Five Things I'd Tell a Writer Going to Their First Writers' Conference

Last weekend, I attended the Historical Novel Society conference in Maynooth, Ireland. Here are 5 things I’d tell someone heading to their first writers’ conference.

1. Stay On Site

If you can, stay on site. Workshops matter. So does everything in between: the pub after sessions, walks between workshops, breakfast conversations, and chance encounters.

2. Make it easy for people to find you.

Bring a card or QR code linking to your website or socials. Make it ridiculously easy for the people you meet to become people you know.

3. Follow up.

Send the email. Thank the presenter whose workshop you loved. Tell someone you enjoyed meeting them. A sincere note costs nothing and can mean a great deal to receive.

4. Prepare. Then Be Present.

I prepared for my agent meeting. I’m glad I did. But some of my best conversations about books, publishing and writing happened were unplanned. Prepare, then be present.

5. Stay For the Ending.

As writers, we tend to decide how the story ends before it does. That agent wasn’t interested. I didn’t meet enough people. Everyone here is further along than I am. But you don’t yet know what a chance encounter might become. Don’t decide how the story ends before you’ve reached the final page.