ASJA Conference: To Attend Not to Attend? or Driven by dollars, friendship and fun

by Gina Roberts-Grey

I admit that I attended my first conference for the money. I hoped to net new contacts and lay the foundation to relationships with editors that would boost my bottom line. I'm happy to report I successfully accomplished those goals. My first time at Personal Pitch led to an income stream I'm gratefully still feeding from. The panels offered immeasurable tips and tricks that I anxiously looked forward to deploying once my feet hit the floor of my office the following Monday morning. And the Idea Marketplace lived up to its name, sending me home with armfuls of ideas—many of which were turned into feature assignments.

Yes, that was a good conference.

But it wasn't until the train ride into New York City, on my way to the 2009 conference, that I realized just how beneficial attending a conference can be. And what going really meant to me. Yes, I was looking forward to Personal Pitch, the Saturday sessions, and Internet guru Sree Sreenivasan, but I realized I was looking forward to something far more gratifying than money.

Early Friday morning a few conferences ago, I was nametag spotting and realized I was face-to-face with one of my personal writing heroes, Kathy Sena. I was finally able to ask the woman whose byline I had seen everywhere: "How do you do it?" Our chat on a hallway bench (more like me riddling her with questions) sparked a friendship I've come to respect and treasure. And on the train, I looked forward to my conference "catch up" with Kathy.

I eagerly anticipated an annual Thursday night pre-conference dinner with fellow member, Beverly Blair Herzog, a tradition we've come to set schedules around—and start planning weeks in advance. I couldn't wait to have lunch with Leslie Pepper before Personal Pitch, since during the year we share many meals together over the telephone, and to thank Gwen Moran in person for her sage advice.

Perhaps, most of all, I couldn't wait to be a writer.

Since most of us work from home, tucked in corners by day and propping laptops on our knees by night, we share our personas with our wife, father, dog walker, sister, and soccer coach alter egos. Let's face it, sometimes those "others" don't leave a lot of room or time to be a writer.

At the conference, we are writers. No one asks where a clean school uniform is, what's for dinner, or have you seen my keys, in the middle of Personal Pitch. There's no cat to feed in the middle of a workshop. We check our alter egos and other personas at the door. At the conference, there are only writers. People who know what it's like to have writer's block, squeezed deadlines, and absent-minded sources. We are with comrades, teammates, co-workers, and sounding boards.

I share this with you because I know deciding to attend the conference is often a decision driven by dollars. If you're like me, you ask yourself "Can I afford to go?" and "How much do I stand to make?" Those were the things I debated before signing up for past conferences.

But that train ride in last April made me realize attending the conference isn't just about numbers. It's about inspiration, energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. It's about good—no, great—friends and the chance to remind yourself you are, in fact, a writer. And that sometimes being inspired and energized can be just as beneficial as "speed dating." In fact, maybe it's even more meaningful.

That's why when co-chair David Budin and I started planning this year's conference, we scheduled sessions and speakers that would inspire writers of all types, in all stages of their career. We want each and every attendee to be enlightened, excited, and enthusiastic about writing when they board the train, plane, or drive back home. And because we know the value of personal contacts and connections, and how they can also impact a writer's bottom line, we added ways to build meaningful friendships with "co-workers."

In addition to Personal Pitch and a host of editor- and agent-packed sessions, we added networking fun and games designed to keep you calm and centered throughout the conference. These light-hearted shenanigans guarantee you'll see a friendly face or two throughout the weekend. And you'll have a buddy to eat lunch with for many conferences to come. Speaking of lunch, we added a members' luncheon where you can relax and listen to Jane Chesnutt, former editor-in-chief of Woman's Day, share her thoughts on the state of writing for magazines and the future of freelancers. After lunch, there's a bevy of sessions to choose from including:

We're in This Together: Editing Anthologies

Whether you have a great idea for an anthology, but don't know what to do about it, or want to contribute to one, find out everything you need to know about this unique and fun genre.

Looking at Lives: Memoirs and Biographies

Editors are hungry for untold tales of movers and shakers as well as fascinating accounts of everyday folks leading remarkable lives. Learn about the differences between the two genres, how to find the subjects, and where to go from there.

Book Promotion 2.0

Take the lead promoting your book. Learn about the new communication vehicles that successful authors use in their book publicity plan, and all the nuts and bolts of book promotion PR specialists say are a must in the Web 2.0 era.

Get the Scoop: Mixed Bag

This mixed bag of editors represent some of the most sought-after markets. And they've come together to explain what comprises a great story, what they're currently looking for, and how to land a stellar assignment with them.

By now you've probably heard we added two new tracks to the Saturday line-up: "Getting Started" and "Technology". The new tracks join perennial favorites "Beginner," "Intermediate," and "Advanced." That's 20 inspiring sessions and chances to gain tools to hone your craft. A few you won't want to miss:

Posting for Dollars

Learn how to brand your blog, develop your platform, and get paid for those posts and witty tweets. Hear from editors who hire freelancers to blog and tweet as well as writers who earn money with each click.

Alive and Kicking: Investigative Reporting in Changing Times

The reports that claim investigative reporting has died are greatly exaggerated. It's alive and thriving in magazines, books, and online. Come learn how investigative reporting is adapting to new methods of researching, funding, and publishing, and what editors are looking to assign.

Adding Videos to Your Projects

In the old days (like three years ago), an art director added photos to your work. Now writers need to shoot videos to complement their articles. Learn how to do it here.

Cap off the day at the cocktail party where you can swap and share stories with conference speakers and attendees.

Sunday is sure to please as well, boasting the biggest line-up ever. Sree's back with all new content, and aspiring fiction writers won't want to miss Carol Weston's sensational three-hour workshop on how to transition into fiction writing. Or Echo Garrett's panel on book collaborations.

I'm looking forward to my train ride next month. It means I'll be just hours away from panels, dinners with friends, networking with editors, and yes, more Personal Pitch. It also means I get to spend three inspiring days as a writer. Hope to see you there!