This is not a costume I actually witnessed, but when I saw it I decided it was too adorable not to use. I take it she's some kind of Fairy Godmother Darth Vader.
Anyway, I took my kids to DragonCon in downtown Atlanta this weekend. With single day passes costing $50, and bringing 3 kids, we couldn't actually afford to get in to the conference. We still had a lot of fun just wandering around Peachtree Center and the hotel lobbies, though.
I met up with my friend and soon to be published author, Cole Gibsen, and her husband. Cole's debut YA novel, Katana, will be out in March 2012, from Flux. You can read more about Cole on her website. We've been friends for a little over a year, and have a lot of the same interests, and it was really fun to meet her, but it was a lot less glamorous than one might expect. The hectic rush of costumed geeks and freaks passing haphazardly around us was entertaining, but it wasn't exactly conducive to conversation. I also had my two daughters and one of their friends with me, so Cole and I didn't get to talk a lot of shop.
I'm bringing all this up, not to complain, but to pose a question to all you other writers out there: How often do you go to conferences, what kind of conferences do you go to, and how do you justify the cost?
I'm going to the World Fantasy Convention 2011 in San Diego next month, and I'll be going alone (as in without my family) so I'm hoping to get more networking done, but my understanding is that this kind of convention is more of a party than an industry business meet-up. Perhaps I'm going to the wrong conferences?
I don't know, I'm mostly joking, but I can't help but think that in this day and age, with the level of communication we have on the internet, paying for passes, hotels, meals, and plane tickets seems to make attending a bit prohibitive. Sure, if you're published you can write all your expenses off, but that doesn't make it free.
What do you guys think? Do you go to conferences? Which ones? How often? Am I just to poor to have a dream of becoming a published author?
they both sound like a lot of fun and that's so great you got to meet Cole!
ReplyDeleteI hope you post about the World Fantasy conference. It sounds fun. I go to one or two local SCBWI conferences most years, but am cutting down on the expense of conferences this year. I'd like to go to more and some of the big ones, but with my daughter's swimming and college coming in a few years, I can't justify spending the money on myself when we're otherwise frugal so we can save. But I do think you learn a lot from them and make great connections. So it's awesome you're going.
ReplyDeleteIf the convention has a lot of panels, seminars, or workshops that I want to attend (to better myself), then I'm all for it. Plus, if there's a literary side to it, you can be sure editors and agents are there.
ReplyDeleteI've been to the RT Con (Romantic Times), RWA, Lori Foster's Get Together (a local reader/writer convention), and Dragon*Con. I'm not sure I'll be back to Dragon*Con unless it's just for fun. I do come by myself (well, with my daughter - but she pays her way), and it can get expensive. Right now I can claim it as an expense (because I attended the writers workshops). Next year, I'm not so sure. I don't write SciFi/Fantasy (paranormal, yes), so a lot of the editors and agents I met were not suited to me. But it still is a great experience. The fun conventions also shows you what the fans like, which isn't bad to know at all!
You can only write it off if you're published? That's a bummer. =D
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was interesting. The three conferences I've attended have been full of classes and were very educational.
I'm actually not sure how the tax laws work with stuff like this. You might be able to write certain things off as education.
ReplyDeleteI actually won a scholarship to a conference for my local chapter of SCBWI, so it's free, which is awesome! I'm guessing they have a chapter in your neck of the woods :) (as a side note, it does cost my $80/year to be a member of SCBWI). Dig around for opportunities...or just linger around the location of conferences and crash the agent/aspiring author happy hours :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to conference hop, but unfortunately am not related to Daddy Warbucks. So I usually end up saving my pennies for one local conference a year. (Though they are local, they ain't cheap!)
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm at the "serious" conference stage, meaning I go to ones that have panels of published authors teaching about craft, plus the chance to pitch to agents and editors.
I hope you'll be wearing a good costume to World Fantasy Con!
I've been to a few conferences. The Pacific Northwest Writers Association's annual Conference, The Writing and Illustrating for young readers conference, and The Alaska Writers Guild Conference. The first two I paid for myself, the third one I won a scholarship and attended that way.
