This week the only thing on my mind is the PPWC Conference. Since I’m a writer’s conference virgin, I’ve probably over prepared in some areas and under prepared in others. I thought I’d break my thoughts into two groups; worried about, and excited about.
Worried About:
- Sounding uninformed and moronic
- Messing up my pitch (yes, I decided to keep it.)
- Getting lost in the conference (Sounds stupid, but directions and I do not get along. Sometimes, I get lost in my own house.)
- Not having all of the appropriate documentation, like the first page of my ms for a critique session.
Excited About:
- I’ve already made plans to meet up with people who are on the Pikes Peak Yahoo group. I’m very excited to meet them and I hope I don’t come off like a stalker. Yes, I’m overly chipper, exuberant, and prone to putting my size eight foot in my mouth. Hopefully, I’ll keep my poise and dignity during our meeting.
- Hearing the presentations and learning more about my craft
- Meeting other writers
- Meeting Agents
I’m sure there are more, but I’ve got to get back to polishing my pitch and manuscript.
If you have attended a conference did you feel prepared?
Or what do you think is the most important thing to do to prepare for a conference, besides have a completed manuscript?
I think the most important thing in a conference of any kind is being yourself. Especially when pitching.
Honestly, just let people see the real you, and it will go off well. I’ve heard you should approach agents/publishers with general questions, as opposed to “hey, you wanna buy my book?” Which makes sense.
I plan on being myself and I have a couple of questions already in my head, so with my fingers crossed, they’ll like me and my manuscript.