by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

We’re just back from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. It’s always one of the high points of my year, but it’s also an exhausting experience. And that exhaustion isn’t limited just to those directing a conference or on staff. It affects those attending as well.

I’ve been attending large writing conferences for over sixteen years and they all have ONE thing in common—post-conference blues.

It’s a natural response, if you think about it. A week-long conference is an exciting, grueling experience. Just physical exhaustion alone could get anyone down—add to that the mental and emotional effects and you have the perfect set-up for a huge let-down.

For those who aren’t expecting the post conference blues they can—worst case—derail your writing career for a year or more. This malaise can keep a new writer from turning in the manuscripts and proposals requested at the event. It can set even an experienced writer behind several work days.

Unless you know what to expect and how to fight through.

What to expect

The feelings can run the gamut of a vague sense of unease to out-right panic. I’ve found that once I’m at home all the nice things people have said about my writing morph into something ugly.

My mind begins to play tricks and the requests and encouragement become nothing more than:

• They were just being polite—they didn’t really like my writing.
• They don’t really want me to send in that proposal.
• They’ll never publish that (article, devotion, whatever) they told everyone to send something in.

All of these are lies. I’ve sat on the editor’s side of the desk and believe me when I say this.

Less than 30% of the writers I requested material from, actually sent something in.

I’m convinced that a big reason for this lack of follow-through is the post conference melt-down.

How to push through

Here are some tried and true ways I’ve found to minimize the effects.

• Give yourself permission to feel deflated when you get home.
• Arrange your schedule so you have a few days to recuperate.
• Pamper yourself. Sleep in, go out to eat, spend some much needed time with family.
• Before you dive into conference generated work take time to evaluate what happened.
• Make a list of things you want to accomplish over the next year, next six months and next month.
• Develop a plan to stay in touch with new friends and contacts.
• Reach out to others who may be feeling the same way.
• Take your next steps in small increments.

All of these things can help you navigate the post conference blues. Now it’s your turn. Have you experienced the let-down? If so, share what have you found to help you cope in the comments section below.

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month and has been named as one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. She’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and vice president of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). She’s also the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine and the contributor to www.Just18Summers.com and www.PuttingOnTheNew.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.