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| KAREN DUVALL |
I've been a huge advocate of writers conferences for the
past twenty years. They're great for writers. You take workshops, gab with
kindred spirits, meet pro authors and pitch your work to industry
professionals. Conferences are awesome!
And once you're published, you still go to conferences
because now you can lead the workshops, sit on the panels, and sign copies of
your books for fellow writers.
But have you ever been to a Readers Convention?
There's a big difference between these two venues:
Conference verses convention. There are benefits to both for authors, and for
writers. Conventions are typically genre specific and targeted more toward the
reader than the writer (though that distinction is blurred when it comes to
romance conventions, which nowadays cover both).
When I lived in Colorado, I used to attend Denver's Mile
High Con, a convention for fantasy and science fiction enthusiasts. It's a bit
whackier than a conference, much more casual, and tends to have a festive
atmosphere. Like a party. A costume party for fans young and old.
For example, readers sit in the audience while a panel of
authors field questions, but unlike a conference, these questions are directed
at specific books and characters created by the authors. No one is talking
about plotting and black moments, or scene and sequel; the audience is asking if
Zalgar and Princess Satrina will ever get hitched on the planet Zootsoo after
the civil war. Or whatever. Point is, the readers at a convention don't care so
much about the mechanics of writing a book, only about the story that's told.
Authors have an opportunity to read aloud to convention
attendees. That can be exciting, and it motivates readers to buy your book in
the convention Dealers room. The Dealers room is a little store where
booksellers and artists sell their wares. They also have book signings there.
If you sponsor a Con Suite, you can promote yourself and
your books to your heart's content. Just provide the munchies when you book the
room for a couple of hours, and fans will follow their growling stomachs to find
you.
Mile High Con isn't as big as World Fantasy Con or some of
the other national conventions, so you won't see agents and editors milling
around unless they've come to support their clients or authors. So no pitch
sessions. As for workshops, you'll definitely see some of those, but not for
writing. Instead you get to attend THE
AVISTRUM Academy OF SORCERY, which is an interactive theater experience.
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| INCLUDES SUNSTORM KAREN'S NOVELLA |
Another great thing about conventions is that they can be a
lot less expensive than a conference. At least Mile High Con is. Only $60.00
for adults and $38.00 for kids covers the entire weekend.
A lot goes on at a convention, more than I can cover here.
So if you want more specifics, visit www.milehicon.org
for information about this particular convention. Not all cons have the same
events, but I imagine they're similar. Whether you attend as an author or a
fan, you're sure to have blast.
6 comments:
Informative post, Karen. In the non-writer/reader world the difference between Conference and Convention is who can attend and what is provided. One is members only and in my experience, more meals are provided. The other is open to anyone interested in the topic/ideas and fewer amenities are included in the cost to attend.
So far I've only attended writer conferences but if I heard of one for contemporary romance writers, I'd be tempted to go!
Enjoyed your post! Thanks for spelling out the differences between conferences and conventions. I've never attended a con, but would definitely go if there were one in Central OR. The Portland Steampunk Con is one I'd like to attend sometime.
Thanks, Judith and Diana. It's been several years since I've attended a con, but from what I remember, it was like a weekend slumber party with hangovers. :) Those people know how to par-tay. I'd like to attend NorWesCon, which is a sf con in Seattle and several of my friends present there every year. I signed up to present at Authors After Dark, a romance readers convention, in 2014, but I don't know yet if my application has been accepted. http://www.authorsafterdark.org/ Fingers crossed. :)
Your post now has me out searching for readers conventions dealing with young adult books and stories. I think I would love the atmosphere, and being around young readers.
B.A., I assume you belong to the Society Of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. If not, you should. Most YA authors belong and they have one or two big conferences every year. There's a chapter in Oregon that has regular events as well. I'm sure you can find out about YA conventions from SCBWI. Good luck!
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