The 2013 Missouri Writers Guild Conference

The 2013 Missouri Writers Guild Conference

By Brad R. Cook

Conferences are the backbone of the publishing industry. It’s the best place to meet a literary agent or publisher, the best place to learn about current industry trends, and they are the best places to learn from professionals about where this crazy industry is going to be in five years.

There are several great national conferences held by organizations like Writer’s Digest, Romance Writers of America, Romantic Times, Bouchercon, SCBWI and many more, but a there are also some amazing regional conferences, and one of them happens to be right here in Missouri.

So what is the difference between a regional and national conference? In a word, people. The national conferences easily attract over 500 attendees, but regional conferences have about that half that attendance. Now, I’m certain some people would argue that the bigger conferences bring in bigger names and they’re kinda right. But that isn’t always the best way to learn. When you’re one of 300 people in a banquet hall it can be hard to get your questions addressed. The regional conferences have breakout sessions of 50 people or less. Just like with class sizes, the smaller crowds allow for more specialization.

The other differences are things like cost to attend, travel expenses, contests, critiques, and the specific services offered, but these vary for all conferences. I suggest thoroughly researching each conference you wish to attend before deciding.

There is another secret I’ll pass along… the regional conferences still attract the industry leaders. Top agents, publishers, and authors don’t just go to the big conferences; they attend many of the regional conferences. So if you can’t afford the big conferences, or if you’ve never been to a conference and want to see what they're all about – may I suggest something like the Missouri Writers Guild Annual Conference.

Allow me to showcase one of the best regional conferences I have attended.

Missouri Writers Guild

2013 Annual Conference

Bringing Writers Together!

April 26-28, 2013

at the

Sheraton Westport

Lakeside Chalet

191 Westport Plaza

St. Louis, MO 63146

Here are some of the speakers listed to attend.

Kathleen Ortiz, New Leaf Literary and Media

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Larsen Pomada Literary Agents

Carly Watters, P.S. Literary Agency

Jita Fumich, Folio Literary Management

Joan Lynch Luckett, Assistant travel editor, Midwest Living

Kristina Blank Makansi, Publisher and Editor, Blank Slate Press

Lela Davidson, author, Blacklisted from the PTA

Grant Clauser, poet and poetry teacher

Janet Cannon, Technology Instructor

Geoff Morrison, freelancer and e-publishing expert

Sarah E. Fine, author and psychologist

Robin Colucci Hoffman, Get Published Coach

Steve Yates, author Morkan’s Querry

With

Banquet Keynote Speaker, Jane Henderson, Book Editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

and

Early Arrival Seminar “The Shy Writer Reborn” with C. Hope Clark, editor of Funds for Writers Inc.

Plus, David Lucas and I will emcee the Open Mic on Friday Night!

If you want to learn more about the speakers, schedules, contests, pitch sessions, book signings, and more please visit - http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/Conference2013v9/index.htm

or visit their blog and hear directly from the speakers – http://mwgconference.blogspot.com/

If you are interested and want to know more, St. Louis Writers Guild is having a workshop this Saturday to help prepare for the conference.

Sit Down and Pitch

Saturday, March 2, 2013

10am to Noon at the Kirkwood Community Center

For more information visit www.stlwritersguild.net

Brad R. Cook is a historical fantasy author and President of St. Louis Writers Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com or follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook

St. Louis Reflections http://www.stlbooks.com/B009271-1211-51/Review.aspx