By Tammy Karasek @tickledpinktam

I talk about writing conferences often to writers. The replies I receive are as varied as the folks I talk to. Most who have attended are enthusiastic about them, and share their favorites or talk about a new one they’re going to attend this year. We trade experiences and create an excitement for the next one we’ll attend.

Then there are folks who have not gone to any writers’ conferences at all. They have many reasons why and a few are valid points for their circumstances. I have to admit, though, the response that often leaves me puzzled is this: why should I bother spending the money and wasting my time?

I smile and pause to gather my best answer to their honest question.

The list below contains my personal top ten reasons why a writer should attend a writer’s conference:

1. Because I said so. Wait, no, that’s an answer a parent would give a child. I’m serious though, to some extent. I believe you should go as often as you can take the time away and can afford it. It will be good for you and your writing career. I know writers who go an extra day or two before or after a conference to work on their current project. One goes early to work on her project, then stays a day or two after to process all she’s learned in the classes she attended before returning home.

2. The strength of your writing improves with each class you take. With that, I recommend you identify your weaknesses in the craft before you choose your classes. Ask a critique partner something they see you struggle with. Weak dialog? Look for a class for that. Flat characters? Check the schedule for a class on strong character building. Nonfiction not helpful? How about a class on writing a stronger devotional, study or encouragement book. I think you get my drift—look for a class at a conference you want to grow in and choose the one(s) that will make your writing stronger.

3. To meet other weird people who write! I’ve been called a weirdo from non-writing friends. “How can you sit at your computer all day and make up stories? What a weirdo.” If you chose the right conference for yourself, this could be where you meet those friends that get what it’s like to sit at that computer most days because you can’t not write. These folks will get you! You can find a writing partner, a buddy to brainstorm with and/or an accountability friend that you can talk all things writing without the blank stare back at you of someone with no clue what you speak of.

4. Not sure if you want to pursue a speaking or a writing career? A question often asked of new writers and speakers: are you a writer that speaks or a speaker that writes? In other words, they often go hand in hand. While you may want to stay in your writing cave and only write books, I promise you, there will be a time when you will have to come out of said cave and talk, yes talk, to the people. Your readers will want to meet you and ask you questions. New writers will want you to teach them, just like those before you who taught you. If you’re a speaker, an audience participant will want to take something home to remember you by—your book from the back table or bookstore. A good conference will be able to fill in the blanks of the extras of the writing or speaking journey you weren’t aware you needed to know.

5. Another important reason is to have the opportunity to meet with editors, agents, acquisition editors and publishers. Depending on the conference you choose, some or all of those types of professionals will be in attendance there for you to meet with. If your desire is to be published with a traditional publisher, many of them prefer to meet with you at a conference versus accepting query letters and proposals that have not been requested. There are always exceptions, but the general rule at this time is they prefer to speak with you first to see what you have to submit and if they are in search of that topic at this time.

6. Speaking of the items a publisher will want to see, at a conference, there are often classes on how to write a good query letter, a solid synopsis and the big one—a proposal. If you’re new and haven’t ventured into these particular items yet, these are worth your cost of the conference. Nobody wants to be rejected with their submission because they didn’t take the time to learn what those requested items are, the best way to create them, and why you will need them to get an agent or publisher’s attention.

7. A good writing conference will have a varied list of classes for you to choose from. Look at all of the options you can find for conferences, then compare their lists. Obviously, the conference this blog is connected to—Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference—has a very long list of class offerings every single year. Here’s a few to pique your interest: writing conflict, podcasting, speaking, article writing, how to interview, writing fantasy, blogging, poetry, book launches, sword fighting (yes, really!), building your platform, writing strong nonfiction, children’s book, writer’s self-care, websites, social media – whew, and there’s so many more. Please do check out the list for our 2025 faculty and class listings. The class schedule is not posted yet, but most of the class topics and descriptions are. Check the list out on our website under the conference tab!

8. At BRMCWC, there is a dedicated prayer team that will pray over the conference, conferees, faculty and staff each year. Yes, they are already praying for people that will attend this May, and this team prays for people by name. They are also available all around the campus the entire week should you like someone to pray with or for you about the conference, your writing or speaking journey, or your industry professional appointment time.

9. This goes without saying, but maybe you need to hear it: You’re worth the investment. Yes, I said investment. No matter the career, the personnel within that career are only as good as their training. You wouldn’t want the person who cut your hair to decide to start cutting hair because someone told them they cut hair well, would you? No, you’d hope they had training before they used scissors on your hair. Maybe someone told you, you should write or speak. Invest in your writing or speaking. Conferences are not cheap, but you’ll be surprised to find out how many writers took a class or two in college and believe they’re trained enough to write and become successful. Once you invest in the tools and classes to make your craft stronger, you’ll be able to pick out the authors or speakers who didn’t take the time to learn the industry, it’s standards and the expectations.

10. The last point for now is a conference is a great place to meet your tribe. These are the writing friends you will walk this journey with. These are the people who will hold you up when self-doubt creeps in, and it does. They’ll encourage you and hold you to your goals and desires for the month or year. These folks are the very ones you will text with the weeks before the conference to make sure you know when you’ll each arrive to meet up for the week. These are the people who become like family to you especially within the industry. Such an important aspect for those of us who spend a lot of alone time creating.

I know for myself, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference has become a place I look forward to going to once I turn that calendar page over in January. I know we are down to the last four months until we meet on the mountaintop again to hug, laugh, pray, cry and talk all things writing/speaking/podcasting/marketing/social media and more! It is in this place we know we can be free to talk about those topics with people who will get it, will get you. And they won’t roll their eyes at you.

Well, what do you think? Could the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference be on your radar to attend this year? I’d love to see you there and meet you. If you’re an introvert, please don’t hide, come find me. I’d be thrilled to show you around and introduce you to some other conferees in your same area of the writing/speaking world!

Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and show them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out!

She’s a writer of Romantic Suspense—with a splash of sass. Her debut book, Launch That Book, released in November 2023. She’s published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. Also, she’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation, The Write Editing, Blue Ridge Conference Blog, and more.

Known as The Launch Team Geek, she helps authors launch their books. You’ll also find her as a Virtual Assistant for several best-selling authors, the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President of ACFW Upstate SC, and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. Connect with Tammy at https://www.tammykarasek.com.