{"id":15853,"date":"2018-01-22T20:33:43","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T01:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lisatener.local\/?p=15853"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:56:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:56:48","slug":"san-francisco-writers-conference-2018-tap-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2018\/01\/san-francisco-writers-conference-2018-tap-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco Writers Conference 2018: How to Tap Into The Magic!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sanSan Francisco Writers Conference 2018 Guest Post by Cathy Turney<\/p>\n

\u201cIngenuity, plus courage, plus work, equals miracles.\u201d
\n\u2014Bob Richards, Olympic pole vaulter and decathlete<\/p>\n

Magic happens when you try to do the thing you didn\u2019t think you could do. At any age.<\/p>\n

It certainly did for a technophobic baby boomer who began writing in her \u201cmature\u201d adult years and ended up publishing three books and speaking at the San Francisco Writers Conference<\/a>\u2014about Twitter (Twitter!<\/em>). Yes, that would be me.<\/p>\n

Get Thee to The San Francisco Writers Conference!<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever thought about writing, you need to go to writers conferences. There is no better way to get the total publishing picture, from both sides (traditional and self-publishing), for all genres, for promotion on all relevant social media. Attending conference presentations and one-on-ones with industry gurus not only sets you on the path to your goal but forms connections: instructors will likely remember you and possibly mentor you after everyone goes home. The best of the best is the 2018 San Francisco Writers Conference<\/a> from February 15 to 18, and there\u2019s still a wee window of time to enroll.<\/p>\n

Many writers are introverts, which is not a bad thing (as confirmed by the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can\u2019t Stop Talking<\/em>). But you get so much more out of conferences if you just talk to people. As author and motivational speaker Brian Tracy suggests, \u201cMove out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to Start a Conversation at a Writers Conference<\/h3>\n
\"author
Cathy Turney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So how do you overcome shyness at a conference and start a conversation?<\/p>\n

The first step is to choose a target\u2014another bashful person. How do you know someone\u2019s bashful, or at least reticent? Because he or she is standing in line for registration, coffee, session sign-up, not talking<\/em>. You will rescue that person, who will believe that you are one heckuva confident guy or gal because you had the nerve to break the ice. Just turn around, smile and say, \u201cHi. What\u2019s your genre?\u201d (Don\u2019t use that line at the bar.)<\/p>\n

If your target is wearing a name tag and does not have exposed cleavage, look at it and say, \u201cOh, you\u2019re from Fresno.\u201d S\/he\u2019ll respond with something that might then direct the conversation, at which point you can ask what brought that person to the conference.<\/p>\n

And then let the person talk.<\/p>\n

Congrats! You just began a conversation. Others will turn around and look on with awe and you can bring them into the chat, too.<\/p>\n

Other questions you can ask: Are you going traditional or indie? Who\u2019s been your favorite speaker so far? Have you read Cathy Turney’s book on Twitter? And if you fear you misspoke in some way (which you didn\u2019t, because if nothing else other people will think how kind you were to reach out), remember: there\u2019s nothing shorter than the public\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

When you run into a speaker whose presentation you loved (wearing a name tag signals that speaker is approachable\u2014unless s\/he\u2019s sprinting to the next session), say \u201cHi!\u201d and venture a quick question. The presenters are friendly. They would not be at the conference if they didn\u2019t want to meet potential clients such as yourself. If you have a business card, give it to them because when you approach them after the conference they\u2019ll be more likely to remember that you bonded.<\/p>\n

Why I live for the SFWC<\/h3>\n

I live for the San Francisco Writers Conference. I come away from it each year and thank heaven I learned that<\/em>, be it the latest in self-publishing and marketing, better ways to build my platform, or different writing techniques, not to mention getting to meet the authors and publishing leaders I admire from afar. Here are a few presenters I\u2019ll be bonding with at SFWC 2018:<\/p>\n