Where else can you connect with hundreds of fellow writers and dozens of agents/editors all over the course of a three-day weekend? Do you crave face-time with published authors and professional literary consultants? Or maybe you just like to learn more and meet new people in an effort to broaden your horizons?
If so, then the annual San Francisco Writer’s Conference is for you. This weekend was my second time attending this big west coast event, and this get together was even better than the first. My favorite segments included meeting with editors, speaking to agents, listening to some great seminars, and, of course, mixing with fellow writers. I currently have half a dozen agents who have requested either full versions or partials of my historical novel, The Long Defeat, and I’m currently shopping around for a professional editor to help sharpen up my manuscript.
To learn more about my novel, just checkout my previous post here. I’m curious about other writer’s conferences some of you may have attended. What types of conferences and writer events have you benefited from in the past?
That's great news about all of the requests!
ReplyDeleteWow, you're getting really close if you're getting that many requests!!
ReplyDeleteI go to two local conferences every year in Colorado. The Pikes Peak Writers Conference and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference. I belong to both groups and their conferences are always great. Not so big at around four hundred people either, so there's ample opportunity to bump into authors, editors, and agents. And, also, visit with old friends who I only see at the conference.
Hope to hear more about your weekend at the conference.
Haven't been to any conferences since I live in a small and oh-s0-touristy part of CO. Though, I've wanted to go to Pikes Peak WC. I was supposed to go last year with a writerly friend, but couldn't make it work.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the requests!
I'd love to go to a conference. Wordstock is the closest I've come.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear The Long Defeat is going well for you. Good luck! Have fun at the conference.
A couple of years ago I went to the San Miguel de Allende conference in Mexico. It was fantastic. It wasn't really geared toward pitching your manuscript, as SF was. Both are terrific conferences and I would absolutely recommend either of them.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting full and partial requests! :D And thanks for stopping by my blog. ;) It's nice to *meet* you!
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to attend a national conference like this. The only ones I've attended are the local ones, though they've been terrific. I'm fortunate to live in an area of the country that is rich in the publishing business. Heck, I know of two New York Times best selling authors who reside in my city, and the valley has even more.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your search for an agent.
ReplyDeletewow, a half dozen agents are intersted... that's fantastic. Crossing fingers for you that they love your manuscript!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Wow congrats on all your success!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on using the conference to your book's full advantage. I'll keep my fingers crossed one of those requests turns into an offer.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the location, the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel is such a gorgeous hotel!! I stayed there for a different conference and found myself swimming with ideas looking around that place. The bar on the top floor isn't half bad either ;)
Wow, so many requests, Mark. I am thrilled for you. I hope you get that agent fast.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe it, I have never attended a writer's conference. We don't have them in India. Just a teenie weenie short story workshop is all I can boast about.
Wow, congrats on the interest in your manuscript. That's awesome. I've never been to a conference, but I would love to attend one.
ReplyDeleteI went to a conference down here in SoCal back in '09, and we were encouraged to blog. So guess what I did? They've asked me to teach a workshop this fall on the resurgence of the short story, and I can"t wait. CONGRATS on the requests!
ReplyDeleteAlex – Thanks, Alex!
ReplyDeleteL.G. – Well, I’ve got a good pitch, but I probably need more editing of my ms, but I’ll still keep putting it out there:)
Susan – Any get together counts in my book, but a full-fledged conference definitely helps. Keep working at it:)
McKenzie – I’ve never been to Wordstock, but it sounds cool.
Tricia – Wow, I haven’t heard or been to that conference, but it sounds neat:)
Chantele – Great to meet you too, thanks for the encouragement!
Donna – National and local, they’re all good, but the more people you meet the better in my book.
Richard – Thanks!
Lynda – Thanks! I’ve gotten this level of interest before, so it’s a little hard for me to get too excited, but I keep trying and keep editing.
Kelley – Thanks Kelley!
Steph – That’s definitely what I’m trying to do. It is a cool hotel, and it’s neat to go to the Top of the Mark. The president was actually there and left the morning the conference started, but I didn’t catch a glimpse of Obama.
Rachna – Hmm, I wonder if there’s some sort of equivalent you could attend in India. But thanks for the support:)
Jessica – Thanks, I try to garner as much interest as I can. The conferences get more fun each year.
Milo – Wow! That’s totally something! Good for you:)