I’ve talked to so many writers who don’t attend conferences due to the cost and time commitment. I too have hesitated for these very same reasons, but realistically, I get so motivated both before and after conferences that I accomplish much more.
Why attend a conference?
- To learn more about your craft. This is the main reason I attend conferences.
- To network. I’m learning how to do this better since I’m more introverted. Asking people about themselves helps a lot. Practice. Practice.
- To push yourself. Sometimes conferences and workshops require you to do things. Such as reading books, writing stories and queries, and talking to people.
- To find out others are in the same boat. I often feel isolated and unsure of how to do things, but talking to others and asking questions of the speakers makes you realize others have the same issues.
- To move forward. It’s easy to stagnate, to get sidetracked. As writer’s we need to keep learning, editing, submitting, and moving forward.
In early June, I attended AWAI’s (American Writers and Artists) Launch Your Writer’s Life in a Day, a live conference in downtown Chicago. One of the pre-conference assignments was to ask others to comment on my work ethic. I felt awkward doing this, but the results were like receiving my eulogy while I could still appreciate it. People had such wonderful comments, and many of these became testimonials. 
Reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen was another requirement before the AWAI workshop. I highly recommend this book. The Slight Edge is about doing little things every day that help you get ahead in the long run I have bought additional copies for friends and sent teenage grandkids the Success for Teens: Real Teens Talk About Using the Slight Edge.
During the conference, we learned how to put together a portfolio and how to handle cold calls and marketing. It was a great class. Many of these techniques I needed to prepare for BlogPaws later that month.
BlogPaws occurred in Phoenix this year and Iwas very ambivalent about making this trip. Likely if I had not paid for the conference the year before at half price, I wouldn’t have attended. Money was a little tighter this spring due to less work at my environmental consulting job. However, my wonderful husband found great deals on airfare, a nearby motel, and a rental car—all of which persuaded me to go. I also knew I would regret not seeing my elderly aunts who lived in Phoenix if I didn’t go. 
My other reason for attending BlogPaws is I knew, with the due date rapidly approaching, that I had to work diligently on getting my new website up for Kay9 Environmental, which I did, only days before the conference.
My next conference is not until September, at the Chicago Writers Conference, where I am signed up to pitch my memoir to three agents. I’ll have to prepare for this one too!
Why you shouldn’t attend conferences?
- Time, money and effort.
- You have more important things to do. But do you really? What is more important than working on your craft and moving forward?
