tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post115979984491958232..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: ConferencesJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1161079505556610702006-10-17T05:05:00.000-05:002006-10-17T05:05:00.000-05:00great point. i've never been to a conference and w...great point. i've never been to a conference and while they may be useful, i can network with others just fine on my own. plus, i'm more of a copywriter, so i network for clients.<BR/><BR/>now, as a new author, who knows--i may attend.Kristen https://www.blogger.com/profile/05814115452108698666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159934306356678002006-10-03T22:58:00.000-05:002006-10-03T22:58:00.000-05:00joe, i'm especially happy to have witnessed the du...joe, i'm especially happy to have witnessed the duet.<BR/><BR/>my ears quit bleeding fairly quickly. really.anne frasierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044828332429421657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159912055976313372006-10-03T16:47:00.000-05:002006-10-03T16:47:00.000-05:00I'm going to my first bookfest on October 14th, an...I'm going to my first bookfest on October 14th, and my first conference (La Jolla Writers Conference in San Diego) on October 20-22. Thanks to your advice, Joe, I feel like I am going well equipped.Douglas V. Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09388639848567082980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159890588527059802006-10-03T10:49:00.000-05:002006-10-03T10:49:00.000-05:00I think it can be useful to authors to skip a conf...I think it can be useful to authors to skip a conference every few years. I just wouldn't recommend they skip them every year.<BR/><BR/>This is especially true when the conference is 5000 miles away.<BR/><BR/>I actually didn't miss being at Bouchercon this year, although it would have been nice to see everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159889126153892622006-10-03T10:25:00.000-05:002006-10-03T10:25:00.000-05:00You're right - absence makes the heart grow fonder...You're right - absence makes the heart grow fonder. Better to be missed than to be omnipresent. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps you can style your sabbatical after Celine Dion - take the year off, then drive your Suzuki into the desert to set up the first open every night writers' conferece Vegas has ever seen. People will come from far and wide to hear you read a chapter or two, share your pearls of wisdom, and perhaps belt out the chorus to that Titanic song and beat your chest with passion.<BR/><BR/>Just something to think about if you want to keep people talking...Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159877586131594372006-10-03T07:13:00.000-05:002006-10-03T07:13:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for the bartending, baby - AND the ...Thanks so much for the bartending, baby - AND the Prufrock. Highlight of BCon, I'm telling you - and I'd be sad not to see your face at at least five or six of these a year.<BR/><BR/>XXAlexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159874820169568182006-10-03T06:27:00.000-05:002006-10-03T06:27:00.000-05:00I've never been to a conference, so I can't make a...I've never been to a conference, so I can't make any judegments. I'm sure you make a lot of valid points about expense and overexposure, but I bet you'd be sorely missed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159854992010026682006-10-03T00:56:00.000-05:002006-10-03T00:56:00.000-05:00Joe, it was good seeing you and I especially enjoy...Joe, it was good seeing you and I especially enjoyed your panel presentation on marketing. As I said at Lee's party, you are a master.<BR/><BR/>Sorry to hear you're cutting back, but I can clearly understand why.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159838890799682272006-10-02T20:28:00.000-05:002006-10-02T20:28:00.000-05:00Joe, it was great to see you this weekend! I don't...Joe, it was great to see you this weekend! I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't let me crash on the Governor's Club couch Friday afternoon. :)<BR/><BR/>AND you're a fabulous bartender!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159825484239852482006-10-02T16:44:00.000-05:002006-10-02T16:44:00.000-05:00Ah, just trying to avoid Anchorage? You can go to ...Ah, just trying to avoid Anchorage? You can go to ThrillerFest in July and visit your agent and publisher at the same time.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>Mark Terry<BR/>www.markterrybooks.comMark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159823706249811862006-10-02T16:15:00.000-05:002006-10-02T16:15:00.000-05:00Joe,You make good points here, and certainly you d...Joe,<BR/>You make good points here, and certainly you don't want to burn yourself out.<BR/><BR/>I think you are missing something, though. You are as good a teacher and speaker as you are a writer, and that is not something all authors can say. Did you notice how you mention that several newbies asked you about query letters? Why were there no panels on this topic?<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed Bouchercon. I have moderated and spoken on many panels at conferences about teen things, and this was one of the best groups I've had. (It included Stacey who commented above here.) I was 'conferenced out' after a bit though and was going to murder the next person who explained at length why their series is not 'cozy'. <BR/><BR/>The panels that do best, like blogs, are ones with a unique point to them. Laura Lippman said she loves talking about the Crime Lab Project because it gives her more to say than just talking about herself and her books.<BR/><BR/>You are very good at writing and teaching live about getting into the business. You have a valuable angle other than talking about your books that folks obviously want to hear.<BR/><BR/>While I think taking a break is never a bad thing, I hope you will continue to find ways to teach - through here and even local conferences where you won't have to stay overnight.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200630721904688015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159823280495937712006-10-02T16:08:00.000-05:002006-10-02T16:08:00.000-05:00Oh crap--I forgot to go to Bouchercon. Well, see y...Oh crap--I forgot to go to Bouchercon. Well, see you at ThrillerFest, then.Richard Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04094016831874148306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159815802175618262006-10-02T14:03:00.000-05:002006-10-02T14:03:00.000-05:00JoeI love doing conventions, meeting my readers, e...Joe<BR/>I love doing conventions, meeting my readers, etc.. I love them so much I did 11 this year. But the truth is that they cut into writing time and they're expensive. I've just now made the leap to where a few of the conventions will foot some of my expenses. <BR/><BR/>It's a bummer to turn down a convention when they ask you to be a guest. But sometimes you just have to say "sorry." That way you meet your deadlines, your credit cards stop smoldering and folks don't say, "Oh, great, it's her again."Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159808882557683432006-10-02T12:08:00.000-05:002006-10-02T12:08:00.000-05:00I'm sorry I missed Bouchercon because I'd never be...I'm sorry I missed Bouchercon because I'd never been, but I went to a writers retreat that was fabulous (and in Victoria, BC).<BR/><BR/>I understand where you're coming from, though I think conferences are beneficial for a lot of other reasons. I don't think they're just for newbie authors. But that's me. I'm an extrovert and writing is solitary--I love to get out and talk with people. But I never go with the purpose of selling books, I go with the purpose of meeting people. The ancilliary benefit is that they may buy my books, if not now then in the future.Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872860080644987843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159801505511453182006-10-02T10:05:00.000-05:002006-10-02T10:05:00.000-05:00I think taking a break is a good idea. I did the s...I think taking a break is a good idea. I did the same with a regional conference I used to do yearly.Robin Baynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640632701164428942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1159800905283155182006-10-02T09:55:00.000-05:002006-10-02T09:55:00.000-05:00Joe,It was great to catch up, and what you said Sa...Joe,<BR/><BR/>It was great to catch up, and what you said Saturday night at Bleak House will stay with me the rest of my life.<BR/><BR/>So, yeah, the Thai food wasn't bad.<BR/><BR/>Stacey<BR/><BR/>P.S. Incidentally, there are a bunch of pictures over at staceycochran.com, including a really good one of you, Robert Walker, and I at the Crimespree party, as well as the picture from dinner Saturday.Stacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.com