Jenna From the Road

April 26, 2008 at 5:31 am | Category: blog

Hi everyone!

You’re probably wondering who the heck has hijacked Sandra’s blog today and why she’s talking about roads. Well, I’m Jenna Petersen and I write historical and erotic historical (as Jess Michaels) for Avon and Avon Red. I also run The Passionate Pen, a site for aspiring romance authors that will be ten years old next year. And Sandra was sweet enough to let me guest blog here today.

And to be perfectly honest with you… I kind of immediately forgot that I’d promised her tSo today I’d like to talk to you about the dos and don’ts of conferences. o be witty and wise or… whatever. I blame it on book brain, I had a book (Something Reckless, Jess Michaels) come out on Tuesday, so I have swiss cheese brain. Luckily, she reminded me and I started wracking my brain for what kind of interesting topic I could cover for you.

And then I realized that I would be blogging from the Chicago-North RWA Spring Fling conference and a light bulb actually went off over my head. There are hundreds of writers conferences held every year, dozens by local RWA Conferences and then there’s the big National Conference put on by RWA each July (this year it’s in San Francisco). So today I want to talk to you about the dos and don’ts of a writers conference:

1. DO get out and meet people! I know we’re all introverts by nature (though some of us fake being extroverts pretty well), but when at a conference you are surrounded by friends. This is the one place where everyone is going to “get” what you do. So take advantage. Introduce yourself, ask about other people’s work, talk about your own, exchange tips, make friends. It’s as easy as a smile and a “hi my name is”. Most of us don’t even bite.

2. DON’T only hang out with the SAME people the whole time. If you came with a group or you just met a bunch of nice people right off the bat, that’s great, but don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet other people. Meals are a great place to trade it up and sit with a new group. You never know when you might end up sitting down next to your future agent or editor and have them say, “So what do you write?”

3. DO make a connection with visiting editors and agents. You don’t have to pitch the whole time, but you can definitely chit chat. Editors and agents are just people. So smile and be friendly. If you’re in a pitch appointment, be prepared, but also take the opportunity to ask about the line or the publishing house.

4. DON’T bring any part of your manuscript to hand out to the editors or agents in attendence. Think about it. Even at a small conference, if everyone handed the editor 50 pages of their manuscript, she could be trying to lug home thousands of manuscript pages. If she wants to see your work, she’ll ask you to mail the work to her in an envelope marked “Requested Material” with a cover letter reminding her that she asked to see the work and where. Otherwise, no stalking, no slipping a manuscript under a door, no demanding they take your book from your hands at that moment.

5. DO attend the booksigning. Even if you aren’t published, it’s a great place to meet your favorite authors and see how they handle their fans. You can learn a lot, both good and bad, just by watching other people. Plus, you might end up with a few autographed books. And if you see an author you love, tell her! We always love to hear that our work has touched you.

6. DON’T do everything. This is especially true at a big conference like RWA National. It’s overwhelming to look at all the great workshops and signings and events. But if you try to do it all, you’ll be unconcious in your room by night 2. So pace yourself. Take a couple of breaks. Get a coffee. Rest your feet.

7. DO hang out in the bar. Even if you don’t drink, get a diet coke and watch the conference’s “real” business be done. Chat with writers, meet an editor. Rest those tired tootsies. It’s the hip place to be.

8. DON’T forget that this is a business event. I’m sometimes shocked by the behavior I see at these things. Bitching loudly about another author or an editor/agent in a room full of people who might know the person? Not good. Dressing like a step up from a hooker? Probably not a good impression. Getting so drunk that you have to be carried out? Yeah, I’d skip that. People are always watching at these kinds of events. So always be “On”, even at the most base level.

9. DO have fun! With the above caveats aside, a conference is a great place to let your hair down a little with friends who “know” what you’re going through. So smile, laugh, don’t be scared and have a great time.

So what’s your best or worst conference story?

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