It’s Conference Time! Can’t decide which? - by Judy L Murray

Are you a conference lover? Or do you cringe at the thought?

I’m just a month away from packing an overnight bag and driving north from the Chesapeake Bay to attend the Edgar symposium in New York City. A week later I’ll be heading south toward Bethesda Maryland to attend the Malice Domestic Conference. There’s a myriad of mystery subgenre choices in the writing world and they aren’t inexpensive. Do you want a large convention type? Think Bouchercon. Perhaps mid-sized? Maybe Left Coast Crime or Killer Nashville. Maybe you want a small hands-on workshop retreat in the Smokey Mountains.

Still not sure? Here are a few tips to help you spend your money wisely, be productive, and enjoy yourself. No doubt, you’ll have ideas and experiences to add to this mix. I’d love to hear back from you in the chat.

First, consider each overarching conference theme. Are you a traditional amateur sleuth author? Or are you a writer of thrillers? Paranormal and vampire leaning? True crimes or police procedurals? Chances are you’ll enjoy panels and discussions that will most mirror the books you want to write. For me, I’d be a fish out of water if I was discussing bodice ripping romance. On the other hand, be open to a conference that might provide you new writing insight. I may love a traditional sleuth detective story, but I’ve got ThrillerFest on my bucket list.

Ask yourself, what is your number one reason for attending? Do you want to socialize with other writers in your genre? Are attending panels to grow your skills a priority? Which subjects interest you most? Perhaps you want to concentrate on marketing, planning a book launch, or social media interaction skills. Maybe you hope to find a literary agent or publisher. Or if you want to improve your writing, you’ll likely want topics on plotting, setting, and characterization. Look closely at a schedule to decide if their panels and events match your expectations.

Costs can range from a basic one-day event within driving distance to those that require hotel and flight expenses. A registration fee may seem reasonable, but the travel costs might make the entire package too expensive. Read the fine print. Are meals included? Decide what works for your pocketbook. If this is your first conference I suggest you find one nearby. Attending may provide a lesson on what you want in your next, more expensive conference. One tip I learned the hard way – make a hotel reservation before the conference room rate disappears. Don’t wait until the last minute. It will cost you.

When you evaluate an agenda, take note of special sessions that may incur extra fees. Perhaps you want your manuscript critiqued or a scheduled time to pitch your novel. One of the best conferences I ever attended was a three-day pitch conference. Authors worked together to rewrite their pitch or query and attend classes. Then we had designated times with literary agents to present them. It was challenging but I thought worth every penny.

Throughout the year zoom and webinar type conference-like programs can be excellent. It gives you a chance to put faces with names. I’ve found these meetups invaluable. They can be very inexpensive, if not free. Still, I look forward to meeting other authors in person. It often provides opportunity to meet not just authors but fans, literary agents, and publishers. An in-person conference gives you a chance to build closer relationships with others. I’ve made friends during panels and mealtimes that are still valuable to me years later.

Pace yourself throughout the day. It’s okay to skip a panel and grab coffee in the dining area. Often I’ll end up chatting with someone I’ve just met and learn valuable info I put to use later. If you’re running out of steam, slip back to your room and kick off your shoes. You’ll attend the next session with renewed energy.

My last bit of advice is to smile, offer your hand, invite a stranger to sit at your table. It can turn a disappointing day into an enriching one. Exchange business cards and bookmarks. You may want to volunteer - a great way to meet attendees you don't know. Writing can be a lonely pursuit. Sharing ideas and struggles over a glass of wine is a great stress reliever. It also sends you home with renewed encouragement and new publishing related friends. You’ll be ready to get those fingers back to the keyboard.

Hope to cross paths with you in 2025. Below is a link to Mystery Writers of America’s list of suggested conferences. Enjoy!

https://inreferencetomurder.typepad.com/my_weblog/upcoming-conferences.html

Judy L Murray, Author of the award-winning Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series Find me at http://www.judylmurraymysteries.com