Workshoppy
Writing conferences are packed with panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops to help hone your writing. Here are some tips for making the most out of conference craft sessions.
1. Do your research. Before you sign up for a conference, explore the faculty lineup and daily schedule to see what sessions will be beneficial to your work. Note the workshops you’d like to attend, and find out what the protocol is for registering. And do so by the cutoff date.
2. Be prepared. If you are asked to bring a piece to workshop, make sure you have it. Likewise, pack all of the items you’ll need – notepad, pens, your tablet, a voice recorder – to ensure you and your work will continue to benefit from the workshop once you’re back at home.
3. Keep an open mind. Whether commenting on someone else’s work or hearing feedback on your own, be open to new ideas and different ways of thinking. One person’s method (including your own) is not the law of the land, and you can learn a lot from simply interacting with other writers.
INFORMATION in this section is provided to The Writer by the individual markets and events; for more information, contact those entities directly.
» CONFERENCES
ARIZONA
Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference Tempe, Arizona, February 21-22. Hosted by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University. Schedule includes craft classes, conversations, panels, and readings, as well as opportunities to network with writers. Faculty includes Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Bill Konigsberg, and Nafissa Thompson-Spires. Contact: Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, P.O. Box 875002, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287. 480-965-6018.
CALIFORNIA
Culver City, California, March 20-22. Authors and screenwriters gather West Coast Writers Conferences, P.O. Box 2267, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. 310-379-2650.
