I’ve been to 17 or 18 national conferences.  Here’s my best of the best tips:

Try not to check into the hotel the Wednesday of the mass booksigning.  Long Line city!!!!  If you do, make the best of it and make a new friend.  In fact, it’s likely that you will be stuck in a line at some point during the conference, so take the opportunity to make a friend.

Take business cards.

Before the conference, study the workshop brochure and make a special note of the workshops you most want to attend.  Make a schedule for yourself with an alternative workshop if the first one doesn’t deliver, but be flexible. 

There is little wisdom in the advice “We can sleep when we’re dead.”  I know that national conference is like a giant candy store, but the truth is you need to plan for some downtime.  You’ll be in better shape to absorb all the good stuff if you take a break (nap).

Try to meet at least one or two new people.

Editor Appointments:

If you’ve completed a manuscript, scheduling an appointment with an editor is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your career.  I consider the editor appointment the best bang for your conference money buck.

Study the line for which you want to write.  Read some of the books edited by the editor with whom you’re meeting.

If you don’t want to pitch, ask questions instead.  Suggested questions:  What recent acquisition has really excited you?  What do you love about it?  What’s your dream submission?  What are you sick to death of seeing?  What do you feel isn’t working?  What is your turnaround time?   After those questions, give the editor your card and say “I’ve written a book for (name of editor’s publisher).  May I send it to you?”  I have NEVER been refused.

Come and say hello to me at the Literacy Bookfair and drop into the Brainstorming Workshop Rhonda Pollero and I will be presenting.  We will not only be dispensing gold nuggets of information, we will also solve problems and hold drawing for giveaways.  What’s not to love?!

Xo,

Leanne Banks

www.leannebanks.com