are writers organizations and conferences worth it?

BeccaPrice · 05-09-2013, 01:41 PM

i write what would be, in the best of all possible worlds, picture books - my stories are to be read aloud at bedtime.

I know that organizations like Romance Writers of America are very friendly to unpublished authors, and that their conferences are welcoming and friendly places.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is having their annual conference in LA this year. It's $85/year for membership, around $500 membership fee to the conference, and over $200/night for rooms for, say 4 nights... plus air fare... we're talking a couple thousand dollars for 3 days or so. Is this kind of outlay worth it?

I'm still debating between submitting stories to an agent, or self-publishing. I'm really not sure there's a market for fairy stories in the trad publishing world, but my stories are really too short (even in collection we're talking maybe 35 pages) for self-publishing.

has anyone ever been to a writer's conference (other than RWA)? is it worth while?

VydorScope · 05-09-2013, 10:43 PM

I dunno, but would love to hear. If I had to guess, they are good for networking and that is all.

crich70 · 05-10-2013, 03:31 AM

I imagine such conferences are useful if you are unpublished and just starting to try to find a publisher and/or agent to help get your career started. At least in traditional publishing. With e-publishing that isn't such a problem anymore I'd think.

frahse · 05-10-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

i write what would be, in the best of all possible worlds, picture books - my stories are to be read aloud at bedtime.

I know that organizations like Romance Writers of America are very friendly to unpublished authors, and that their conferences are welcoming and friendly places.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is having their annual conference in LA this year. It's $85/year for membership, around $500 membership fee to the conference, and over $200/night for rooms for, say 4 nights... plus air fare... we're talking a couple thousand dollars for 3 days or so. Is this kind of outlay worth it?

I'm still debating between submitting stories to an agent, or self-publishing. I'm really not sure there's a market for fairy stories in the trad publishing world, but my stories are really too short (even in collection we're talking maybe 35 pages) for self-publishing.

has anyone ever been to a writer's conference (other than RWA)? is it worth while?

If you have the coin and the time and have never been, i suggest you go. Keep your eyes and ears open, and try to avoid distractions, like bars and the like. They just take your time and dull your receptors.

Move around and try to get a feel for the exhibits, the crowd, and all the opinions and strategies.

bradhaak · 05-10-2013, 03:40 PM

I can't speak about conferences in general, but I have gone to the SCBWI summer conference for the last couple of years.

Both times have been incredible experiences and this year I registered within the first hour.

The sessions are very good. There are separate tracks for artists, unpublished writers, and published writers. Also, the keynotes are generally very good and often hilarious.

But the best part is the networking and the people that you meet who are going through the same things you are. Writing is an incredibly solitary activity, even for those of us with critique groups. It's fun to get together with a thousand other people that understand what you are going through.

I have been a member of a number of different professional organizations in different fields, and find the SCBWI to be unique. They were founded forty-odd years ago by a couple of self-acknowledged hippies who didn't know what they were doing. So instead of creating an organization that is only concerned about itself and raking in money, they created a group that has the gall to be more concerned about their members.

Even if you don't attend, I would recommend joining the organization.

If you do attend, maybe I will see you there.

And FWIW, outside of paying my dues for the last three years, I am not affiliated with SCBWI in any way.

frahse · 05-13-2013, 01:37 PM

On further thought, I recommend it very strongly if you haven't been before.

I also find technical conferences very worthwhile. Besides all the information, and networking, it is "uplifting" to me. Inspiring is the word. You get a feel for the pulse of the "beast." You are for a day or so at the forefront of activity in your field.

The same goes for writing. The new tricks, the new trends, the new tools, new friends, new info. Gossip even!

Nancy Fulda · 05-16-2013, 12:54 PM

I've found conventions and conferences to be great fun and definitely worth the expense of attending. I network a great deal online, however -- which means that whenever I've attended a convention, I already know between thirty and fifty people who are there. If you are introverted or just starting out in the industry, I'd recommend teaming up with a group of friends to share a hotel room and explore the conference together. If you're not certain whether you'll enjoy it, I'd also recommend starting small -- with a local convention that doesn't cost as much and won't require a hotel stay.

Some people love conferences, and some people hate them. The only way to find out which kind of person you are is to attend a couple.

05-09-2013, 01:41 PM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	are writers organizations and conferences worth it? i write what would be, in the best of all possible worlds, picture books - my stories are to be read aloud at bedtime. I know that organizations like Romance Writers of America are very friendly to unpublished authors, and that their conferences are welcoming and friendly places. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is having their annual conference in LA this year. It's $85/year for membership, around $500 membership fee to the conference, and over $200/night for rooms for, say 4 nights... plus air fare... we're talking a couple thousand dollars for 3 days or so. Is this kind of outlay worth it? I'm still debating between submitting stories to an agent, or self-publishing. I'm really not sure there's a market for fairy stories in the trad publishing world, but my stories are really too short (even in collection we're talking maybe 35 pages) for self-publishing. has anyone ever been to a writer's conference (other than RWA)? is it worth while?

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05-09-2013, 10:43 PM	#2
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I dunno, but would love to hear. If I had to guess, they are good for networking and that is all.

05-10-2013, 03:31 AM	#3
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I imagine such conferences are useful if you are unpublished and just starting to try to find a publisher and/or agent to help get your career started. At least in traditional publishing. With e-publishing that isn't such a problem anymore I'd think.

05-10-2013, 03:40 PM	#5
bradhaak Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 470352 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	I can't speak about conferences in general, but I have gone to the SCBWI summer conference for the last couple of years. Both times have been incredible experiences and this year I registered within the first hour. The sessions are very good. There are separate tracks for artists, unpublished writers, and published writers. Also, the keynotes are generally very good and often hilarious. But the best part is the networking and the people that you meet who are going through the same things you are. Writing is an incredibly solitary activity, even for those of us with critique groups. It's fun to get together with a thousand other people that understand what you are going through. I have been a member of a number of different professional organizations in different fields, and find the SCBWI to be unique. They were founded forty-odd years ago by a couple of self-acknowledged hippies who didn't know what they were doing. So instead of creating an organization that is only concerned about itself and raking in money, they created a group that has the gall to be more concerned about their members. Even if you don't attend, I would recommend joining the organization. If you do attend, maybe I will see you there. And FWIW, outside of paying my dues for the last three years, I am not affiliated with SCBWI in any way.

05-13-2013, 01:37 PM	#6
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	On further thought, I recommend it very strongly if you haven't been before. I also find technical conferences very worthwhile. Besides all the information, and networking, it is "uplifting" to me. Inspiring is the word. You get a feel for the pulse of the "beast." You are for a day or so at the forefront of activity in your field. The same goes for writing. The new tricks, the new trends, the new tools, new friends, new info. Gossip even!

05-16-2013, 12:54 PM	#7
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	I've found conventions and conferences to be great fun and definitely worth the expense of attending. I network a great deal online, however -- which means that whenever I've attended a convention, I already know between thirty and fifty people who are there. If you are introverted or just starting out in the industry, I'd recommend teaming up with a group of friends to share a hotel room and explore the conference together. If you're not certain whether you'll enjoy it, I'd also recommend starting small -- with a local convention that doesn't cost as much and won't require a hotel stay. Some people love conferences, and some people hate them. The only way to find out which kind of person you are is to attend a couple.