Networking at Writers Conferences: From Contacts to Contracts

Use writer′s conferences to establish career–making contacts with agents, editors, and other writers

Veteran writers and editors Steven and Lee Spratt offer savvy advice on using writer′s conferences as your primary networking tool. They′ll help you make strong and lasting connections with agents, editors, and other writers by showing you how to:

Present yourself as a professional in any situation, even if you′ve never sold a word Follow up on new contacts to get the most out of every lead Find and evaluate hundreds of writer′s conferences and workshops throughout the country Abide by the rules of publishing protocol when sending out query letters, proposals, and manuscripts Transform you′re conference contacts into book contracts

With this essential guide, you′ll make and keep the important connections that are a vital part of every professional writer′s life.

BEFORE THE CONFERENCE.

What Is a Writer′s Conference?

Why Are All These People Really Here?

Evaluating Your Status as a Writer: A Questionnaire.

Which Conference Is Right for You?

Decide Your Agenda and Set Your Goals.

Educate Yourself.

Qestions You Should Never Ask and Why.

The Right Tools for the Job.

DURING THE CONFERENCE.

Present Yourself Professionally.

You′ve Arrived;
Now What?

Making Contacts.

Personal Consultations.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE.

Once You′re Home.

Where Do You Go from Here?

Other Networking Opportunities.

Writer′s Conferences and Workshops.

Bibliography.

STEVEN D. SPRATT and LEE G. SPRATT have been partners, writers, editors, and teachers for over a decade. For the past three years, they have taught a class in Portland, Oregon, called "Writing Marketable Fiction."They speak regularly at writer′s conferences and workshops on the subjects of networking, writing effectively, and marketing.