Are Conferences Business or Pleasure?

Catherine Dilts

Why would hundreds of introverts flock together? Isn’t that contrary to their very nature? When asked, most people told me they were hugely uncomfortable in crowds. But they could endure a weekend at a conference because this was their crowd. Their people. The weirdos who “get” their weird.

Writers’ conferences are both invigorating and draining. Last week Sybil Johnson shared her experiences at Malice Domestic. I attended the multi-genre Pikes Peak Writers Conference this weekend in my hometown. Here’s a peek at my adventure.

The theme at PPWC 2025 was The Future Is Now. Even people who do not write science fiction wore their SF-based costumes to the Friday night banquet. What? You don’t have a Star Trek uniform in your closet? An Alien face-hugger in a dresser drawer? Firefly-based attire? (A very realistic Mal was in attendance.)

And now I’ve revealed too much about myself. I suppose that was the point this three-day weekend. Revealing your true self to like-minded folks: WRITERS.

PPWC wasn’t all fun and games. We were there for business, too. The workshops provided educational opportunities. Three different class tracks offered craft education, business enlightenment, and writing life advice.

There was also the chance to pitch your project to industry professionals.

My dear friend and critique partner Beth pitched to an editor. She received validation for years of study and work with a “send me pages” from an editor. For non-writers, this means the person Beth pitched to was intrigued enough to request to see more of her novel. Send me the first three chapters may lead to acquisition and publication. Exciting!

I was seeking all the info I could get about Indy publishing and marketing. I’ve survived two small presses folding, my write-for-hire gig drying up, and my agent retiring. I’m ready to try something different. I received a fire-hose level education. How-to on an epic level.

A recently added feature at PPWC is Friday late-evening classes and roundtables. Starting at 9pm, these less formal gatherings kept writers energized for just a little bit longer – or way longer. Marketing Tips & Tricks with Susan Mitchell and Jenny Kate didn’t end until people were literally falling asleep at the table. We stumbled off to our rooms, hung up our Star Trek uniforms and hoped to get enough sleep to recharge for the next day.

Which started as early as you wanted. A 7:30 morning meditation with Johnny Worthen, a newcomers’ briefing at 8am, and workshops at 8:30. Another full day of classes, workshops, and hallway meetings with new writing friends.

Bar Con is the Saturday night opportunity to rub shoulders with industry professionals, and to unwind after two days of conference intensity. Yes, I really was having a good time. We unexpectedly became the cool kids table when Johnny Worthen pulled up a chair. Soon we had a lively crowd that talked until far too late into the evening.

Sunday morning, a surprising number of folks made it to the classes starting at 9am. My crew tried to divide and conquer, attending different sessions, then sharing notes later. I was exhausted, but dragged myself through the morning. My granddaughter insisted on staying for the lunch speaker, David R. Slayton. I’m glad she insisted, because he delivered an inspiring message.

As did all the mealtime speakers. That’s the part I left out about attending a writers’ conference. Besides business and pleasure, we received Inspiration. The words to keep you going in this often brutally unforgiving path.

Now, I’m ready to retreat into my writing cave and enjoy quiet time. Until next year…

Carteret Writers' Conference Was a Huge Success!!

 

This past Saturday, I was the master of ceremony for the first ever Quadrennial Carteret Writers Conference.  It was informational, friendly, and most of all…fun!

Our keynote speaker was Sara E. Johnson who writes the wonderful Alexa Glock mystery series that is set in New Zealand.  In addition to her lunch time talk, she gave a wonderful workshop on the importance of setting.

John Dedakis—mystery novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor—did an incredibly educational workshop on Buffing, Polishing, and Editing. 

Additionally, there were workshops on poetry and creative non-fiction.  And, a good friend of mine, Sheri Hollister offered her views on independent publishing and Rose Cushing actually did a live podcast from our stage.

The last event of the day was a panel discussion
about publishing and writing that I moderated.  The panel consisted of John Dedakis, L. Diane Wolfe of Dancing Lemur Press, Robin Miura of Blair Publishing, and Ed Southern, of the North Carolina Writers Network.

What’s special about all of this was that the Carteret Writers Group had essentially become moribund during and directly after the pandemic, as so many organizations had suffered from the same fate.  I’m extremely proud that many of my former creative writing students jumped in, joined the board, and have taken the writers group to a whole new level.  It was their group that made the very first writers’ conference here on our part of the coast a reality.

The evening prior to the event, there was a lovely cocktail/pizza dinner at a local restaurant for faculty and organizers.  It’s always wonderful to get together with like-minded individuals who enjoy talking about writing and publishing.

And, of course, there was one unexpected guest.  Isn’t there always?  I included a photo of both him and me.  I mean, how often do you get to meet Spiderman at a writer’s event? 

If you have the opportunity to attend workshops or conferences geared around writing, I hope you’ll consider attending or joining your local writers’ groups. 

Our First Ever Local Writers' Conference

I’m excited that the Carteret Writers Network is gearing up for its first Writers Conference taking place on Saturday, April 15 from 8:30 to 5:30 at a lovely location called Carolina Home and Garden in Newport, North Carolina here on the coast. 

I’ve attended large conferences (Thrillerfest, Bouchercon), mid-sized conferences (North Carolina Writers Conference, The Virginia Festival of the Book) and smaller events like the Suffolk Mystery Writers Festival that just happened last weekend. Sometimes I’m a little overwhelmed at the larger events.  With so many other authors in attendance, it’s easy to feel lost in the crowd.

The smallest conference and the most exclusive that I’ll ever be invited to was in 2018.  It was the Poisoned Pen Conference with Soho Crime celebrating Ian Rankin.  All told, there were 26 authors there including Hank Phillipi Ryan, Dana Stabanow, Stephen Mack Jones, Tim Hallinan, Mark De Castrique, and of course, the iconic Ian Rankin.  That conference was held at the Arizona Biltmore and was incredibly cool!! 

Most recently, the Suffolk Mystery Writers Festival was held to fifty authors so that it had a very intimate feel to it.  It was limited to one day, had only eight panels, but had enough space that all the authors could display books and sell them (all sales handled through the event organizer). 

I’m hoping that the Carteret Writers Conference will also have that kind of intimate vibe to it.  I’m scheduled to be the Master of Ceremony for the day.  We’ll be having a good friend of mine as a speaker (and keynote speaker at lunch)—Sara Johnson, (www.sarajohnsonauthor.com) the author of the incredibly engaging Alexa Glock forensic mystery series.  She’ll be speaking about the Importance of Setting.  Point of information—her books take place in New Zealand.  

A second friend of mine who will be making an appearance is John DeDedakis, (www.johndedakis.com) who is a mystery novelist, writing coach, manuscript editor and former writer for CNN.  He’ll be speaking about Buffing and Polishing—the Art of the Rewrite.  He’ll also be on a Q&A panel that will discuss editing and publishing and will include Robin Miura of Blair Publishing, Ed Southern of the North Carolina Writers Network, and L. Diane Wolfe of Dancing Lemur Press.  

There will be workshops on Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, a discussion on Independent Authors, and Podcasting. Then at the end of the day, there will be a cocktail hour with live music.  

If you’re in the area and interested in writing, you’re not going to want to miss this all day event!! It’s not going to get any more up-close and personal than this.

To register for the Writers Conference, go to www.carteretwriters.org.