Are writers conferences worthwhile for a beginning novelist?
How can I get the most out of a conference?

After writing classes and books, I think a writing conference is one of the best investments a newer writer can make. A conference allows you to meet other writers and find out how they do things. It's a great chance to network, meet editors, and find out what's going on in the industry. There are workshops on specialty topics that you would be hard-pressed to find a book on. And it's usually a fun time, hanging out with other people who love words.

Some thoughts... Plan out a schedule before you get there. Make selections about the workshops and classes you want to attend -- and if it turns out not to be great, feel free to change to another class. Set some basic goals for what you want to accomplish at the conference -- who you want to meet, what you want to learn. Make sure your expectations are realistic before attending. If your goal is "to sign with an agent and land my first book deal," you might be setting the bar a bit high. (You can't really expect an agent to sign you up after a ten-minute appointment.) Instead, think about taking steps forward -- learning things, meeting people, improving your craft. Make appointments with editors and agents, but feel free to simply ask them to review your work and make suggestions for improving. If you're bringing a proposal to pitch, spend time polishing it. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make your words sing. The majority of stuff editors will see at a writing conference isn't really done -- it's started, and the author assumes editors will be able to recognize true genius amidst the half-baked words on the page. You can stand out by having a well-done proposal and sample chapters. And by all means, when you're at a conference go talk to people. Even if you're the shy, creative type, make a point of introducing yourself to people at meals, talking over coffee, being part of the discussions in the classes. Finding like-minded writers is one of the best aspects of a writing conference.

Chip MacGregor
Long-time editor | Literary Agent
macgregorliterary.com