Writing Conferences

Original Cyn · Post by **Original Cyn** » 08 Sep 2008, 21:45

I've never attended a writing conference but have been thinking about it. Has anyone attended a conference on the west coast that they can recommend?

Much Thanks

Peter-CB · Post by **Peter-CB** » 26 Sep 2008, 10:24

The LA Times hosts an annual Festival of Books, and has just this year added fifty-seat writing seminars lead by renowned authors to the list of events. Tickets are $100 per seminar, but I would imagine it's worth the price. (The next festival will be 4/25-4/26, 2009.)

http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalo ... inars.html

The University of California-Irvine has one of the most highly-regarded MFA programs for Creative Writing in the United States. If you're wandering around Google, taking a gander at their upcoming events would probably serve you well. Here's The Atlantic's list of top writing schools in the US: all of them bring in prominent writers and publishers to lecture or lead classes. Maybe you could sit in on a couple at schools near you. Anyway, hope this helps.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200708/mfa-programs

Original Cyn · Post by **Original Cyn** » 27 Sep 2008, 11:03

Thanks for the input. I was also looking at the La Jolla Writers Conference in San Diego http://www.lajollawritersconference.com

And the San Francisco Writers Conference http://www.sfwriters.org

Has anyone been to that big one they hold in Hawaii every year?
http://www.mauiwritersconference.com

It gets good reviews but that's a little pricy so I wanted to make sure it was worth it.

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 04 Oct 2008, 22:38

Hey,

I've been to a few writers conferences. There seem to be two types: week-long craft-oriented workshops and weekend-long business-oriented workshops.

The week-long retreats such as the Tin House Writers Workshop, Breadloaf, and the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop tend to be oriented towards literary fiction, non-fiction and poetry. But there is also Clarion, geared toward sci-fi and fantasy, and probably other genre-oriented weeklong retreats. I know nothing about Romance writing workshops but I know there are lots out there.

You bring work to be critiqued, you discuss literature, there are readings by authors and seminars on literary topics. There are usually some business-oriented seminars as well, and often literary agents will attend and discuss how to get an agent.

These retreats are more costly (in the thousands of dollars) but are a lot of fun. You get more attention paid to your writing, and you get to commune with authors. They are usually application-based, meaning you have to apply and you might not get in for whatever reason.

The week-end long retreats such as the La Jolla Writers Conference and conferences hosted by Creative Writing programs at universities tend to be more topical and business-oriented. Hour-long panels might be about topics such as "how to write action scenes," "how to query magazine editors about articles," "what a literary agent does," etc.

There is usually the opportunity to pay to meet an agent or editor to pitch your work, but there is less emphasis on critique. These workshops are usually a couple of hundred dollars, and if you travel to them you would also need to pay for your hotel, travel expense, and other food.

Whether they are worth it depends on what you are looking for.

If you want to get help on your writing, a longer workshop would be better. It's important to ensure that the author is someone you would want to read your work, though, so a little research is needed before you apply. I went to Tin House in 2005 and studied with Charles D'Ambrosio, which was an excellent experience.

If you want to learn the business, talk with agents and editors, or if you only have a short amount of time, the weekend retreats would be better. I went to the San Diego State Writers Conference in 2005 and it was interesting because at that time I was just starting my agent search. Now, though, I am comfortable in my understanding of the business so I don't seek these kind out anymore.

The La Jolla one looks pretty nice, so if you've never been to a workshop I'd say it's probably worth going if you have a novel near completion. It looks like there are opportunities to have people look at your work, which I think is important in any conference situation.

Have fun if you go, and report back!

PS I've never been to the Maui Writers Conference (http://www.mauiwriters.com/) but my agent, Robert Guinsler, attended this past year as a presenter. I've always wanted to go...I love Maui. Of course, this year it was in Waikiki, which is totally not the same.

Original Cyn · Post by **Original Cyn** » 04 Oct 2008, 23:30

Hey thanks for all the good info.

I was just looking at the La Jolla conference and considering going. Its next month.

I don't necessarily need the workshops. My purpose of going ito a conference is because I heard it was a good way to network with agents. I've got my second novel finished and I'm using all my resources this time.

Have you gone to the Clarion one? I'd be interested to find out more on that. And of course the Maui Writers Conference would be fun...but you're right, Waikiki just isn't the same!

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 05 Oct 2008, 12:30

I haven't gone to Clarion because I don't write in the genres, but I have a friend who went and loved it. She went to Clarion West when it was in Seattle.

One of the best things I did at the San Diego State conference was bring my query letter, and asked for pointers on it from the agents I spoke to. This was a great way to 1) get my query letter critiqued and 2) pitch my book without having to try to speak it.

I ended up getting an agent a different way but I agree, these conferences are a good way to network. Just put yourself out there--that's the hardest part! (for me, anyway.

)

Original Cyn · Post by **Original Cyn** » 05 Oct 2008, 14:27

One of the best things I did at the San Diego State conference was bring my query letter, and asked for pointers on it from the agents I spoke to. This was a great way to 1) get my query letter critiqued and 2) pitch my book without having to try to speak it.

Nice! Good tip

What genre do you write?

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 06 Oct 2008, 13:00

The novel I got my agent with is a literary thriller. The novel I'm working on now is historical. They're both general fiction titles, character driven with (I hope) strong plots. I tell people they ride that edge between literary and commercial fiction.

Here's info about Clarion West--it's a lot longer than I thought at six weeks! But looks like you learn a lot.

http://www.clarionwest.org/

Original Cyn · Post by **Original Cyn** » 07 Oct 2008, 23:01

I write similar themes. I like to say they're real life situations you hope you never find yourself in....except for my historical The Crescent which is the one I published.

How'd you wind up getting your agent? What's the title?