25 Ways to Rock Writers Conferences

After more than a decade of attending and speaking at writers conferences, I've compiled a list of the most essential writing conference tips for writers who are considering getting out to an event. I hope this list also acts as a useful checklist for veteran conference goers too. I know I plan to refer back to this page before my upcoming events.

Robert Lee Brewer, speaking at Blue Ridge Writers Conference.

Here are my 25 Writing Conference Tips:

1. Set goals. Before even picking which event to attend, writers should make a list of goals they have for a writers conference. This might be as simple as listing out items like "have fun" and "learn more about mystery writing (or insert genre)."
2. Pick writing event. Once you know what you want out of a conference, then it's time to find the right writing event for you. Keep in mind if you want feedback on your writing, a writing workshop may be more appropriate than a conference. Find more than 100 writers conferences and workshops on WritersMarket.com, which I edit as my day job.
3. Make reservations early. If you have to travel, be sure to get all the stressful parts of the trip out of the way as early as possible. This may include buying plane tickets and reserving a hotel room. Personally, I recommend Hotwire, which Tammy and I used to book our flight and hotel for AWP recently.
4. Sign up early for critiques and appointments. If you plan to take advantage of critiques or appointments with editors, agents, mentors, etc., then sign up as early as possible to make sure you get first pick. Also, make sure you know the rules for how the critique or appointment will work (how much time it will last, what you should bring, etc.).
5. Know schedule before the event. Figure out the schedule before you attend the event. This will enable you to plot out a plan of attack (see below) before hitting the writers conference. And preparation is the most important key to rocking a writers conferences.
6. Make connections before writers conference. Use Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks to connect with conference goers ahead of the event. Ask questions like "what are you bringing to the conference" or "are you scheduling any appointments?"
7. Take business cards. If you don't have any business cards, get some. I prefer VistaPrint, though I've heard quite a few recommendations for Moo over the past couple months. For my most recent business cards, I included this information: Name, Specialties, E-mail, URL, Address, and Twitter handle. I want to make it as easy as possible for people to contact me and learn more about me (and what I do).
8. Think of conversation starters in advance. If you're like me (and many writers), you're probably a bit introverted. So figuring out what to say to people on the spot can sometimes be very difficult. To help the anxiety of coming up with something clever to say, think of a few key questions to ask strangers ahead of the event. Questions like: "How do you think the conference is going so far?" "What are you trying to get out of this conference?" "Who's been your favorite speaker?" Just come up with 3 or 4 basic questions and use them to get a conversation rolling--and be sure to ask for a business card (and offer yours).
9. Know how to talk about yourself. Before the event, think of how to explain yourself as a writer and your current projects in one sentence answers. Keep it brief in your initial explanation and go more in depth if the person starts asking more questions.
10. Pack a bag. This bag should not be your luggage. Instead, it should be a bag that has room for books, conference materials, and other items (see below)--but is not a pain to carry around. For instance, I have an orange Jansport backpack from my college days that is still holding up today.
11. Bring chargers. If you are bringing along any electronics, I suggest you bring your charger as well. Your phone, laptop, etc., may run low on power before the day is over if you're using it a lot. Be prepared and keep the power level above half throughout the day.
12. Pack a small snack. The writers conference may offer a lunch, but you may start to run low on energy before lunch--or before the end of the day. Include a snack in your bag--just in case. At AWP, I was thankful to have packed a couple granola bars.
