Writing Conferences: New Life for Writers by Wendy H. Jones

I've been thinking a lot about Writing Conferences lately. This may be because in the space of six weeks I will have been to The ACW Writers Day, The Scottish Association of Writers Conference and the Crime and Thriller Conference at Cromarty Arts Trust. I'm also being encouraged to go to Crimefest a couple of weeks later. There are a lot of writers conferences out there and I would love to go to them all. Interspersed with this is I am also going to a writers meet up with Writers Scotland. Why am I so keen on Conferences?

Firstly they are my chance to hear from the experts and to develop myself as a writer. With my first novel out, and being well received, I am keen to develop so that my second novel is even better. As a writer I want to be able to be the best I can be, and attending presentations and workshops is one of the ways in which I can do this. I incorporate everything I can into my writing and make the most of every nugget of advice.

Marketing is also an important part of writers conferences. This does not mean telling everyone you meet about your book, but learning, from others the best ways to market and sell books. At both the ACW and the SAW conference there were excellent talks on marketing and promotion. I am certainly going to take on board everything I heard. 

Conferences are also a way to help and support each other as writers. No matter how new you are to writing you may be able to help others, and more experienced writers can help you. 

This brings me to networking. Meeting new people and being introduced to a broad spectrum of writing helps to make me a better writing. I also found that I was given the best advice chatting over lunch or coffee. Writers are a generous and supportive bunch and will take the time to help new writers. 

So, to me, conferences are an important part of my writing life. They inspire me and inject new blood into my writing life. I attend a variety of conferences, not just Christian. This helps me to stay rooted and to ensure that my writing is suitable for everyone. My advice to you, is to do the same. 

About the Author

Wendy H. Jones lives in, Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie, is set in the beautiful city of Dundee, Scotland. Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. This took her all over the world including Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. Much of her spare time is now spent travelling around the UK, and lands much further afield. As well as nursing Wendy also worked for many years in Academia. This led to publication in academic textbooks and journals. Killer's Countdown is her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mystery series

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