By A.C. Williams by @acw_author

Conference season is getting ready to gear up. Are you ready? Have you decided what conferences you’re attending? Have you figured out which agents you want to talk to? Or publishers?

Believe it or not, it’s never too early to start thinking about these things.

I attended my very first writing conference in 2006 or 2007. The years blur together after a while. It was so much fun, and it was so incredibly overwhelming. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know who I needed to talk to. I didn’t even know how to assemble a pitch or that I could even TALK to real-life editors and agents while I was there.

When I had never been to a writing conference, I didn’t even know how to start getting ready for one. So for any of you who are planning to attend a conference this year (maybe an AMAZING conference like the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writing Conference?), here’s a few things to consider as you make your to-do list:

Pitch Appointments (free 15 – minute appts)

Have you got a completed manuscript? Pat yourself on the back, my friend. That’s a huge accomplishment. It’s not an easy thing to finish the first draft of a story, so make sure you’re taking time to celebrate! If you’ve got a completed manuscript, you might consider signing up for a 15-minute pitch appointment with an editor or an agent.

What if you don’t have a completed manuscript? That’s okay. You can still sign up for an appointment, but PLEASE preface your meeting by telling the editor that your story isn’t finished yet. There have been too many times where an author has pitched a story to me, and it sounds brilliant and wonderful and exactly like what my press wants. And then they tell me it’s not done yet. It’s crushing, you guys. (Be nice to the editors. Don’t crush them.) Just be open and up front with whoever you’re talking to. They’ll appreciate it.

NOTE from Edie Melson: at BRMCWC, we also encourage you to sign up for these free 15-minute appointments to get advice and insight on your writing path. You do NOT have to have a project to pitch for these appointments.

Mentor Appointments

Now, some conferences also offer mentoring appointments. They vary in length and complexity depending on what conference you’re talking about. Generally speaking, a mentor appointment does not include a pitch. So don’t sign up for a mentor appointment and show up to sell your story. That’s not a great way to start.

A mentor appointment will be for questions about marketing or about writing craft. They can be for quick feedback or help brainstorming a plot problem. They can also be for general industry knowledge. But what if you want specialized feedback? What if you’re looking for a specific critique of something you’re writing? Well, that’s why there’s a thing called Paid Critiques.

Note from Edie Melson: at BRMCWC we also offer MENTORING for a fee to help conferees get ready for the conference. These paid mentoring appointments happen through Zoom or over the phone BEFORE the conference begins. Here’s a link to our MENTORING PAGE with information about which faculty are offering this: https://www.blueridgeconference.com/mentoring/

Paid Critiques

Paid Critiques are exactly what they sound like. You pay an extra fee to an editor or agent for them to give a section of your writing a read and offer you feedback. Now, not every editor or agent at a conference offers this. Most conferences will have a page where this information is available. And the fee will vary from conference to conference. But this is one of the best opportunities you can get at a conference, to have an editor or agent review your writing and give you direct feedback. It’s huge!

Generally, the conference will have you submit your payment and your sample pages early, and they will connect you with the agent or editor you selected. Some conferences do it differently, of course. But usually the editor or agent needs to have your sample pages much earlier than the conference so they can review it and make notes. Then, most of the time, you’ll get your notes back and can bring them to your appointment, which is usually a 30-minute review where you can ask questions and gain more clarity.

NOTE from Edie Melson: here’s link to our PAID CRITIQUE page on the website: https://www.blueridgeconference.com/2024-paid-critiques-03-03-2024/

Every writing conference usually has a website, so make sure you’re scouring it for details and information about other services that are available. Many conferences, especially big ones, offer more than just a class schedule and a meal plan. Check the website for what editors and agents are attending. Do your research to see what they’re accepting and what their publishing houses are looking for.

Make the most of the time you have at a writing conference to meet people and build relationships. We always hear that making headway in the writing industry is about who you know, and I hate to break it to you, but it’s absolutely true. Relationships are everything in the writing industry.

Make friends. Get to know other people who are doing what you’re doing. Get to know people who are doing things completely differently than you are. Be professional. Be kind. Be authentic. And no matter what conference you attend, you’ll get something out of it.

Award-winning author A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. She has authored eight novels, three novellas, three devotional books, and more flash fiction than you can shake a stick at. A senior partner at Uncommon Universes Press, she is passionate about stories and the authors who write them. Learn more about her book coaching and follow her adventures online at www.amycwilliams.com.