Happy New Year,dear readers!
I am so looking forward to all the wonderful things 2017 might hold in store for us. I always feel the way about the new year that Lucy Maud Montgomery's heroine Anne Shirley felt about each new day: Every year is a new year without any mistakes in it yet. The trick is to stay on track.
One of the best ways I’ve found to do that is to keep in touch with other writers. Writing can be isolating. We writers work alone, with only the voices in our heads for company. We must limit distractions, or we’ll never get anything done. And sometimes those closest to us do not understand that we’re working even when it looks like we’re just staring off into space.
But other writers get us. They know what it’s like, and they have experience that they are happy to share.
So how do we get in touch with all those wonderful writers? Why, a writers conference, of course. As a bonus, these conferences offer us a chance to mingle with agents, editors, and publishers, so we can pitch our work.
There are so many to choose among, but I’ve made a list, and hope to attend at least a few of them in 2017. Of course, the budget will only stretch so far, so I started out looking for some held near Bethlehem to cut down on travel costs.
That’s why I was thrilled to find one that is free. The one-day conference in the Pocono mountains is not too far from my home. It’s in January, so it will help me get the new year off on the right foot. Not only is it reasonably priced, but for a small fee ($20) attendees can get feedback on their writing from conference presenters.
I’m thinking of writing a middle grade historical, and there is nothing better than the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference in February to give me a boost. It is in New York City, and is chock full of exciting programs and people. Children’s writers are among the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and the conference is welcoming and professionally stimulating. It’s a little pricey—especially if you’re not an SCBWI member—but worth every penny if your budget will stretch that far. So if you register, why not become a member? It'll save you a bit of money, and you'll get other member benefits.
If that’s not enough to light a fire under me, the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference is in mid-March. They’re having their eighth “Create Something Magical” meeting for both readers and writers. People who have attended in the past rave about it, so I might give it a try this year.
Also in March, there is a conference put on by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. They call it the “Write Stuff,” and that is an apt description. There is something there for every writer. This conference gets better every year.
In April, there’s a terrific conference for mystery lovers: Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland. It is for both readers and writers, and attracts the best of the best in the mystery genre. (This year, NYTimes bestseller Charlaine Harris will be among the honorees.) I can't wait to see which authors win the Agatha Awards presented at the conference banquet.
In May, I might go to the Pennwriters 2017 conference in Pittsburgh. It’s their thirtieth annual conference, and it looks like a doozy with Chuck Sambuchino and Annette Dashofy offering keynote addresses.
If science fiction and fantasy are more to your taste, you might consider the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) conference in May. This year, it's in Pittsburgh--and considerably less expensive than some other conferences. They give out the annual Nebula Awards for the best work in the genre.
In July, the Romance Writers of America put on their annual conference. This year it’s in Orlando, FL, and since the kids will be out of school, maybe I can convince Mr. Wryte-Goode to make a family vacation of it. I know from friends who have attended, that the RWA is among the best writers conferences out there—not just for writers of romance, but for anyone.
And, if that’s not a good enough vacation spot, perhaps I can interest him in the Kauai Writers Conference in November. Can you imagine going to Hawaii, going to a luau, and talking writing with other authors while on the beach? Sounds heavenly. Hmm. Maybe Mr. Wryte-Goode and I should go without the kids.
This is only a few of the scores of conferences out there. A quick internet search will help you find some in your neck of the woods. (You might try this list for a start.) I wish I could attend them all, but if I did, when would I have time to write?
Betty Wryte-Goode
Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer and mother who lives in the Lehigh Valley. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.