Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Hopefully in the office. I have jury duty this week.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I spent the weekend in Denver, Colorado, at the Writing for the Soul conference. I bet a lot of you were there as well!
I’ve noticed at writers’ conferences that lots of attendees don’t seem to take advantage of some wonderful opportunities, and I would like to spend this week pointing out what I think might be helpful. If you’re attending a conference, you already have invested quite a bit of money, so you might as well make the most of it!
First, I strongly encourage all of you to attend writers’ conferences. I find myself benefiting from them, and I don’t write! I always leave a conference feeling re-energized to do my part in publishing. Well… at least after I catch up on the lost sleep!
Today’s conference tip: At most writers’ conferences, there’s no way that you can physically make it to every talk. Honestly, I don’t think it’s healthy to try. Conferences are stressful and exhausting–both physically and mentally. Just about every conference offers recordings of the speakers. Buy the recordings! They are so informative. Even if you attended a talk, I bet if you listen to it again, you’ll find things you didn’t pick up the first time around. Most of these recordings are only offered to conference attendees so you’re being offered valuable and exclusive product.
Now, as someone who has been recorded in the past, I appreciate it if you don’t laugh at me when you listen to my recordings, but I guess as long as you don’t tell me you’re laughing I’ll be fine. 🙂 I think my recorded voice sounds so strange!
How many of you have purchased recordings in the past? Have they been helpful? It’s okay to say that they haven’t, but let’s not mention names of speakers. I don’t want to hurt any feelings. I’d love to hear your thoughts on recorded talks.
My Valentine got me a really cute Valentine’s gift this year, and I have to share a picture. Meet Remy!
The recordings are helpful. You can really zero in on what the presenter is saying. Last year at the NWCA’s Renewel Brandilyn Collins had a three part session on writing to the twist. I could only make one session due to editor/agent appointments. I ordered the other sessions and listened to them on the way to work.
Maybe I should pull those out again. It sparked my writing a romantic suspense that I just finished….
Good advice. As always!
The recordings are only as good as the sessions. That said, one can learn something from most of them. I purchased the full set of the ACFW 2008 recordings. They are great for commute listening.
My favorite sessions are where the speaker uses real novel excerpts to illustrate points.
Some sessions are too basic, but that’s okay if that’s where you’re at with your writing journey.
Yes Rachel that is so very true! So much to learn in so little time. Buy the CD’s mine are being sent out tomorrow I can’t wait to get my MP 3’s.
Awe sweet baby!!! Gotta love getting a puppy for Valentine’s day!
My first experience with the recordings was 18 years ago when a friend of mine loaned me her fiction audio series from a Mt Hermon Writer’s Conference. I think there was about 12 tapes.I learned so much because I had the opportunity to hear the information over and over.
Within the next two months I plan to attend two conferences and will definitely purchase the CDs!
That is the most adorable Valentine’s Day gift I’ve ever seen. And I’m including sparkly jewelry in that assessment.
This is a very timely post for me as I’m gearing up mentally for Mount Hermon in a couple months. My first writers’ conference was last year and I didn’t buy recordings that time. I was so flooded with (fantastic, helpful) info just from the workshops and sessions I was able to attend, I couldn’t even dream of adding more to the stack. This time, there are a couple workshops I’d love to be in that are happening simultaneously, so I know I will be purchasing recordings. If any of those are your workshops, Rachel, I promise not to laugh. 🙂
Had a great weekend – enjoyed meeting you and Janet and being around a large group of Christian writers.
I couldn’t imagine NOT buying the recordings from almost any conference. I have accumulated several hundred from various mens’s events over the years and re-listen/watch them.
For those who wonder why someone would ever watch/listen to something a second time, I wonder what they would ever do if they ever completed the Bible in a year.
Check the box, I’m done? I don’t think so.
Remy is so adorable!
The recordings have been extremely helpful to me. I like to put the files onto my ipod and listen to them at the gym. That way I think less about how much I’m hating the exercise and more about writing. One note to people who lead the worskshops, though–please repeat any questions asked by the audience into the microphone. It probably feels awkward at the time, but it’s important to those of us who are trying to listen later.
I won’t be at Mount Hermon this year. I’ll be driving a load of stuff to my daughter’s new location in Arizona. But that’s a lot of hours in the car. This post is a good reminder for me to pull out the recordings I bought at M.H. in 2004, 2008, and 2010. I don’t buy all the CD’s. Sometimes, if I really enjoyed one speaker who did several sessions, I’ll buy the ones I didn’t get to hear live. There is a level of sameness about the sessions offered each year. In 2004, I was at some class during every session. By 2010, I was far more interested in social interaction. This post reminds me that I haven’t actually listened to the CD’s I bought last time, and I know there were some good ones. I seem to recall in 2004 the recordings were ready by the last day and I listened to four hours of T. David Bunn on the drive home. In 2010, they came in the mail a week or two later, and by that time, the real world had encroached on life, breaking the spell.
Oops, that’s T. Davis Bunn. I’ve listened to that set of tapes several times through.
Ooo, so cute!
What an adorable puppy! How did you come up with Remy? Is it short for something else? If a session was packed full of great things, I need them. I find there’s always something I missed or needed to hear again. There isn’t a session or workshop that I’ve been to that I haven’t gleaned something useful to me. The conference in Denver was wonderful, and yes writers should attend and make the very most of their money and time!
I’m hoping to attend a new (new one for me) conference this summer, so I will definitely be taking notes on your series of posts this week!
I have heard from others before that buying recordings is extremely helpful.
Remy is quite adorable!
Buying recordings of sessions are a great way to maximize and extend the conference experience — providing that you actually listen to them!
Just as I tend to buy books faster then I can read them, I also amass recordings beyond my time available to listen to them.
I’ve established a personal rule to only buy one book per conference; I might be well advised to do the same for recordings!
Ha. He looks like a little Ewok. What a cutie-pie.
I’ll miss Mount Hermon this year, but I’m speaking at a small conference for beginning and intermediate writers next weekend and will see some of you there. I listen to the recordings from past conferences while driving. I’ve not only learned a lot about writing and publishing from them, but I think I’ve become a better speaker as a result of hearing others speak.
What a darling puppy! He looks like a bundle of love.
Saving money to get to a writer’s conference in 2012. Mount Herman’s, I hope. Can’t wait, and I’ll buy the recordings, too, after reading this.
Blessings,
Voni
Wow, I wanted to say something about the post, but I got lost in the cuteness of your new puppy! What an adorable little fella!
Conferences ARE a lot of fun. I listened to a few RWA workshop recordings, and you’re right, I learned a lot. Plus, it was easier to pay attention in my silent office than surrounded by 100 other writers. Still, I enjoy attending workshops in person too!
Aw how cute!! Mr. Valentine did good!!! 🙂
Love, love, love conferences!!
Love, love, love your puppy!! Your Valentine did good 🙂
As for recordings, I’m far better at purchasing them than I am in listening to them. I like to take notes (even if I never look at the notes again), so listening in the car is not the best idea. I should be good like Karen and listen while exercising.
Oh my goodness. Your dog is adorable. Cute name! The little face reminds me of my Schroeder.
Remy is so cute. What a great gift.
The only writers conference I attended in person didn’t offer recordings, but since I’mon the planning committee now, it is something I will bring up. I would be someone who would buy them, because I’m sure I would miss something while there.
Thanks for talking about conferences this week.
Cheryl
Jessica,
Remy is the name of the rat in “Ratatouille” the Pixar film. Our Remy’s full name is Remington, but we only call him that when he’s bad. He’s bad a lot, but is slowly learning the rules. 🙂