The 2011 conference features more than 50 seminars and workshops designed to help you hone your craft, build a platform, master marketing, break into new markets, monetize your blog, and much more. It's also packed with individual opportunities to network with editors, agents, established writers, and other experts.

At the conference, writers from all nonfiction specialties (online, consumer, trade publications, custom publications, blogging, memoirs and more), editors and agents converge to take part in three-days of unique seminars and individual opportunities. The speakers are professional writers and authors, editors representing top-tier print and online markets, literary agents and book editors from some of the largest publishing houses in the country.

In addition to information-packed sessions and workshops that include "how to" elements, the weekend offers plenty of time to rub elbows and schmooze with editors, agents, established writers, and other experts. The coffee meet-ups, luncheons and evening receptions are great places to network, trade business cards and sharpen your marketing skills.

Friday, Member's Day, includes Personal Pitch (our version of "speed dating") networking, and a variety of sessions to boost your bottom line and stay relevant as a freelancer.

Saturday's line-up is bigger than ever before and has something for every writer -- in any stage of their career. The day is broken up into the following tracks:

• Breaking In
• Craft
• Marketing
• Books
• Blogging
• Technology

Each track has content geared toward beginners just dipping a toe into the freelance writing pool, seasoned veterans, and writers somewhere in between.

Sunday features sessions that offer a quick burst of information from an insightful panel of editors, agents and writers as well as longer sessions that incorporate the chance to ask questions and talk through ideas with an agent, editor or fellow writer.

If you're interested in membership, there's no reason to wait until next spring to apply for membership and take advantage of all the great members' day features. For information on applying for membership, click here.

Comments about recent conferences:

I travel from the west coast to attend the ASJA conference, so I take a serious look at my return-on-investment. The contacts I made at the 2010 conference more than paid for itself within weeks after my return! And I anticipate several connections to become steady clients.
    --Linda Melone, CA

I learned a ton from this Conference! Not only the importance of networking, but also how to go after lucrative markets.
    --Lindsay Martell, New Mexico

I had a great, great time at the conference. This particular one was the best conference for nonfiction writers that I've ever attended.
    --Kristin Ohlson, Ohio

If you are writing your first book, or even if you are thinking about it, the ASJA conference is the place to be. It's content-rich and user-friendly.
    --Deborah White, MD

This was the best conference ever! As a veteran ASJA member and conference attendee, I expected I'd pick up a new tip or two. But no! Every session gave me new, practical information I can put into practice immediately, and contacts that are likely to change the course of next year.
    --Joan Price, CA

The conference jumpstarts and revitalizes seasoned writers. It's a great opportunity to learn.
    -- Marcia Schonberg, OH

I felt an attitude of respect and collegiality from all the panelists and attendees. Thanks!
    --Deborah Lyons, PA

This was my first ASJA conference. I'm always skeptical when organizations claim that endless opportunities exist for networking and meeting agents. I was surprised and pleased with the ease of networking and the friendliness of so many writers, editors, and agents. Before noon, my book proposal was in the hands of a very interested agent!
    -- Tom DeWolfe, OR