In the euphoria following a successful conference, participants write many exciting and insightful posts about the content, speakers and atmosphere. But taking a few minutes to look at the sheer practicalities gets overlooked. Perhaps you are a logistics master-planner, perhaps a ditzy swanner-along. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, it’s worth reflecting for a few minutes on how you managed this one to make the next one an immeasurably better experience for you.
1. Read the preliminary event notice carefully.
Think about diary dates, look up possible travel details. Will it fit in to family/publishing/writing timelines? Is anybody getting married/ having an important birthday on those dates? Do you need to be in Bristol or Bangkok on a promotional tour?
Benefit: You don’t sign up to something you have to cancel later.
2. Fill in the application form correctly and check it.
You’re a writer, for goodness’ sake! If you change address, name, email telephone numbers, tell the organiser (pro-actively).
Benefit: You don’t irritate the organisers. They have so much to do, they can’t chase each and every potential participant for details they should have provided earlier.
3. RTFM (Read The F—- Manual, as they say in the IT industry)
Read the joining instructions, schedules, information notes, etc. scrupulously. No quick glances and then chuck on the filing pile, please. Choosing sessions not only helps the organisers with room allocation, but makes you focus on what you personally need from the event. A number of participants missed out on sessions such as one-to-ones because they hadn’t reserved a place or sent a piece in. The RNAConf10 instructions were clear and precise about this.
Benefit: You get the most possible out of the event.
4. Book your tickets.
I use Ryanair and I have to be pretty quick to get the flights I need. Ditto if you want to get the best train fare deals and a reserved seat ( Obviously last item does not apply to Ryanair 🙂 ).
Benefit: You’re sure of your travel, you get an early bird deal and by buying early, you spread the conference cost over a period.
5. Read notices in the accommodation
They’re a mine of information – and listen to the information given to you by the staff. If you don’t understand, ask. I always try out the building entry keycard before going to find my room – they’re notorious for not working. Student rooms are not what most of us are used to, but it’s only a place to sleep and shower. Keeping your cool and smiling nicely with the staff there will get you a lot further than carping in a loud voice, I found…
Benefit: Minimising the accommodation hassles so you can concentrate on the main event
6. Time your walk between accommodation and conference so you know how much to allow and keep an eye on your watch so you get where you want to on time.
Benefit: You don’t miss anything/anyone important!
7. Lastly, and pretty importantly, do not ask organisers unnecessary questions.
Look it up in your paperwork or ask a fellow participant first. Around 95% of the answers lie there. I know that at RNAConf10, Jan and Roger couldn’t have been more helpful, but they needed to concentrate on the day to day as well as sorting out emergencies. That they remained unflappable was to their credit.
Benefit: Organisers who take you seriously and give you their full attention if you do have to ask them.
See you at the next conference…
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The Twitter and blogspheres have been full of praise for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich last weekend. Rightly so. Jan and Roger masterminded the conference, the RNA stalwarts gave talks, introduced and chaired discussions and seamlessly supported the whole framework. Joanna Trollope gave the keynote speech and she took no prisoners. The venue was superb, the food satisfying and the accommodation reminded us nostalgically of student days. The sheer range of events as set out in the pre-conference bumpf exceeded its promise. Even the weather was sunny.
Can there be more?
Yes. There is.
This was the nicest conference I have ever been to (and I’ve been to a few in my business career).
“Nice” is an ambivalent word, often sneered at, used ironically or even sarcastically.
Collins Thesaurus says:
1. pleasant, delightful, agreeable, good, attractive, charming, pleasurable, enjoyable
2. kind, helpful, obliging, considerate
3. likable or likeable, friendly, engaging, charming, pleasant, agreeable, amiable, prepossessing
4. polite, cultured, refined, courteous, genteel, well-bred, well-mannered
5. fine, clear, fair, dry, bright, pleasant, sunny, clement, balmy
What a hard-working word! But a perfect fit for this conference.
Newcomers and habitués alike exuded friendliness and willingness to share; they signally failed to show any stand-offishness. The much-published and complete tyros mixed and mingled and nobody’s opinion or contribution was valued less or more than any other person’s.
Everybody seemed to learn something, even those with 45 books behind them.
Oh, and the goody bag contained, amongst all the other riches, a small bar of Green & Black’s chocolate 🙂
Shall I go next year? Silly question. Who knows, I might even be on the way to being published…
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Got some very polite feedback that it was a little unclear how to subscribe, so I’ve added a special plugin.
I always take note of sensible and helpful feedback. 🙂
Destructive and carping moaning – no.
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The Romantic Novelists’ Association conference in London is fast approaching. Flowing over the 9-11 July weekend, it’s already promising to expand into a five day event, with many delegates arriving Thursday and not leaving until Monday. Twitter has been alive with anticipation and discussion of details not only of sessions but also shoes; a special hashtag #RNAConf10 has been created. It seems that the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich won’t know what’s going to hit it!
So, I’ve got my flights from France organised and am drawing up a packing list. But what is a conference for? Why attend? Socially, it’ll build on my experiences from previous RNA events – meetings, the summer party, the fabulous awards lunch. Professionally, I’ll be able to network, not only with editors, publishers and the odd agent, but with other aspiring and published writers who are the ‘coal-face’ workers of our trade/art/industry (Delete according to taste).
But the big draw for me is the chance to learn. I’ve chosen sessions ranging from market overviews, writing techniques, preparing your novel for publication, marketing and publicity, a first lines workshop, research plus expert plenary sessions from “those who know”.
Can’t wait. Off now to do the Ryanair on-line check-in….
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 Never having taken part in a creative writing course, I was excited, but a trifle anxious, when I was invited to join a ‘writing bootcamp’ at the Circle of Missé, a creative centre near my new home in France.
Lead by Annie Kirby, a renowned short-story writer who is also working on a full-length novel, with additional sessions by Wayne Milstead, resident writer, we worked mightily for six days on beginnings, histories, characters, memory, dialogue and pacing and structure.
The exercises were hard work, but so rewarding. The enthusiastic group of writers I found myself among contributed with such thoughtful insights I felt humbled by the talent that surrounded me.
I’m not a natural short story writer – I’m on my third novel now and and am very comfortable with the form – but such was the quality of the sessions and the technical support, I might give it another go. After this week, I am confident I can produce something that might be presentable!
Complementing the work were sessions on wine-tasting, local sightseeing, a writing day away in Chinon and gourmet lunches and dinners, masterminded by Aaron Tighe, resident chef.
We had plenty of time in the afternoons to write; some worked on short stories, others on their novels. Help, advice, and listening support was available at all times during the week and participants had the chance of three more structured (or not!) one-to-one sessions with Annie to discuss their work.
The tone of the whole week was warm, safe and nurturing. Being a newbie writer, I was anxious about sharing my work – I’m a commercial fiction animal, not literary – but I was encouraged and supported to do so and was pleased to receive genuine, positive and helpful comments.
So, we worked hard, explored, definitely learned a lot and had fun.
Tired? I was knackered by day six, not to put a fine point on it, but oh, it was so worth it, as my heroine would say.
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