by Lindsey Brackett @LindsBrac

The Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference is rapidly approaching and some of you will be attending for the very first time! That is so exciting. But whether it’s your first time or your fifth, there’s always something to learn. Here’s a collection of my favorite tidbits for surviving and thriving a writers conference—as shared by experienced writers and conference attendees.

Always have a ballpoint pen with you. After you meet someone write how you met them and what you talked about on the business card they gave you. Do not use gel or rollerball. Those smear. Also, have business cards!—Kristi Ann Hunter, author of Winning the Gentleman

Pack great shoes. Listen, I know everyone says to bring comfortable shoes but that’s terrible advice. You can stuffer for a couple days. The blisters will heal. But EVERYONE will remember you if you’re wearing a fabulous pair of shoes. An agent remembered me three years later because of my shoes. A best selling author struck up a conversion with me because of shoes.—Kimberly Duffy, author of A Tapestry of Light

Be prepared with not only a “pitch,” but questions you can ask about ideas, social media, career-building, etc. It’s not always just about the one book you’ve just written. The writing journey is a marathon, not a sprint.—Hope Welborn, Foundations and Genesis Award winner of romantic suspense

Write, memorize, and practice an elevator pitch. It will come in handy at conferences when you’re standing around chatting with other conferees and when you’re sitting at a table with an agent or editor. Also, editors and agents are people. Being kind to them will earn you bonus points.—Janyre Tromp, author and editor

Just have fun. Enjoy spending time with creative people. Learn as much as you can. And be open to new friendships, collaborations, or opportunities that may come your way.—NYT bestselling author, Julie Cantrell

Don’t forget to actually attend the sessions! Meetings, appointments, and hanging out with people who GET you can be so heady that you might be tempted to blow off the classes and workshops. There is GREAT information to be had not to mention opportunities to connect with the instructors.—award-winning author, Sarah Loudin Thomas

Try to have a good handle on your genre, target audience, and a good 1-2 sentence “elevator pitch” (to echo Janyre Tromp) to quickly tell editors, agents and other authors you meet about you and your work. Also, do your research in advance to see who will be speaking or fulfilling other roles and make a wish list of people you want to try to connect with at the conference. Perhaps it’s an author you admire or an agent who is one of your top picks. Do your research in advance so you know how to make the most of the relational opportunities at conferences. This business, like all of life, is still at its basis quite relational! Being kind, friendly, and well informed will serve you well.—best-selling author, Rachel Linden

Schedule rest periods throughout the day. Your brain will soak up more if it’s allowed to recharge a bit. Get the tapes of the conference to review later. The most important part of any conference is social networking. Go home with friends. They’ll last throughout your writing career.—Karen Lynn Nolan, author

Wear comfortable shoes with business casual attire. A conference is a professional setting but there’s no gold stars for sore feet.—Julia Kay, author (and the antithesis to Kimberly Duffy)

Be ready to talk about your book. Your work is exciting, or you wouldn’t be doing it. They’re interested, or they wouldn’t be there. LET yourself enjoy it. And listen to other people. They, too, are interesting. –Voni Harris, suspense author

I definitely recommend time to decompress and process what you’ve learned. And have a killer tag line/elevator pitch before you go because EVERYONE will ask you for it! The entire event can feel like a giant speed-dating session, and the pitch is our nerdy writer’s equivalent of “what’s your sign?” or “what’s your Enneagram number?” It’s how everyone you meet will want to instantly know and identify you…. whether you like it or not. –Amy Drown

Set realistic expectations. 1. Learn something new. 2. Meet someone new.—Erica Vetsch, author

Talk to people you don’t know. Writing friends are just waiting to be found.—award-winning author, Pepper Basham

Hang out in the lobby after hours and don’t be afraid to chat people up! You’ll make your best connections outside of conference time.—Carla Laureano

Do not sit next to Joy Massenburge or Bethany W Turner at any event where you’re required to be serious. But seriously, don’t hesitate to fangirl. Some of my sweetest memories are when I made a fool of myself in front of Karen Witemeyer, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter. –Janine Rosche

Volunteer! I have made some very lasting relationships working with different writers at registration.—Joy Massenburge

This may sound like weird advice, but bring a water bottle. At my very first conference, I was so thirsty from all the walking, that’d I’d sneak off to my hotel room and chug water like my life depended on it.  So now I always carry a water bottle with me at conferences.—Kelsey Anderson

Dream big, but hold expectations loosely – and don’t forget to look for unexpected blessings.—Angela Carlisle

Research, research, research. Don’t waste precious time with editors and other industry professionals talking about something irrelevant because you didn’t know what they are acquiring. Also, shift your focus when pitching from a fear of failure to a realization these people are in the book business because they want authors to succeed — even if the project isn’t a yes for them then and there, it isn’t necessarily because you did something wrong. They’re on your side at the end of the day.—Ashley Clark, author

Lindsey P. Brackett has taught middle school, read radio obits, and directed musicals but her favorite job is writing women’s fiction inspired by her rural Georgia life and Lowcountry roots. Find her podcasting at A Rough Draft Life, stress baking on Instagram, and writing at lindseypbrackett.com.