by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

I recently returned from a writer’s conference feeling capable of anything. On my long drive home, I began reflecting on what I’d learned, the people I’d met, and how inspired I was by my experience. As is my practice when alone, I began speaking aloud. “Perhaps I can write twelve books a year. Maybe I should start another podcast. I wonder if this would be a good time to explore writing in another genre. What will it take to get 20 million followers by next Friday?”

For many of us, a conference “high” may cause us to respond in an overzealous manner. After all, when we’re feelinginspired, we’re motivated to put what we’ve learned into action. Sometimes unrealistically. Thankfully, several hours had passed before I arrived home. I had time to reevaluate my thinking and decided to take my enthusiasm down a notch to create a manageable action plan.

Here are some seven steps I created for making the most of our conference experience to succeed as writers:

1. Reflect on what was learned: Reflect on the sessions, workshops, and conversations experienced at the conference. Think about the key takeaways, new insights, and inspiration gained. Jot down notes or create a mind map to organize thoughts.

2. Review notes and handouts: Go through the notes taken during the conference and any distributed handouts. Identify action items and brainstorm new projects or areas for writing improvement—key in on pertinent information and ideas that resonate the most.

3. Connect with fellow writers: One of the most significant benefits of conferences is the opportunity to network and connect with other writers. Reach out to the people we met at the conference through social media, email, or phone calls. Building relationships with our peers can provide affirming ongoing support, encouragement, and collaboration opportunities.

4. Set new and realistic writing goals: Often, we can overwhelm ourselves with unrealistic goals, and discouragement will soon set in. Alternatively, we sometimes do the opposite by failing to set new writing goals. However, if we use the inspiration and knowledge gained to set realistic, measurable, and achievable goals, we’re more likely to make significant progress. Whether committing to daily writing regiments, submitting work to various publications, or starting a new project, setting specific goals helps us stay fresh, focused, and motivated.

5. Implement what was learned: The faster we apply the strategies learned at conferences into practice, the more likely we will succeed at improving. If exposed to new writing techniques, incorporate them into the writing process. If feedback was received on our work, we should use it to revise and improve our writing.

6. Continue learning: Make it a priority to further writing education by taking courses, attending workshops, or joining writing groups like Word Weavers International. Often, writer’s conferences offer additional resources or online classes to assist authors in continuing their learning journey.

7. Follow through: Meeting publishing professionals in person is rare. Take advantage of an agent, publisher, or collaborator who shows interest in a project. Often, the open doors provided to writers at conferences are neglected. Sometimes, it’s fear, doubt, or busyness. Despite the obstacles, we should try to follow through when asked. Even if nothing comes of the connection, it solidifies us as professionals who take our careers seriously.

By following these steps, we can ensure our conference experience has a lasting impact on our writing journey. We can also embrace the momentum of motivation and use it in a realistic manner to propel our careers in the publishing industry.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”