How do you choose where you will go each year? There are so
many conventions, conferences, and workshops out there to choose from. I’m
totally overwhelmed! I want to go to them all. If I went to even half of them,
I’d get nothing written though.
How do you decide where to go? Here is what I do.
·
I put them all on one calendar with where they
are located
·
I put the cost of the convention on it
·
I put the general cost of travel/hotel on it.
·
I cross out anything that is just too expensive
for me to handle.
·
I highlight all of the ones I’ve gone to in the
past that seemed to show me a good return on my investment. (# of books sold
during that week and the week after, number of hits and friends on my website
and Facebook during that week and the week after, and compare it to the cost to
see what my ratio of cost to potential sells is.)
·
I highlight in another color those that I’ve
been to where I didn’t see quite the same results.
·
I put an * by those I’ve never, ever been to
that are in a place I’ve never been, like, say Seattle, Washington or Idaho.
·
I choose the three main ones that I plan to go
to based on if I can be a featured author and/or give a workshop/sit on a
panel.
·
Then I cross off all the others in that month. I
can’t go to more than one in a month. Tried that and have the nervous breakdown
report to prove it.
·
Next, I check with all the rest to see if I can
present or give a workshop or panel and go from there. If I can, I pick out
those in areas I’ve not been to for a new experience and chance at reaching new
readers. I cross out all of the rest in that month.
·
I don’t go to workshops or conventions in
November or December unless they are one day affairs near me.
·
If I get a personal request from a reader, I try
to accommodate them since they rock! And they took the time to contact me. If
it is possible, I will come. If not for the entire thing, then maybe for a day
to visit with that reader.
·
If I get a request from a convention/workshop
coordinator to be a featured author or workshop presenter, I will try to work
those in as well. That is always an honor to be asked out of thousands and
thousands of other authors out there.
So, I now have about five maybe six workshops/conventions
I’m planning to attend. That’s six weeks out of every year that I get very
little writing down which means I have to double up the rest of the year!
Yikes! How do I do that?
Well, I cut out things that a lot of people do without even
thinking about it most every day.
·
I don’t watch TV—at all! End of story. I plow
through the news on my computer for top stories that I need to know about. I
listen to other people talk about news when I’m commuting, eating, or otherwise
occupied but hear them chattering.
·
I buy/rent/stream movies and TV series that are
of interest to me for writing such as Sons of Anarchy and Dexter and Gigolos
and True Blood to watch short takes when I’m writing that particular genre for
inspiration, to get in the mindset, and for entertainment. But only short bits,
like one episode at a time.
·
I listen to books on tape in my genres whenever
I’m in my car when I’m alone or exercising, using my MP3 player.
·
I read at doctor’s offices, waiting on
appointments, on planes, at railroad tracks, red lights, stop signs…well you
understand. I don’t normally take a few hours every day to read. I need to
write. Sometimes I will have an excellent weekend of writing and reward myself
with half a day of reading. Those days are rare and very, very special!
·
I shop on line and have everything except
perishables delivered to the house so I don’t waste time browsing at the store
for things I don’t need and can’t afford anyway only to waste even more time
waiting in long annoying checkout lines.
·
I make the most out of any non-writing time I
take. For example, if I’m going to have to get up to go to the bathroom, I also
get a refill on my water, drop off dirty clothes, and pick up any mail, and
folded clothes to be put away. If I have
to leave to go somewhere, I plan my trip so that I don’t waste time doubling
back for other errands, like going to the bank, post office, pharmacy, etc.
·
I have a unique work schedule since I work at
the EDJ Monday through Wednesday from 6:30am till 6:30pm. Then I’m off Thursday
through Sunday’s to write. I do edits, promo, and the business side of things
after work on Mondays thru Wednesdays until 10pm. Then I’m off to bed. On
Thursday’s through Sundays, I write, write, write. Yes, things interrupt me
that have to be handled, but everyone has that. Plus, it keeps me from getting
stiff sitting in my chair for 12 hours a day non-stop!
So, that’s how I make up for going to conventions and
workshops five or six times a year. I do one other thing that helps make up my
word counts. I schedule a week’s “vacation” where I go to my writing retreat
where there’s nothing to interrupt me (for the most part) and I’m alone and can
write non-stop. I also schedule one or two long weekends at my writing retreat
for the same thing.
Is this the best way to do it? I highly doubt it. No two
authors are the same. All of us are unique, which is why we have so many
different writing styles and ideas. What works for me won’t work for someone
else. What works for them, wouldn’t work for me.
Some of you are going to read this and think one of two
things.
1) I don’t really do this. I’m just making it up. Many of my colleagues
will tell you, that yes, I really do live like this. I’m different from others.
I don’t have children. (I do have my parents living with me) I don’t have a big
social live, but I do have writer friends who I talk with and visit occasionally.
It’s not for everyone or even a few others. If I’m not writing, I feel guilty
and get nervous and the voices in my head start talking about ways to torture
me. Believe me. You don’t want my voices discussing the merits of one technique
of torture over another!
2) You’re going to say I’m crazy and probably an introvert.
Well, you’re right. I am crazy and an introverted hermit except when I’m at
conventions and workshops. Then I will talk your ear off because I haven’t had
anyone to talk to for about the last forty-five weeks!!!
Okay, I got off on a tangent. Choosing what conventions and
workshops to attend isn’t easy and more than likely, something will come up to
throw you off just when you thought you had it all worked out. That’s okay.
Another opportunity will come up. I’m
posting my planned 2014 schedule on my website www.marlamonroe.com and here. Just be for-warned.
Sh*t Happens!
For a complete list of all Conventions/Conferences/
Workshops that I’ve got information on, check back later and I’ll post a link
to my spreadsheet.
For all of you wonderful readers out there, have a great
week and hope to hear from you sometime. Maybe I will even meet you at a con.
For all of you busy writers, don’t change your process if it
works. If you see something you like that someone else does, try tweaking your
process and if it doesn’t work, go back to your original method. You don’t lose
anything by trying something new, but you might miss out on something if you
don’t.
March 21-22, 2014
MidSouth Con
Memphis, TN at Hilton Memphis
939 Ridgelake Blvd. Memphis, TN 38120
April 9-13, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada
Details Coming Soon
June 19-22, 2014
RomCon Denver, CO
Crowne Plaza, Denver Airport
July 23-26, 2014
Romance Writers of American Convention
34th Annual Conference
San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter & Marriott Riverwalk
In San Antonio, TX
August 21-26, 2014
BDSM Writers Conference
New York, NY Manhattan
Hotel TBA Later
September 18-21, 2014
RAW
Lora Leigh’s Reader Appreciation Weekend
Hagerstown, Maryland
Website to follow soon
October 9-12, 2014
Destiny Blaine’s Writing Workshop & Reader Rally
LaQuinta Inn and Suites
10150 Airport Parkway
Kingsport, TN 37663
