Guest Post

A guest post from writer Cindy Stagg:

Let’s face it. Writers are weird. You know what I’m saying. When I tell people I’m a writer, they give me a funny look and I can tell they’re not sure how to respond. It might be that I haven’t published anything in the nonfiction world yet. It could be that I disappear from my social circles for weeks at a time because I get so caught up working on my manuscript. No matter how you slice it, I am not like my non-writing friends.

            However, there are places I can go where I feel less weird and more like my normal self: writing conferences. As an assistant at Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) this year, this topic is near and dear to my heart. I have attended and/or planned several writing conferences over the years, and the the things I’ve learned have made me a better writer than when I first began. Teachers attend professional development seminars to become better at their profession. Doctors go to medical conferences to gain deeper insight into best practices. Writers should do the same thing. Here are three reasons why you should attend conferences and workshops like Writing for Charity.

1.  Fellow Weirdos Unite

            When you first walk into a writing workshop, you’re a bit overwhelmed. You’re self-conscious of the fact that you’re new. Then you look around and you see someone wearing a Harry Potter T-shirt. Someone else has pencils stuck in her hair. Two guys are discussing some author’s most recent blog post. You recognize a bit of yourself in all of them and realize you have finally found your people, so you relax and pull your notebook from your Charlotte Brontë book bag.

2.  Networking

            As the conference progresses, you get to know people. Here in Utah, there is a vast and talented writing community, full of people who are willing to help each other improve their craft. When I’ve attended conferences like WIFYR, I’ve set up critique groups with people I’ve met, kept in contact with editors, and have even had instructors who were willing to help me well after the conference. Beyond that, I’ve developed friendships with people I might not have otherwise met.

3.  You Become a Better Writer

            This really goes without saying. Take the opportunity to dive in and do the work, to learn from others within the industry. It motivates you to keep going. You’ll workshop your manuscripts and you’ll rewrite passages, and by doing so, you will improve your own writing. At times you’ll be overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge and information you gain, but you’ll learn to contain it into something manageable and use it to shape your own voice and writing style. And when you do that, you’ll realize you weren’t so weird after all.

            So take that step and sign up for a conference today. Writing for Charity is a wonderful place to start. When you’re ready to dive in for a little more, come to WIFYR in June. For more information, visit www.wifyr.com.