Where to next? On meeting other writers at writings cons by Patty Jansen

The author of this post, to the right, during a panel at Conflux, regional SF/F writers and fans con held annually in Canberra, Australia.

Writing can be a lonely existence. You spend a lot of time alone in front of a computer banging on the keyboard. You don’t need to dress up, and don’t need to talk to anyone. In fact, many writers don’t in particular enjoy talking, and are quite happy with their solitary existence.

However, at some point in time we realise that sitting in front of the computer, we’ve stopped learning. We’ve done the workshop thing. We’ve got a circle of critiquers or beta readers, we’ve read books on various aspects of writing. We read the editors’ and agents’, publishers’ or self-publishers’ blogs.

One important thing is missing: we haven’t actually met too many people with experience in publishing or in the various aspects of writing. Agent, editors, publishers and other writers are nothing more than an avatar and a twitter handle.

It is time to visit a writers’ festival, conference or workshop. I can’t advise you on what these festivals or conferences (cons) are, because this depends highly on what genre you write. Genre cons are commonly organised for SF/F and often for mainstream writers. There are gatherings of romance writers and crime writers. Even some small towns have writers’ or literary festivals. Check on the internet and with your local (genre) writing association.
OK, so you found an event, and have registered. Usually, these events are held over a weekend at a conference centre and most attendees stay at the attached accommodation.

What can you expect at a con?

First of all, cons/festivals are genre related, so are unlikely to be events purely for writers. There will be readers and fans. There may be artists and gamers and movie people. But you all share a love for the fictional world.
Most of the talks will focus on a certain aspect of the genre. They are not designed to be how-to instructions. There may be writing masterclasses, but there may not. There may also be talks about forensics by experts, about the portrayal of horses in fiction by experienced horse-handlers, about popular movies or tv series. For example, I attended a SF/F con last weekend where I heard or was involved in presentations about short stories, science in fiction, travel to Mars, erotica and many other subjects in the light of SF/F genre writing.

It is in meeting people that you will find the main value of these events. You can talk to and ask advice of people more successful than you. You will be inspired with new ways of looking at your genre. You will hear about how other people ‘made it’ and have a more realistic idea of what your expectations should be.

Publishers and agents often come to these events. I would caution against attending for the sole reason of holding a manuscript under their nose—they will be annoyed if you do that—but it gives you the opportunity to ask some questions. If the opportunity arises, you could maybe pitch a novel, but I stress this isn’t why you go to cons. Rather, it would be more appropriate to simply ask them if it’s OK for you to send them something after the con. Hint: if they say yes, it’s no longer an unsolicited submission. Definitely their talks, because you can get a feeling for the market and gauge what you might send where.

But the most important aspect of cons is meeting writers, editors and others in your genre. A con is a social event that provides you with contacts and background information. The people you meet there may well be the ones who provide the contact that helps your career a number of years into the future.

Warning: you will make friends and you will feel a sense of emptiness when you’re back home. That old keyboard in your writing room won’t ever look the same. But that could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.

Patty Jansen lives in Sydney, Australia, where she spends most of her time writing Science Fiction and a bit of fantasy. She publishes in both traditional and indie venues. Patty is a member of SFWA. Her story This Peaceful State of War placed first in the second quarter of the Writers of the Future contest and was published in their 27th anthology. Her story Party, with Echoes was published in Redstone SF. Longer works include Watcher's Web, The Far Horizon, Charlotte's Army and Fire & Ice, all available in the usual ebook venues.
Patty is a member of the cooperative that makes up Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and she has also written non-fiction.
Patty is on Twitter (@pattyjansen), Facebook, Google+ and blogs at: http://pattyjansen.com/