The
2013 Missouri Writers Guild Conference
By Brad R. Cook
Conferences are the backbone of the
publishing industry. It’s the best place to meet a literary agent or publisher,
the best place to learn about current industry trends, and they are the best
places to learn from professionals about where this crazy industry is going to
be in five years.
There are several great national
conferences held by organizations like Writer’s Digest, Romance Writers of America,
Romantic Times, Bouchercon, SCBWI and many more, but a there are also some
amazing regional conferences, and one of them happens to be right here in
Missouri.
So what is the difference between a regional
and national conference? In a word, people. The national conferences easily
attract over 500 attendees, but regional conferences have about that half that
attendance. Now, I’m certain some people would argue that the bigger
conferences bring in bigger names and they’re kinda right. But that isn’t
always the best way to learn. When you’re one of 300 people in a banquet hall
it can be hard to get your questions addressed. The regional conferences have
breakout sessions of 50 people or less. Just like with class sizes, the smaller
crowds allow for more specialization.
The other differences are things like cost
to attend, travel expenses, contests, critiques, and the specific services
offered, but these vary for all conferences. I suggest thoroughly researching each conference you wish to attend before deciding.
There is another secret I’ll pass along…
the regional conferences still attract the industry leaders. Top agents,
publishers, and authors don’t just go to the big conferences; they attend many
of the regional conferences. So if you can’t afford the big conferences, or if
you’ve never been to a conference and want to see what they're all about – may I
suggest something like the Missouri Writers Guild Annual Conference.
Allow me to showcase one of the best
regional conferences I have attended.
Missouri
Writers Guild
2013
Annual Conference
Bringing Writers Together!
April 26-28, 2013
at the
Sheraton Westport
Lakeside Chalet
191 Westport Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63146
Here are some of the speakers listed to attend.
Kathleen
Ortiz, New Leaf Literary and Media
Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Larsen Pomada
Literary Agents
Carly Watters, P.S. Literary Agency
Jita Fumich, Folio Literary Management
Joan Lynch Luckett, Assistant travel
editor, Midwest Living
Kristina Blank Makansi, Publisher and
Editor, Blank Slate Press
Lela
Davidson, author, Blacklisted from the PTA
Grant Clauser, poet and poetry teacher
Janet Cannon, Technology Instructor
Geoff Morrison, freelancer and
e-publishing expert
Sarah E. Fine, author and psychologist
Robin Colucci Hoffman, Get Published
Coach
Steve Yates, author Morkan’s Querry
With
Banquet Keynote Speaker, Jane Henderson, Book Editor for the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
and
Early Arrival Seminar “The Shy Writer
Reborn” with C. Hope Clark, editor of Funds for Writers Inc.
Plus, David
Lucas and I will emcee the Open Mic on Friday Night!
If you want to
learn more about the speakers, schedules, contests, pitch sessions, book
signings, and more please visit - http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/Conference2013v9/index.htm
If you are interested and want to know
more, St. Louis Writers Guild is having a workshop this Saturday to help
prepare for the conference.
Sit
Down and Pitch
Saturday, March 2, 2013
10am to Noon at the Kirkwood Community
Center
Brad
R. Cook is a historical fantasy author and President of St. Louis Writers
Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com
or follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook
St. Louis Reflections http://www.stlbooks.com/B009271-1211-51/Review.aspx
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