In Dollars and Sense for Writers, I advise writers to think about why they should attend or not attend a conference.  What will they get out of it?  Is it worth the price of admission?  A checklist for evaluating the conference is included.

In the book, I make the point that attending a conference is important to me because it recharges my creative batteries.  Talking to fellow writers, hearing about their successes or failures, spurs me on.   

Make no mistake - writing is hard work.  You may feel that you aren’t getting anywhere and that you will never succeed.  Plus writing can be solitary work.  Few of us are in an office surrounded by coworkers.  We have to go it alone and we run down.  Plot points hang us up, deadlines are missed, blank pages never fill up. 

It is not easy to keep going without some support and encouragement from others who face the same challenges and distractions. One of the opportunities we have to recharge our drained creative batteries is meeting with colleagues.  We find them at a conference. If you are writing, I strongly encourage you to get out and meet with others. 

 I have never attended a conference that did not benefit me in some way. That is because I had a specific goal in mind and attended the conference with a purpose. One year my goal was to meet five new people.  It was a great goal that continues to pay dividends. One I met continues to be a writing buddy.

Most years, I am limited to one conference.  Love is Murder is held the first week of February in Chicago.  It’s a natural for me because it is local.  So even though I don’t have much of a creative life during tax season, I make a point to get to LIM.

Thank you to the board of directors and volunteers that make Love is Murder an event I look forward to every year.  It was great to see everyone. 

I look forward to 2012!