13. Bring cash (and coins). The cash will help at the conference bookstore or for any unexpected opportunities to pay in cash only. Coins are advised for snack and soda machines. While many accept cash, I was stuck at a venue last year with nothing to drink and a vending machine that only accepted coins. It was miserable.
14. Stay hydrated. Connected to the last point, always make a point of staying hydrated. You'll likely be excited and nervous at the writers conference, so you'll be perspiring a bit. Dehydration leads to headaches or worse--so drink, drink, drink! I always pack one or two bottles of water or soda with me.
15. Have a plan. If you know the schedule in advance and have any meetings set up in advance, then you take advantage of that information to formulate a plan of attack for the conference. Don't wait until you're there, because you'll miss opportunities to connect with other attendees and listen to speakers. That said...
16. Keep an open mind. Having a plan is essential. Sticking to that plan is not. If there's an unexpected change in the schedule or some amazing networking opportunity presents itself, don't be afraid to adjust accordingly. There have been times when I've missed attending sessions I really wanted to attend, because I was having a great conversation with other speakers or attendees.
17. Keep expectations in check. Going to a writers conference can get expensive, so many writers place high expectations on what they'll get out of the writing conference. Don't fall into this trap. It's great to aim high, but keep your expectations low. Most writers don't leave conferences with book deals or business opportunities. However, opportunities can present themselves later if you continue the conversation.
18. Smile. Writers conferences bring together a bunch of strangers who are interested in the process of writing. Avoid looking like an unapproachable person by doing your best Clint Eastwood impersonation thoughout the conference. Instead, focus on smiling as much as possible (until it becomes second nature), and those around you will respond.
19. Dress with layers. Even if it's summer, I advise packing a long sleeve T-shirt, because some venues will crank the A/C too much. If it's winter, some venues will make it hot (so you'll want to be able to strip a layer or two off without shocking anyone).
20. Stay organized. Know where your business cards are. Know where your conference program and map are. Keep your notes from sessions and appointments on separate pages that are labeled for your reference later.
21. Eat with someone. If the writers conference organizes lunches, take advantage of them and sit with strangers. Remember to ask those questions you prepared above. If possible, try to make sure you're not dominating the conversation. Also, hand out those business cards.
22. If you receive business cards, jot down notes. The notes about the person who gave you the cards can be made on the actual business cards or in a notebook you've brought with you. Be sure to note who the person is, what you talked about, and where you met (lunch? during a session? in the hallways?). This will be helpful for follow ups after the conference.
23. Keep active list of next steps. On a separate piece of paper, keep a running list of next steps to take after the conference is over. Example next steps might include: Follow up with Person A via e-mail about Tip A that we discussed after Panel A; Learn more about how to monetize blog; Buy domain name for website using my name as URL; etc. These next steps will give you a clear idea of what you need to accomplish immediately after the event--so that you don't get stuck in a post-event vacuum.
24. Follow-ups after the event. These should go on your running list of next steps, but I just want to emphasize the power of following up with folks after the event--even if it's just to say, "It was nice meeting you at the conference and talking about the craft of writing."
25. Continue the dialogue. There's a big difference between social networking online and social networking in flesh and blood. Take advantage of that more intimate connection by using social media tools to keep in touch with your writers conference connections. Let them know what you're up to, but also, be sure to keep tabs on what they're accomplishing (and help out whenever you're able).

