Conference Hopping

Upon retirement from teaching I set aside some money to go to a variety of writing conferences.  I have been working on novels, but I thought it would also be interesting to investigate some other types of writing-short story, articles, and not poetry.  I already know poetry is not a genre for me.  By visiting other conferences and becoming familiar with other writing groups and authors, I hoped to see what types of writing appealed. 

I have done that. 

But I also have had an experience that showed me what I do not want to do and the kind of writer I will NOT be.

An old-fashioned snob.

I have done enough writing at this point to know that each writer has to find their own techniques and practices to produce their craft.  Some use typewriters or desktop computers or laptops or voice recorders or fancy new writing programs or there are few who still write their novels out long-hand.  Some writers embrace Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.  And when it comes to publishing there are the agent-led traditionalists, there are the staunch self-publishers, and there are a growing groups of those who do a combination of both.  I support differences in styles and practices.

And there are those who are published, while I am not, that think they know what writing and publishing is in today's market.  And some of them are wrong.  The industry is changing and changing quickly and previously published writers, as well as those in the pre-published category, need to pay attention to what the writing market really is today and not what they want it to be.  If they don't they will be left behind.  Good writing is important and in a perfect writer's world it will be published and successful, but our world isn't perfect. 

Writers should take a good look around and find a path that works for them.  I don't think they will see it if they choose to put their head in the sand.  The world looks a lot brighter with your head up and looking around at all it has to offer.