Because there so many excellent conferences, we all miss out on a few. I like to joke that if I didn’t love my husband, I could arrange to be away from home 80% of the time just by going to conferences!
But when you’re missing out on what you think is an especially good conference, you might wonder if you’ve blown your career — or at least a major opportunity. I submit that while conferences are wonderful for many reasons, including networking and fellowship, a conference shouldn’t make or break your progress and missing one won’t end your career. Why? Because before signing authors to partner with us, agents and editors perform due diligence.
When I was a newly-minted literary agent, I attended my first conference and proceeded to sign an author on the spot. Well, I didn’t have the contract in hand, but I promised one. The author was charming and presented herself well in appearance and speech. Even better, I loved her nonfiction book idea and agreed with the book’s mission. I thought her material was well organized and the writing held up. However, later I came to realize the book had been written years before and the author’s situation had changed so that the information wasn’t as accurate and up to date as it should have been. The book never sold, and we parted ways amicably.
Because of my inexperience at that time, I fell into the trap of becoming caught up in the author’s personality and my own enthusiasm and emotion in a highly-charged atmosphere. Anyone who’s been a part of a conference understands how the energy can bring on almost a sense of euphoria so it’s not the best time to make any decisions about a long-term business relationship. From that point on, I have made a practice of performing due diligence before signing an author. In the quiet of my office, I study the proposal and book itself, go online to learn more about the author, and otherwise do everything I can to be sure this is an author whose work I can reasonably expect to sell to a publisher. Granted, no amount of due diligence guarantees every project will find a publisher.
So while it may be hard to stay home while your friends are away at a great conference, consider that your ultimate audience — the reader — receives no benefit from an author’s high-powered lunches with editors and agents. All the reader cares about is your book’s benefit to her. So your project, not how well you can charm an editor or agent, will determine your success.
Your turn:
What is your biggest obstacle to attending a conference?
What was your best conference experience?
Have you become a published author without ever attending a conference?
I don’t have one obstacle. I have 26 of them – the dogs in our sanctuary. It takes a lot of sheer physical labor to feed and walk them, and maintain their areas, and it would be kind of cold of me to leave my wife to deal with it for a few days ‘on spec’. (For a conference where I’m speaking, or for a publicity event, that’s different…she’d be furious if I declined something like that.)
I was published without attending a conference (by a ‘subsidy press’ that gave me a standard royalty contract…no subsidy!). I love conferences, and get a charge out of networking, but most books are still placed the old-fashioned way…by query. So I’m not concerned.
I try to attend the Greater Phila. Christian Writers Conference. I love the workshops and meeting with fellow writers. I obtained my agent without attending a conference. I would love to go to the ACFW conferences. Due to unforeseen circumstances I realize it’s all for the very best that I’m home and not at ACFW this weekend. I praise and thank God for His guiding hand. Thank you for the reminder of what is most important.
Great article! I love hearing about all the research you actually do! 🙂 Although, I wonder how you fit it all into your week.
As I sit and read through recent Facebook posts, I find myself longing to be part of the ACFW conference this year. There have been so many friendships I’ve worked hard on forming this year, and seeing those friends meet and greet one another warmly–like family–makes me yearn to be part of that family. However, I understand that my time will come and until then I don’t mind sitting back and ‘liking’ all their pictures and posts. 🙂
In answer to your questions, my biggest obstacle is the fact that I have four young children and a husband whose schedule is difficult to work around. I look forward to the day the door opens for me to attend.
And secondly, I certainly hope to become a published author without having to attend a conference. (But I’d still love to go) 😉
Tamela this was so timely for me. I had to pull out of attending ACFW this weekend due to illness and I’m a little crushed as a result.
Thank you.
I’m so sorry, Ian. I hope you get well very soon!
My reason for missing a conference is solely based on my physical ability to get there. Due to medical issues, I don’t fly to the location or drive to it further than six hours. I would LOVE to attend some of the larger conferences and study under authors/agents/publishers/editors I admire. Broke my heart that I had to miss James Scott Bell. But, that is how it must be. Now, how about bringing some of these awesome conferences to the great city of Atlanta? You know y’all would love to come for a visit. We have loads of southern hospitality and ice tea to share.
You asked the question have you published without having ever gone to a writer’s conference? I just did, and I still don’t know what i am doing. I wish I could attend this one on Friday in Elk Grove but i will be at another seminar out of town for my main business helping childhood and adult sexual abuse and trauma victims. I would like to get active with a local group of writers in the Sacramento area. Please add me to your email list and keep me posted on events in our area. Here is link to my book. http://facebook.com/daveandcaren