Final bonus tip: Take pictures that you can easily share via e-mail and/or social media sites. It's a perfect way to add more value to your new found connections by sharing images of them and yourself at the event.

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Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.
• 25 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic.
• Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012.

Houston Poetry Fest "Out of Bounds" Reading: My Experience

Photo with my fellow Part One readers. That's Ann Fogelman in front and from left to right: Chris Wise, Jeremyah Payne, Terry Jude Miller, and myself.

This post is going up a day later than I intended, but I was pretty much useless yesterday. My trip to Webster, Texas, and back over the weekend was as much a physical endurance test as poetry event. During a 48-hour period (from when I hit the road at 6:30 a.m. on Friday to when I made it back home at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday), I was behind the wheel for roughly 28 hours.

But it was totally worth it.

Webster, Texas
I enjoyed my short time in Webster. From my perspective, it's one big mall area, though I'm sure that's not the whole story. It's a hop, skip and a jump to Galveston and right next to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

On Friday evening, I enjoyed my first ever Whataburger meal. I saw these scattered all over the place on my way to Austin last year. So I tried one out, and I can safely assert that it's better than McDonald's and Burger King. I know that's setting the bar low, but it is still fast food.

On Saturday morning, I practiced my poetry set a few times until I was happy with it. Then, I hit the road without any particular destination in mind. My main goal was to distract myself from thinking too much about reading, because I can still get nervous like anyone.

Following some signs for the Armand Bayou Nature Center, I ended up at the Bay Area Park that appears to be part of it (according to Google Maps). Since the nature center cost money (and my time was very limited), I just wandered around the free park, which also has a dog park component. If I ever make it back out there, I'd love to spend a few hours wandering the nature center.

Poetry "Out of Bounds" Reading
This event is kind of like an appetizer for the actual Houston Poetry Fest, which runs next weekend (Oct. 7-9). It was held at the Webster Barnes & Noble location--across the street from an empty Borders store--and involved five sections that were organized with a guest poet, two spotlight poets, and two scheduled open mic poets. There were a total of 24 poets scheduled to read and an open mic round robin (for any and every body) after the scheduled reading was completed.

I enjoyed all of the poets, but some highlights included listening to Terry Jude Miller, Stan Crawford, Larry Fontenot, John Gorman (who had a very funny Writer's Digest poem), Laura Pena, and Juan Manuel Perez (who had some great food-related and political poems). Plus, I met a former member of the Georgia Poetry Society: Jean D. Mahavier.

Picture of me with Poetic Asides reader and poet Laurie Kolp.

Speaking of meeting people, Poetic Asides reader and poet Laurie Kolp drove all the way over from Beaumont, Texas (like 2+ hours away) to watch me read. That was really a highlight of the whole event, and I'm happy to report that I was present for her first public reading--as she participated in the open mic round robin (as the first poet, no less).

My Reading
As far as my own reading, I tried to mix it up with some new and familiar poems. Here's the set list:

• Delivery
• Solving the world's problems
• At the arboretum
• A small tear in the pillow
• Waking
• the silence between us
• anywhere we dare go
• this is modern living
• TOTEM

The first and last poems are the new poems, and both were written with an audience in mind. As I've read my own poetry and paid attention to other poets read, I've developed a few ideas on what works and what doesn't in reading my poems. Plus, I feel like it's helped me really understand my own strengths and weaknesses as a reader.

The other seven poems I read can be found in my chapbooks ENTER and ESCAPE. As readers of this blog probably know, ENTER is sold out, but I do still have a few copies of ESCAPE available. (Click here to learn how to get your hands on a signed copy of ESCAPE.) As usual, I worked in poems about my dad, my kids, and my awesome wife.

Here I am reading at the Webster B&N.

Two Firsts
This event was special for me as a result of two firsts:

1. First reading in a bookstore. I've spoken at bookstores in the past, but as the editor of Writer's Market and Poet's Market. I've read poems before in about every type of venue except a bookstore. So it was cool to read poems in a bookstore--while they still exist.
2. First recitation of a poem. When I finished "the silence between us," I let everyone know that I'd just performed my first poem without looking at the page. It's something I'd been practicing for more than a month, and it's even cooler than finally reading in a bookstore.

That's pretty much all there is to tell. I saw some familiar faces, met some new ones, and got to partake in a fun day of poetry in Webster, Texas. Then, I drove home.

*****

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Check out some of my other experiences:

• Austin International Poetry Festival.
• Blue Ridge Writers Conference.
• 2011 Decatur Book Festival!

The Importance of Writing Events

As technology makes it easier for writers to build a platform and hide away from the world, many writers are doing just that--using technology as an excuse to avoid face-to-face networking opportunities. I'm a bit of an introvert myself, so I totally understand this impulse. However, it does limit the opportunities a writer can receive.

Personally, I try to make it out to at least a few events each year. They are always fun, though I often panic before them and look for reasons to opt out.

