.   :
Dress in layers so you can shed your sweater or snuggle it around you depending on the air conditioning.  : (sorry I just couldn't resisit that one).
Have a great time!
Rebecca

[Joni]

Go without any other expectations except to learn, meet people, and have a good time.

I'm not sure I quite agree with Pickles on this one. I think it can be useful (for sure on your second conference, if not your first) to decide what you'd like to get out of it, e.g.:
- Meet two or three other local writers to form a critique group with, or
- Identify and hear about at least one house/editor that might be right for your manuscript, or
- Identify at least two agents who might be interested in the kind of thing you write and be open to a query from you, or
- Figure out if you're more interested in writing picture books or nonfiction magazine articles, or...
- Gather tips on finding more time to write, or tips for inspiration, or tips on research, or...

You get the idea. If you have some specific goals, it's much easier to spend the limited and hectic time pursuing them, and also easier to tell if you came away with what you hoped. And that way you can not only have a good time, but feel like you got your money's worth, too. Most of the writers I've ever talked to who thought conferences were a waste of time either had unrealistic expectations (e.g., they expected a contract to materialize) or thought they were all social and not practical enough. Focus can help avoid the latter (while still having lots of chatter and fun!)

[Pickles]

I was referring to the expecting to a get a contract or be discovered  when I mentioned expectations.

All the things you mentioned, were lumped together under learn, meet people, and have a good time.

I guess I wasn't very clear and I often don't get into details, I guess.

[Barbara Eveleth]

I had no expectations but good things do happen.

I had an AD ask for me to drop my portfolio at her publisher.

I've had two revision requests.

I had an art rep interested in my work and asked to keep in touch.

I've had a major publisher leave her card in my portfolio.

These were all complete surprises to me.

So you never know....but yes LEARN LEARN LEARN. I highly recommend first pages and ms critiques if you can. And ask editors good questions. Have a great experience.

[Pickles]

Yes, good things happen.

Good things have happened to me.

I'm just thinking of many conference goers I've seen totally devastated because they had big hopes and dreams (we all do).  And I fell into that trap once myself also.

I guess what I'm trying to say (and I guess I'm doing a horrible job at it), is push the starry-eyed stuff aside and focus on what you can get out of the conference.

If starry-eyed stuff happens...yee-haw!!!!!  But if you go into a conference focused solely on the golden ring, fully expecting it to be there, and expecting to grab it, you may miss out on all the beautiful intricately decorated carousel horses and the music and the other fairgoers and the yummy foods.

That doesn't mean to not take opportunities or not hope, but enjoy the experience don't focus solely on your prospect of being a "prize-winner."

[Jaina]

Here's an old thread I started four years ago or so, when I was starry-eyed and excited about my first conference--and then felt let down afterward.  It's kind of bizarre for me to read, actually.

http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php?topic=172.0

Your conference experience may vary!

[Quzi]

I sold my book through a conference critique, so good things can happen, but they don't happen every time. And it wasn't the first conference crit I'd ever had either. Go look and learn. There are some wonderful suggestions above. Having a goal is great. If you've written a while you'll be more likely to formulate one. If not, have a goal of connecting with other writers you can exchange work with

Collect free materials such as company catalogs or writing tip sheets or company guidelines. This varies widely by conference.

I'd suggest you look up the speakers -authors, editors, agents-and read a book or two the editor has edited or the agented repped or the author has written, that way you'll get of sense of their work beforehand and get more out of their comments.

As for meeting people, I had my computer-savvy teenager whip up simple contact cards on our computer. That way when I met other writers I wanted to keep in touch with I could give them a card with contact info like my email addy. DON'T hand these to editors or agents.

One of scariest moments I've had a conference was sitting across from a prominent editor who asked me what I'd read lately. Now I read constantly, but I drew a complete blank. I stuttered foolishly until someone else at the table came to my rescue. The editor probably doesn't remember the moment but it's seared into my memory.

Wear something sharp-looking but comfortable. Now is not the moment to break in new shoes. Take a bottle of water in your bag. Conference spaces tend to be dry for some reason.
Smile. Even if you do something silly, chances are no one will care or remember. And those awkward moments make for great stories later-after you've recovered.
Have fun!
Q

[Aud]

What kind of workshop will you be attending, Sarah?

[sarah_create]

What kind of workshop will you be attending, Sarah?

I'm attending BYU's Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop.  (5 days long)  In the mornings I'll be attending a workshop with about 10 other participants and an author where we work on the first 10 -20 pages of our WIP.  (Give feedback, get feedback, improve our manuscripts.)  The afternoons include plenary sessions, presented by an editor or agent.  After this we attend our choice of breakout sessions, (2 each day) presented by published authors.  I've narrowed down which sessions I want to attend, but I might wait until I'm there to make my final decisions.  I'll be in Utah for a wedding and extended my time in Utah for this workshop.

Use google to check on editors or agents  who'll be speaking and see what kind of work they handle, etc.

Good idea.  I've looked at some of the presenters' websites, but I will google the editors and agents.
 
I write YA and since I live overseas where there are few native English speakers, one of my goals is to meet other writers.  I also want to improve my writing and I think the feedback in the workshop portion will be invaluable.
I like this idea from Linda

If they have informal critique groups, join in. It's a great way to meet people. LindaB

  Maybe I can find a few people and we can do this in the evenings.  It would be nice to get feedback on the first few pages of a book I've completed (it is too polished for the workshop) from other writers, and this would be an appropriate place.  I only have 2 readers for my writing--luckily they are really good.  I'm at the point where a critique group will be helpful.  Once my life settles down (after the wedding and workshop), I'll use this site and the contacts I make at the workshop to join/create a group.

Thanks so much for everyone's wonderful suggestions.  I'll use them in addition to the ones I've mentioned above.  They will definitely help me enjoy and learn much at my first conference.

[Joni]

I'm just thinking of many conference goers I've seen totally devastated because they had big hopes and dreams (we all do).  And I fell into that trap once myself also.

Totally with you, Pickles!  I just figured a list of reasonable expectations might help indicate what kind weren't -- those "maybe my greatness will be discovered!" ones.  (Or maybe I've been hanging around too many engineers and my brain has gotten stuck on details and objectives and targets, ha ha.)  : 

[emykate03]

Thanks for this thread, Sarah! I'll see you at BYU in a week and a half! This will be my first conference, too. I went to a day-long conference before, and I was disappointed by how basic it turned out to be. Hopefully we'll learn lots of new things at this big one.

Anyone else attending the BYU writing for young readers? It would be fun to meet up.

[KateMessner]

My best advice is to attend the conference WITHOUT expectations of being discovered.  Go with a hearty appetite to learn everything you can possibly learn about writing well and about the business.  Sometimes, these workshops are swarming with people who care more about being published than about telling stories(they're the ones chasing editors and agents into the bathroom, and yes, it's happened).  You can learn a lot to make your writing stronger, and ultimately, that's what will attract editors and agents.  Have a great time!

-Kate

[sarah_create]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.  It helped!  I learned a lot from the workshop and conference.  It was my first time to put my writing in front of others, and I was pleased with the response.  It is always nice to find that I'm instinctively doing some things correctly.  Now I can get back to work and apply what I learned to a revision that I plan to finish soon.