Friday, February 06, 2009

Con Etiquette

I'll be hanging out at the Love is Murder Mystery Convention over the weekend, and wanted to go over a few ground rules and some quickie dos and don'ts.

Should You Go? I believe writing conferences are one of the only times it's okay for an author to spend money (we all know money flows toward the writer, not away.)

Unfortunately, many of them are out of state, travel and hotels are expensive, and the conference admission can cost anywhere from $100 to $500 dollars.

But there are several big reasons why newbie and pro authors should attend these events.

Networking. Meeting fellow professionals keeps you foremost in their mind when projects arise. Publishing, like all other businesses, is about people.

Camaraderie. While networking is about business, camaraderie is about hanging around with like-minded individuals. Socializing with writers is part of being a writers.

Panels. Being on them if you're a pro, watching them if you're a newbie. If done an extensive post on this before. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2006/09/conference-tips.html

Pitching. Any decent conference has agents and editors there. An in-person pitch gets you on top of the slush pile if they ask to take a look--your submission becomes solicited rather than unsolicited, and the agent/editor has a face to go along with a name.

Fans. I put this last, because unless you're already a bestseller, you won't be signing a lot of books. But meeting fans in person is powerful juju, and a handshake and a few kind words will likely be remembered for a long time.

If you have decided to attend a convention, here are some tips.

DO hang out at the bar. This is the best place to meet and mingle, and much more relaxed than anyplace else at the con. If you're buying drinks, you can ask anyone a question or bend their ear for a few minutes, even bigshot editors, authors, and agents.

DON'T get sloppy drunk. It will be remembered, and talked about.

DO wear business casual. The better you look, the better you'll feel.

DON'T be nervous. Everyone was a newbie once, and no one cares if you're perfect.

DO buy books. We're all in this together. If you're an author, buying books is also a great way to get in good with the bookseller.

DON'T talk too much. We learn by listening, not talking, and you're probably not as interesting as you think you are. Or as I am. :)

DO introduce yourself to strangers or people you know from their reputation and/or online. Sit at strange tables during communal lunches. Chat up people in elevators. Smile a lot.

DON'T hang out with the same crowd over and over and over. Yes, hang out with them, but don't limit yourself to only them.

DO pass out business cards, and ask for them in return. That means have some made if you don't have any. They should have your email and website on them--name and phone number isn't necessary.

DON'T sell hard. Conferences are about creating good will, not cramming your books down people's throats. A soft sell is okay, if kept to under 20 seconds, and if you're not doing it all the damn time.

DO thank whoever is running the con. It's an awful burden, and they deserve a pat on the back.

DON'T make any concrete plans. Cons are very liquid, and often you don't know what panels you'll watch, who you'll be hanging out with, or where you'll end up. Go with the flow.

Finally, remember to set goals.

While you don't need to figure out ahead of time what you'll be doing for every second, you should have reasons for attending the con. This isn't vacation time. It's business. You should know who you want to meet, what you want to accomplish, and have a mental checklist of reasons why you're attending in the first place.

Selling 100 books and asking JA Konrath to blurb you isn't a realistic goal. Shaking 100 hands and buying JA a drink is a much better goal, and within your power.

Like all aspects of writing, convention-going is both fun and hard work. The better prepared you are, the more realistic your expectations, and the fun should outweigh the work.

And if you see me, I like microbrewed beer and quality bourbon. Buy me enough and you might get that blurb after all...

12 comments:

  1. Doesn't buying JA Konrath a drink get me closer to a blurb?

    Great post Joe, wish I was there. Perhaps next year.

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  2. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Thanks for the advice.

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  3. Can I plug the Romance Writers of America conference? They make it very easy to do all of the above. There are ed&ag appts, great workshops, and 2000+ friendly ladies who will all ask you, 'What do you write?' So if you don't have your one-line pitch ready, it'll be polished by the end of the con :)

    I think we could make "seeking a blurb from Konrath" a new euphemism for the aftermath of excessive drinking. You know: Dudette, how many sour apple martinis did you have with Nora last night? You sought a blurb from Konrath all over the shuttle to the airport.

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  4. Anonymous9:07 PM

    Now I regret missing it. Had to work today, taking the boy to Bob the Builder Live! tomorrow, and am responsible for the girl on Sunday. Poor planning on my part. Have fun!

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  5. Anonymous12:31 AM

    That's great advice. Thanks for sharing.

    Joan De La Haye
    http://joandelahaye.wordpress.com/

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  6. Trouble is in finding a nearby convention to attend...when you live out here in the middle of nowhere.

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  7. Anonymous11:40 AM

    Well said, Joe. Cons are great places to network. I signed two authors last year from cons - and it wasn't through the pitch sessions - though you just can't beat that one on one time - but the bar.

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  8. Be careful about buying JA Konrath TOO many drinks, or you'll get a blurb like:

    *Hic* Thish book is the besht thing I ever... What's your name again? I don't care if I didn't finish the blurb. Wait, I didn't finish the blurb? Where the hell is that waitresh? Oh, yeah, besht romantic comedy effer!!! Itsh a thriller? Really?

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  9. The expense can be particularly daunting, especially for those of us who are in the boonies. Conferences never come to us, we must go to them.

    My entire conference budget this year is committed to Book Expo America and Writer's Digest's Writer's Conference in New York. Flying from Western Australia to New York, USA and paying for a week's hotel accommodation is painful but the experience is INCREDIBLE! I LOVED last year in L.A. and I came away with a buzz, loads of books, business cards, smiles, a tonne of content for blog posts, and new motivation for my current novel.

    This year, I'll be pitching it while there and I'm very excited. It is fantastic to meet other industry professionals and is definitely the high point of my year. I'll definitely find the bar this time!

    I wonder who else is going to be there this year. :-)

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  10. Anonymous9:06 AM

    Sound advice. I most enjoy teaching at these events, and talking craft afterward. Being with the like minded is a great refresher. Also: don't be dull, but don't be desperate.

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  11. If you're serious about being an author, I think you have to go to conferences. I got a second job in order to pay my expenses.

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  12. Well put JA!
    And Jessa, I will be going to RWA this year (1st time) A little intimidating but I hear it's well worth it.
    Are there any other "don't miss" cons out there? Maybe something smaller?
    I write suspense and romance.

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Thanks for the comment! Joe will get back to you eventually. :)