Here's a quick list of reasons writing events are beneficial:

1. Make connections. You can make connections with speakers and event directors, but your fellow attendees are more than likely pretty interesting themselves. After the event, try to find and friend these connections on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
2. Get inspired. I always leave writing events with ideas for my writing and my editing. Just being around other writers is good for the soul and sparks conversation.
3. Learn opportunities. At most writing events, there will be people seeking submissions to their journals, presses, and/or contests. There may be people looking for guest bloggers and/or interview subjects for blogs. I usually leave writing events with more than five solid publication leads.
4. Find answers. The introvert in me knows how difficult it is to ask questions of complete strangers, but it's important to do so. Most people at writing events are there to help and encourage (whether they're speakers or not). They want to help, and writing events are a great place to finally get answers to serious and off-the-wall questions. So ask away.

Okay, so those are some textbook reasons why I think writing events are beneficial. To get a little more personal, I thought I'd look at some recent events in which I've participated and show just how much I get out of each event.

Red Clay Writers Conference, Kennesaw GA, November 12, 2010. I was invited to speak at this event through a Facebook connection. I spoke on building a writer platform and attended a session on blogging and one on memoir writing. In addition to learning about some publication opportunities, I also made connections with freelancers who I used for both the 2012 Writer's Market and Poet's Market books. Plus, I interviewed one audience member for my Poetic Asides blog and received an invitation to speak at the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference from a person who attended my session. I should also mention that my blogging strategy at MNINB shifted dramatically after this conference.

Blue Ridge Writers Conference, Blue Ridge GA, April 1-2, 2011. As I mentioned, I was invited to this event by a person who attended my session on platform building during the Red Clay Writers Conference. In fact, I presented on the topic again here (with a few updates) and also presented on how writers can find markets for their work. On the night before the actual conference, I also read some poetry. Anyway, I learned more publication opportunities at this event, made some new connections that have already resulted in a webinar and may turn into more speaking and freelance opportunities.

Austin International Poetry Festival, Austin TX, April 7-10, 2011. Interestingly enough, I was invited to this event through a Facebook connection as well, which just goes to show you how important having a multi-dimensional platform building strategy can be. I was a National Featured Poet for this four-day event, which meant I was running from venue to venue reading poems, making connections and talking poetry. As with every other event, I learned new publication opportunities. I've also been invited to read poetry as part of the Houston Poetry Fest in early October and have been featured as Poet of the Week on an AIPF member's blog. Plus, there are a few other opportunities still cooking.

So that's a 6-month snapshot of events and how they've led to other events and opportunities for me. Granted, I already have an established platform that I'm continuing to build. However, writers who are building their online-only platforms need to recognize the importance of in-person networking as well. If you're only doing one or the other, you're really missing out on so many opportunities to reach new audiences, readers, and even income.

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Or connect with me on LinkedIn.

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Are you--like myself--an introvert? Don't let that fear of strangers (and small talk) hold you back:

• Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength, by Laurie A. Helgoe
• Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected, by Devora Zack
• The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler

Speaking Tips for Writers

Earlier this month, I spoke at two very different events: Blue Ridge Writers' Conference (Blue Ridge, GA); and Austin International Poetry Festival (Austin, TX). Both were a blast, but I was able to take notes on what I like in speakers and what I'm not so keen on hearing. Of course, I'm always taking notes to try and improve my own speaking, but I'd like to share my observations with other writers who may have to speak, whether they're giving a PowerPoint presentation or reading a poem.

