I don't know about you, but most folks I meet seem to think that writers are happy to be locked up in a dank, dusty library slogging along on an old typewriter (or these days, scarfing down ibuprofen to combat carpal tunnel from too many hours at the ol' laptop). While I admit I miss the old manual typewriter at times and I tend to down ibuprofen like candy, the idea of spending all my time locked away from other adult humans, especially my fellow writers, who "get" my work, isn't that enticing. Granted I've got the Kidling and the Fuzzy Mutt to keep me company, but you know...there's something to be said for getting out and having a conversation that doesn't require treats or dimes as a reward.
That's why I've decided that this year I am going to make it to at least one writing conference. No, it's not that lofty of a goal, but considering I've never attended one and this is the first year I'm officially a full-time freelance writer...I think it'll be a right appropriate treat. (Especially since the fees involved are normally deductible as a business expense.) Thus my excitement when the April 2006 edition of The Writer arrived in my mailbox yesterday. This is their conference listing issue! Woohoo!
More than 100 conferences are listed in their "Literary Markets" section, broken down by state. There are even two international listings, though I would wager that there are many more writer conferences located outside of the United States. Oh well, my passport is expired anyway, so I guess I'll stick to my homeland for now.
From retreats (like the Aspen Summer Words Writing Retreat & Literary Festival) and workshops (such as the Midwest Writers Workshop) to writing programs (Harvard Summer School Writing Program, anyone?) and genre gatherings (Writers Workshop in Science Fiction or Tony Hillerman Writers Conference: Focus on Mystery), this is a pretty lengthy listing. Not totally exhaustive, I'm sure, but plenty of food for thought!
Have you attended any conferences for writers and poets that just blew you away with excitement or left you crying for more? What about conferences that were such a flop that you just felt like, well, crying? Take a moment to post a comment here about your favorite (or least so!) conference, workshop or retreat for writers. Then get back to the library til it's time to pack.
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