I’m home from the 2010 Pikes Peak Writers Conference and Sunday’s The Fire in Fiction Workshop by Donald Maass.

I couldn’t have chosen a better event as my first conference. Not only did I have about ten different eureka moments with regard to my writing, but I made some wonderful contacts and new friends. The volunteers and hotel staff were amazing, the writers I met were both friendly and talented, and of course it was an honor to meet and talk with industry professionals.

One of the many things I loved about PPWC: the range of craft-related workshops. There was something for everyone, whether you’re a beginning writer or entrenched in the late-stage edits of your fifth manuscript. So, regardless of where you might be on your journey, you’ll walk away feeling like you’ve learned something. If you’re looking for a writers conference to attend in 2011, I can’t recommend PPWC enough.

I was on a bit of a high for most of the weekend– this was the first time I’ve ever been surrounded by people who love stories, the craft of writing, and publishing. It’s bittersweet to come back to the “real world”, where not everyone dreams in words or sees a story in the stranger at the bank with one purple shoe and a leaf in his hand.

I was particularly happy to find most writers were encouraging and helpful toward each other. I loved listening to everyone’s loglines, ideas for future novels, and their joys and frustrations about their works in progress. And the looks on the faces of writers who received requests for material were beautiful. I love that expression of excitement and hope and terror all mixed up into one.

I, too, left the conference feeling hopeful about requests, so we’ll see where the future leads. I’m exhausted; I’m sore. I have laundry to do, and some new, last minute ideas to implement in my manuscript before I send it off. But I couldn’t be more determined to take my writing to the next level. My only regret about the conference is that I couldn’t use Hermione Granger’s Time Turner to attend simultaneous workshops.

Needless to say, I look forward to attending again!

I thought I’d pass along a few tips for future conference attendees. I’m sure I’m neither the first or last person to pass along this advice, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t.

Do:

• Wear comfortable shoes. You may be sitting during the workshops, panels, and meals, but you’ll be sorry if your feet are falling off by the end of the day. Trust me. If you don’t wear comfortable shoes, bring band-aids.
• Bring business cards! You want to be able to pass along your information quickly and easily. There’s no need to include information about your works in progress or a photo of your dog. Just your name, the fact that you’re a writer, and your contact information.
• If you plan to pitch, practice it whenever you can. Go to pitch workshops, and if you have the chance to work with a pitch coach, do.
• Talk to people! Get to know other writers. Make friends.
• Attend workshops on the craft, not just how to get published. There’s no such thing as a writer who can’t improve, and the insights offered at conference workshops might be the difference that pushes your storytelling to the next level. I recommend aiming for a healthy balance between craft workshops and industry panels.
• Be gracious and kind to the volunteers and hotel staff. They work hard to make a writers conference a memorable experience and they deserve to be recognized and treated well.

Don’t:

• Forget to drink plenty of water or eat. This was particularly important here in Colorado, but even at lower elevations it can be an issue.
• Keep to yourself. By nature I’m a bit shy, but I put that aside to network and make new friends. Guess what? Totally worth it.
• Think you know everything. I promise– you don’t. There’s always something to learn, so go to those workshops!
• Treat agents and editors only as a means to an end– they’re people! Open your ears; they have valuable insights to share and stories of their own to tell. And don’t pitch them at inappropriate times, like in the bathroom or during workshops.
• Forget to have fun. (That said, it’s not hard to remember to enjoy yourself at a conference as friendly as PPWC.)

One last word: It was worth attending if only to see Donald Maass “sashay” across the stage with Todd Fahnestock and Jodi Anderson yesterday during brunch. ;)