For all specialties, not just writing, conventions are essential for the soul. Yes, they can be expensive. If your pockets are as empty as mine have been too often, that means not attending as often as you would like. It also means researching, there are many smaller, less well known & therefore less expensive, conventions available to most specialties.
Some will claim their local critique group and writing friends provide all the feedback they need. Close friends are wonderful, but seldom give different advice than what they already told us. Reading articles can inspire new thoughts, but immediate questions are impossible. Fans can say "That was great." but can seldom help you see what made one passage better than another the way other writers can.
Most importantly, conventions let us speak freely about our craft, our marketing woes, our dreams to people living the same challenges.
I've been preaching the benefit of conventions to my fellow small business owners for the last 30 years (I've run an old fashion Brick & Mortar retail business for 40 years -- it took 10 years to see the light), especially for those struggling the hardest. Everything you said about writers is true of repair shops, independent florists, sewing machine retailers, painters, mechanics, window retailers, house cleaners & janitorial firms, window cleaners, concrete firms, carpenters, electricians... The only difference between writers and all the other many specialties is that we can visit everyone else's conventions and get fodder for our writing.
For all specialties, not just writing, conventions are essential for the soul. Yes, they can be expensive. If your pockets are as empty as mine have been too often, that means not attending as often as you would like. It also means researching, there are many smaller, less well known & therefore less expensive, conventions available to most specialties.
Some will claim their local critique group and writing friends provide all the feedback they need. Close friends are wonderful, but seldom give different advice than what they already told us. Reading articles can inspire new thoughts, but immediate questions are impossible. Fans can say "That was great." but can seldom help you see what made one passage better than another the way other writers can.
Most importantly, conventions let us speak freely about our craft, our marketing woes, our dreams to people living the same challenges.
I've been preaching the benefit of conventions to my fellow small business owners for the last 30 years (I've run an old fashion Brick & Mortar retail business for 40 years -- it took 10 years to see the light), especially for those struggling the hardest. Everything you said about writers is true of repair shops, independent florists, sewing machine retailers, painters, mechanics, window retailers, house cleaners & janitorial firms, window cleaners, concrete firms, carpenters, electricians... The only difference between writers and all the other many specialties is that we can visit everyone else's conventions and get fodder for our writing.
Everyone needs to visit their herd.
Well said!