Top Ten Things I Like About Writer's Conferences

In honor of the writing conference I spoke at last weekend and the She Speaks registration going live yesterday, I am posting the top ten things I love about writer's conferences:

1. Meeting other writers. There are people in this world as crazy as you! Who knew?

2. Learning new things about the publishing industry.

3. Taking classes that make me better at what I do.

4. Meeting professionals within the industry-- agents, editors, etc.

5. Serendipitous meetings that might seem insignificant at the time, but later prove to be invaluable.

6. The creative energy that exists anywhere that many creative types are gathered. It inevitably inspires you to create more.

7. Connecting with old friends you've made in years past.

8. Hearing from inspiring keynotes and scribbling down secret goals, wishes, and dreams as you hear their stories of setbacks and successes.

9. Watching people celebrate when they've had a particularly good meeting.

10. The slumber party atmosphere that comes whenever friends are all staying in one place.

If you've always wanted to go to a writers' conference, consider signing up for She Speaks this year. I am particularly excited about the pre-conference track we're offering for the first time. Talented inspirational novelists are going to share the secrets of story. Whether you tell true stories while writing nonfiction or speaking or whether you make them up for fiction, you will gain insight into what the elements of a gripping story are-- and how to include them when you write or speak. Spaces for this particular track are very limited so don't wait! www.shespeaksconference.com