1. Make your introduction brief. Like less than 30 seconds. If someone introduces you, skip the introduction completely, because you were just introduced. There's nothing that stalls a presentation or performance more than a two or three minute monologue before getting into the "meat" of things.
2. Use the podium. If there is a podium or table, use it to hold your materials. Sometimes we shake when we read (even if we're not nervous, though especially if we are), and we shake more if we become conscious of our own shaking.
3. Use the microphone. If there's a mic, use it. Sure your voice might carry without one, or you may have to fiddle with it a moment to adjust for your height, but people in the back can hear better when your voice is amplified. Trust me on this.
4. Encourage audience interaction. When performing poetry, this means you can allow an audience to clap if they choose to clap. When giving a presentation, let the audience know whether it's appropriate to ask questions as you present or if you'll have a Q&A after the presentation is complete. Then, make sure there is a Q&A.
5. Act confident. You might be terrified, but try not to let it show on the outside. To accomplish this, stand tall. Speak with conviction. Make eye contact. Most importantly, don't apologize. While you may know when you're making mistakes in front of an audience, many of them are probably unaware.
6. Be organzied. If you're giving a presentation, have talking points ready to go before the presentation. If you're reading poems (or from a fiction/nonfiction book), have your selections planned out before you hit the stage. Organization goes a long way in how the audience perceives you and how you perceive yourself.
7. Slow down. This is an important tip, because many people automatically start talking fast, especially if they know they're on the clock. I try to remember to breathe and pause in appropriate places. Nothing awkward, just long enough to allow my audience to digest what I just said.
8. Make personal, add humor. Sometimes your jokes will not be personal. Sometimes your personal stories will not be humorous. Sometimes the stars will align and both will coincide, and that's when you'll engage your audience the most. While I advise humor and personal anecdotes, make sure they have context in your presentation.
9. Stop before you're asked to leave. There's something to the thought of leaving the audience wanting more. Know your time. Wear a watch. And end a little early (like a minute or two). If the audience feels like the presentation or performance went by fast, they'll attribute it to your great speaking skills.
10. Provide next steps and/or a conclusion. Depending on why you're speaking, you should have some kind of suggestion for your audience. Maybe it's to buy your chapbook or applaud the hosts. Maybe it's to put some of your advice into action immediately. If you're presenting a topic, it's a good idea to sum up all the main points before sending your audience back out into the world.

One bonus tip: Provide handouts. Whether you're reading poetry or leading a workshop on business management, handouts are a great way to let your audience have something tangible to take away with them. Your handouts should be helpful and relevant. They should also include your name and contact information, including your website or blog url. (Yes, it's a sneaky good marketing tool.)

Just remember, speaking is an activity. Most activities are hard to master unless you practice. So get out there and speak and realize that you're going to make mistakes early on. That's part of the learning process. Just dust yourself off and get out there again.

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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If you're searching for someone to speak at your event or to your group, send me an e-mail at robertleebrewer@gmail.com with the subject line "Speaking Opportunity" to get the ball rolling. I cover a wide range of topics and would love the opportunity to connect with your group or event.

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Want even more advice from the experts? Check out these titles on public speaking:

• In the Spotlight, Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing, by Janet E. Esposito
• The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, by Dale Carnegie
• Confessions of a Public Speaker, by Scott Berkun
• The 7 Principles of Public Speaking, by Richard Zeoli

Austin International Poetry Festival: My Experience

Wow! I just made it through my first ever Austin International Poetry Festival, and it was great! I guess that's all you need to know, right? Post over for people who like brevity; for everyone else, I'll go ahead and touch on some of the high points. I was pretty much in the poetry zone when I was awake between Thursday morning and Sunday afternoon--and even had a few poetry-related dreams during the festival.

But this trip started early on Wednesday morning, because I made the decision to drive to and from the event--partly because of the expense of air travel and partly to have freedom to get where I needed without hitching a ride. For those who are unaware, Duluth, Georgia, is approximately 950 miles from Austin, Texas, which means that I would've been listening to the Proclaimers if the trip had been another 50 miles.

