Upcoming conference: Tips?

[Margherita]

You all seem to know a lot about these things, so I have a dumb question I want to ask.

I have the opportunity to attend a fiction writing conference in a couple of weeks (the attendance is a perk from my job).  The conference will have authors, experts and most important to me, agents.  (I'm one of the legions of unagented writers out there...)

My question is this: How should I comport myself?  How does one approach literary agents and other experts?  Is it gauche to have writing samples/business cards/resumes on hand?  I want to know how to make the most of this conference without being a doofus.  I live in a rural state and opportunities like this don't come up often at all.

Any advice would be much appreciated!  :EmoticonHelp2:

[angela]

Margherita,
I'll pass on to you advice given to me before my first writers conference.
1. LISTEN CAREFULLY to what the editors agents say (don't be star struck) they are people - each has their own taste and agents have different ways of doing business - i.e. some one ms at a time, some children's only, some only fiction - so listen carefully.
2. Consider if you have any ms / proposals that are a match and then chat with the agents / editors at the appropriate time (most conferences have mid day or post day gatherings).
3. Be able to sum up your ms in a sentence or two and say why you think that editor would like it. (I.E. "I notice you have three nf historical pb on your list. Would you be interested in a manuscript about my grandfather who invented .... ") If you get a friendly nod, continue... "it takes place in the Amazon where the invention is still being used today."
4. My friend advised me to ask all the agents and editors "What exactly are you looking for?" or "What type of ms would you find exciting?" I got up my nerve and tried these lines and they didn't work for me (maybe it was obvious they were rehearsed or maybe these lines are used a lot. Then Kent Brown (Highlights) said in an ICL chat "An editor will never be able to tell you what they are looking for because all editors are looking for something new and amazing - something they've never seen before." (I'm paraphrasing here - you can probably find the transcript on-line). But, the point is it didn't really matter what my 'opening line' was, the point is to start the conversation.

I wouldn't bring copies of my mss. But, before you go make a list of all your ms with one / two sentences descriptions and take it with you for your own reference. After you hear the speakers you can glance over your list and see if there is a 'match'

Have fun!
Good luck!

And let us know how it goes!!!

-Angela

[Harrietthespy]

That's funny.  When I was new I asked Kent Brown the same question.  He said, "I don't know - I publish what I like and that happens to be a lot of different things.  So don't write a story that you think I would like, write a story that you like and send it to me."

I did, he liked it.

So ditto everything Angela said.  One addition - network with other writers.  Often registrants focus so much attention on the editors or agents that they miiss the most valuable part of the conference - their peers.  I have a number of friends who were unpublished when we met at a conference back in 2000 who are doing very well now.  We can trade tips and advice and marketing news.  We can critique each other or just sigh and comisserate over long waits for editor responses.  One friend is now coaching me through revision notes (what to negotiate, what to stay firm on).

I can give you some feedback from my most recent conference.  We offered private sessions (for free) with any of the faculty with slots offered on a first come first serve basis.  99% of the attendees wanted only the agent from the Writers House or the editor from Randomhouse.  That's a classic newbie mistake.  They were pitching their manuscripts before they were ready to take that step.  Given that most of the editors from regional publications had many open slots, as well as the published authors, a better solution would have been to go to those people first and get advice and help with polishing.  A friend of mine who as a faculty member said the same thing happened at a conference she attended - everyone rushed to see the "star" editors/agents and ignored the award winning authors who were ready (and willing) to coach and mentor.

So don't underestimate the value of networking with the people sitting in the audience next to you.  You'd be surprised how many long-lasting relationships you will form from the experience!

Print up some business cards on your computer so you can pass them out (if asked).  That will help you stay in touch with the other writers you meet and form a connection with.

Oh - and have fun.  This is a job but it supposed to be fun!!! So remember that is the number one ingredient!....Christine

[HB]

Ditto.

Plus, take a bit of time to research the speakers ahead of time. I like to read books by authors that will be speaking and get a better idea of what the editors have edited and agents have sold in the past.

[Cana]

Ditto what everyone else has said. Take copious notes. Get a feel for which ms might match a particular editor/agent. If the opportunity presents itself, by all means mention your ms to that editor/agent. (Without being a 'stalker'...grin.) Dont' take copies with you to give to them. They won't want to take it back for reading material on the plane. These conferences give you the opportunity to send it to them at a later date when your fairly certain it's polished to a gleaming finish. Takes you out of the slush pile to their desk. No guarantee of acceptance, of course, but at least you'll know the editor will see it. Mention that you attended the conference in your cover letter and consider putting it on the outside of your envelope as well.
Take copies of you ms with you if you wish. Not for the editor/agent, but to share with writing buddies you'll have a chance to make at the conference. Many spontaneous critique sessions form at conferences. Networking and learning from other writers is more than worth the cost of attendance. Most of all, have fun. Happy writing. Cana

[LindaJoy]

I love conferences and am already signed up to attend the SCBWI National conference in Los Angeles this August.  Verla Kay will be one of my roommates (we love to share and cut expenses).

This will be my 16th year for this big conference and I've learned lots of tips to make conference going easy.  I posted a list of conference tips on my alternate website: www.LJSingleton.com

Enjoy!

[Margherita]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips.  Your advice is extremely helpful and definitely appreciated.  I am such a conference novice and rather shy to boot, so this is going to be a trial by fire.  Plus, I'll be there in a professional capacity unrelated to my fiction-writing aspirations, so that might be odd. :

At least I'll be forarmed with a lot of good info (that will at least minimize my typical idiot-factor)! 

Thanks again.