ReplyDeleteI've also been to NCTE/ALAN five times. The school I was working at at the time sent me to that one. It's six days of amazing stuff. The first four are all the cutting edge teaching techniques for reading and writing--that's the NCTE part. The last two days--ALAN---is two full days of YA lit authors giving talks on their books, writing process, current issues---it's not really a writing conference but it feels like one.
Mostly, I've attended more for learning craft than networking. :-) :-)
I'd love to go to a conference but unfortunately it just isn't in the budget right now. However, I think I read that you can deduct these kind of expenses for up to 3 years while you are trying to get published. Of course, do check with your own tax adviser!
ReplyDeleteHope you have fun, Matt:)
I go to Star Trek conventions (yes, I know they're not strictly conferences but hey, both words start with con....!!Ahem!!) and totally justify the costs that go with them cos at the end of the convention, I am warped speed and tribbled out and one very very happy ensign.
ReplyDeleteAnyway!! yay for your wonderful about to be published friend!!
Glad you got to meet with some Dragons too! Take care
x
I've never been to a writing conference, so no help here. Although like Kitty, I've been to a Star Trek convention!
ReplyDeleteI got my agent (now my former agent) at a conference, so it paid off for me. Also, I have a friend who recently snagged his agent (and had to turn down several others) after pitches at a conference. So...I know they work some people. The question is whether people are prepared...I wouldn't go JUST to learn about publishing or to network. I'd go to one ONLY to get an agent and/or publisher. My two cents.
ReplyDeleteI still have yet to go to a conference. I'm so lame. Maybe this will be the year...
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great time!
I've been to a couple conferences, but when there's a steep fee, I don't think it's worth. That's why I like online conferences, like the Muse Online Writer's Conference. No travel expenses either.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I can't afford to go to a conference either. Though like Jess mentioned, there are some that offer scholarships that cover the costs. I'm hoping to save for one when I'm at the point of looking for an agent.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your friend, Cole!
Never been to a writing conference. With the price of attending and the travel expenses involved, I've never been able to rationalize going to one. I'd love to go to the SCBWI conferences, though. Maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of lame and don't go to many conventions, mostly because I choose to spend that money to travel. Selfish. Yes. I know.
ReplyDeleteoh jiminey! that's got to be the cutest contest ever!!!!
ReplyDeletenever been to a conference. so, i'm way to ignorant on the subject to offer any kind of constructive comment. why did i even type that... oh yeah. the cute darth vader had me hYpNoTiZeD! :P
i mean costume... yikes.
ReplyDeleteI've been to several conferences, but never spent major amounts of money on them because I've mostly only chosen the ones I could drive to and not have to stay overnight. Overall, I'd say while they are inspiring and I learned so much about the business, much of what I learned was before the explosions of blogs and social media, so if money is an issue, it's probably better spent on a writing workshop.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if you are outgoing enough to introduce yourself to other writers, it can be fun to make friends.
I did the agent pitch torture at a few and they were mostly mortifying experiences. I am not a salesperson, so I cringe to even bring back those memories. I'm fine in front of a crowd, because I used to teach and lecture in my previous job, but trying to sell something to one person is not my talent.
I've never been to a conference, by gods, do I want to. I'm starting to compile a list of all UK fantasy cons and see which ones are for me. At the very least I'm going to a gaming convention in 2 weeks, so that's a start I suppose.
ReplyDeleteGood post Matthew. I think you should go to conferences wearing the purple Vader mask--what is that, all publicity is good publicity?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to the Oregon con in November. It's a 3.5 hour drive to Portland, so I can make it a day trip. At this point, I want to meet potential readers, so a sci-fi conventions seems the wisest expenditure of my budget. I usually stick to conferences I can drive to and which are reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go JUST to learn about publishing or to network. I'd go to one ONLY to get an agent and/or publisher. My two cents.
ReplyDeleteI love conferences! You never know who you're going to meet. This year I got to meet Lucienne Diver, Beth Revis, and a television producer. And the coolest of all--Matt!!! :D
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