I don't want to spend too much time on the actual driving part of the trip, but it was my first time driving through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. I traveled down to I-10 and followed that along the gulf coast. Top impressions:

• The Interstate system is truly impressive. Much of Lousiana (and parts of Mississippi and Alabama too) consisted of an Interstate supported on bridges above swampland. It's one thing to throw some asphalt on the earth or even a mountain, but it's something else to have miles and miles (and miles) of Interstate laid out on supports that had to be planted into the swamps.
• Lousiana has a gambling problem. There are radio commercials that offer help for those with gambling problems, and I think every gas station has a casino.
• Texas is big. I knew this from looking on a map, but I didn't realize it until I actually crossed the border and saw the first mile marker, which read 880. Also, especially in Houston, this state has some seriously tall Interstate exchange bridges.

I should also mention that I made my trip without knowing where I was going to be staying until I was about an hour outside of Austin. Talk about taking a leap of faith. My host, Patricia Fiske, was really nice when I arrived and introduced me to my roommates, Paul Richmond (from Greenfield, MA) and Bob "Mud" McMahon (from Brisbane, Australia, and one of the International Features). We stayed in a condo next door to Patricia.

Paul and Bob were great roommates for a couple reasons. First, they were nice and very human. Second, they'd been to previous AIPFs, so they knew how the festival tended to operate. So I got to know my new roommates and then crashed.

THURSDAY
Woke up and followed Paul and Bob to the Ruta Maya, which acted as HQ for the event. This venue hosted some open mics, poetry workshops, and the big adult poetry slam on Saturday evening. It's a coffee shop, but one with a good-sized stage and sound system. Before officially registering, though after already meeting a few new poets, I read a couple poems for the open mic--both from my new chapbook, ENTER. Then, I got something to eat with my host Patricia and one of the International Features, Neil Meili (from Alberta, Canada).

Roommate Paul Richmond reading in first open mic at Ruta Maya.

After lunch, I made my way over to Dailey Middle School, where I was given the opportunity to lead a poetry workshop for a small group of 6th graders that meet twice a week to write poetry. I wanted to try something a little challenging of which they could be proud, so I got them to write a sestina using my nifty little sestina worksheet. In around an hour, all but one were able to not only complete a sestina but to also read it for the rest of the group. They were probably glad to have me gone, but I know at least a few more young poets who will be able to say they tackled one of the trickiest forms around.

Made it back to the Ruta Maya in time to have some Chinese food as part of the AIPF Registrant Buffet (with music provided by vocal artist Erin Ivey). While hidden in a corner, I met Del Cain, who revealed he was responsible for my invitation to the event. I would run into Del a few more times throughout the event, and I can't say thank you enough to him for asking me over.

After the buffet, everyone met up at Huston-Tillotson University to read their poems from the event's anthology that's titled di-verse-city. Hosted by the very funny Barbara Youngblood Carr, who was also the editor of the anthology, this event was a true marathon of poetry. The anthology featured 130 total poems (including 21 by the featured poets). And at least 70% of them were read. Then, there were masochists like myself who stuck around for an hour-long open mic. Of course, my excuse was that I was in good company, sitting next to Thom the Future, who's one of the main lynchpins of the Austin poetry scene.

FRIDAY
My first reading the next day was at Kick Butt Coffee (near the airport). It was hosted by Thom the Future, and it was attended by many great poets, including Kelly Ann Ellis, who participates in the April PAD Challenges on my Poetic Asides blog--as do her students, who had Kelly ask me to autograph their poems. What a way to make my day right out of the gate!

Then, I drove into downtown Austin and attended a reading hosted by Del Cain at The Hideout, which featured some more great poets. In particular, I really enjoyed the poetry by Robert Wynne and John Milkereit. Both are very funny poets.

I walked around Austin a little before returning to The Hideout to read some of my own poetry at a city reading hosted by Ken Jones, who is a UT (hook 'em horns) grad/political poet/real cool guy. As with many of the other readings, I read some, other poets read some, and then, we did a round robin of poetry until our two-hour slot expired.

My final destination for the day was a 7-9 p.m. reading at Westminster Manor, a retirement center. We read in their chapel, and this was a nice change of pace reading. The audience was very supportive and interested in each of us, and they even had a poetry group within the community.

SATURDAY
Woke up and hit the Austin History Center with Paul Richmond for an early morning reading hosted by India Rassner-Donovan. This reading introduced me several new poets, including a few who mixed Spanish with English. I was also introduced to Mary Margaret Carlisle, who is the project director for Sol Magazine Projects.

After this reading, I made my way over to Huston-Tillotson University to give a workshop on Finding Readers for Your Poetry. It's actually the first workshop I've ever led in the foyer of a building, but it was fun, and I hope it was helpful. I touched on many topics that I cover on this blog and answered specific questions from each person. There were actually a couple Poetic Asides blog readers here too.

Then, I gave myself a little break and wandered downtown Austin before checking out some of the Adult Poetry Slam at the Ruta Maya. I love watching slam, though I just can't see myself ever performing it. It's an important and vital part of poetry that I truly admire.

Around 7:30 p.m., we began the National & International Featured Poets Reading at the Baha'i Faith Center. There was a guy with a video camera up front, so I'm not sure if video of the readings will be made available later or not. There were many great performances, and I have to admit that it was my first time reading poetry in front of audience I could not see (the stage was lit and the audience was not)--and it did unnerve me a little. I only received praise after the event, but I felt kind of like a stripper up there with a faceless audience watching me undress myself (in words). I did get comfortable after a couple poems, so I think it was a great learning experience. This event lasted until a little after 11.

Afterward, I gave a lift to two other featured poets, Ogaga Ifowodo (Oleh, Delta State, Nigeria) and Tantra-zawadi (New York City), and since we were all hungry, we found a restaurant minutes before midnight that closed at midnight. After eating, we wandered a few buildings over to Strange Brew Coffee, where Thom the Future and Ken Jones were hosting an all-night open mic (round robin, one poem at a time style). Ogaga and I only lasted until 3 or so, and I drove him to his host's home before heading to my own bed. There were other poets who lasted all night.

This is me after a late night of poetry in Austin.

SUNDAY
Had breakfast with Patricia Fiske and Paul Richmond at one of the poetry venues, Maria's Taco Express, before heading over to my final event of AIPF, 2011 Featured Poet Symposium, which was hosted by Dr. Kirpal Singh. I wish I could remember all the people on the panel, but it included a great mix of voices and perspectives.

During the panel, we discussed such big topics as the importance of poetry and the relation of poetry to world peace, as well as the effect of technology on poetry. In fact, that panel may have even given me an idea for a regular feature on my Poetic Asides blog.

Directly after the panel, I said some good-byes, jumped in my Kia Spectra, and hit the road for Duluth, Georgia. I guess I left around 3:30 Central Time. My navigation system took me mostly on I-20 to get home, so I traveled most of the night on mostly empty Interstate through mostly rural areas. I made it home around 9 a.m. Eastern Time, posted this poem and prompt on my Poetic Asides blog, did a little work, and then took a 3-hour nap before getting ready for my weekly Monday night Cub Scout den meeting.

Just like that, I left a world of non-stop poetry to rejoin a world of editorial deadlines, first grade Tiger Cubs, and a beautiful wife, who I wished could've experienced Austin with me. I had so much fun that I'm sure we'll get out there again, and next year is AIPF's 20th anniversary!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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By the way, my limited edtion chapbook of poetry, ENTER, was officially released earlier this month. Many of the poems I read at AIPF were from this collection. Those poems were well-received there, and I've already received some good reviews from readers of the collection, including this from Andrew Kreider in an e-mail message titled Loving Enter: "Thanks for sending me a copy of ENTER. I read it in one sitting, and immediately went back to start again. Then gave it to my wife, who did the same thing. So many poems in the collection became worms in my brain. