By Scott Lorenz, Westwind Communications
Have you ever attended a writers’ conference? Here’s why you may want to consider adding one to your calendar.
A writers’ conference is a think tank for authors to build on each other’s ideas and inspire new achievements in their own work. For the cost of lodging and registration, the payoff for attending a writers’ conference could be tremendous.
Attending a writers’ conference gives you a chance to pitch your book, learn about the various publishing options and meet book editors, agents, and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can talk to people with valuable input on shaping your book. At a writers’ conference, you’ll get all sorts of advice to help you wrap up your project when you return home.
Of course, you will want to prepare for any writers’ conference you attend by having a plan of what you want to find out and what you will do while there. I suggest you develop an ‘elevator pitch’ about your book that you can deliver in 30 seconds. Have a one-pager available with your book cover, author headshot, short 50-word synopsis, short bio, website URL, Twitter handle and your contact information. You never know who you’ll meet so be prepared for that moment!
Here are some upcoming writers’ conferences for your consideration:
Willamette Writers Conference — West Linn, Oregon
Date: Aug. 12-14, 2016
Fifth House Lodge Workshop/Conference — Bridgton, Maine
Date: Aug.-Sept., 2016
Florida Heritage Writers’ Conference & Book Festival — Augustine, Florida
Date: Sept. 16-17, 2016
Kentucky Women Writers’ Conference — Lexington, Kentucky
Date: Sept. 16-17, 2016
Chicago Writers Conference — Chicago, Illinois
Date: Sept. 23-25, 2016
Southern California Writers’ Conference — Irvine, California
Date: Sept. 23-25, 2016
American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference — Nashville, Tennessee
Date: Sept. 25-28, 2016
Write on the Sound Writers’ Conference — Edmonds, Washington
Date: Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2016
Breathe Christian Writers’ Conference — Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date: Oct. 7-8, 2016
New York Writers’ Workshop Conferences — New York, New York
Non-Fiction Pitch Conference schedule
Date: Oct. 7-9, 2016
Castle Rock Writers’ Conference and Pre-Conference – Castle Rock, Colorado
Date: Pre-Conference—Oct. 21, 2016
Conference—Oct. 22, 2016
Fiction Pitch Conference schedule
Date: Nov. 11-13, 2016
San Francisco Writers’ Conference— San Francisco, California
Date: Feb. 16-19, 2017
Select a writers’ conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers. You may acquire knowledge you can use immediately, find a new market for your book, elevate your professional effectiveness, meet editors, agents and publishers, become inspired and return home energized.
The Bottom Line: Make a commitment to attend at least one writers’ conference in the coming months. You’ll be glad you did!
SCOTT LORENZ is President of Westwind Communications Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist.