A fellow writer (children's books) told me she didn't get much from writer's conferences and thinks they are a total waste of money. I found it interesting that she's speaking at two this year. LOL Be careful what you say aloud in front of writing folks because they remember and see the forked tongue.

But then, maybe she listened up when I said, "If you don't get anything from a conference, it's you, not the con. You need to change your attitude, for one, and go expecting to learn something, and then putting yourself out there enough to meet the people who are there to teach you."

Truth is, you can learn from the worst writer. From them, you glean what NOT to do.

I go to a lot of writer's conferences. I go to different ones for different reasons. I actually try to learn something from all of them.

I learn how others promote their books and their selves. And make no mistake, after you write what you write, and finish it, and get it into book form, YOU MUST PUT IT OUT THERE. Even if you have a great publisher that does many things on your behalf, you must sell that book, but more importantly, you must sell yourself.

Putting bookmarks, business cards, and postcards out is the easiest thing. Many conferences have goody bags and you can get your stuff in those, or on a freebie/handout table.

You have tons of opportunities to hand them out personally, too. So, go to conferences thinking "How can I introduce myself?"

What? You aren't published yet? Still, you need to have business cards. Hand them out by the thousands. Tuck them in books at stores. Eventually, people will know your name. And when they see a book by you, they will at least give it a glance.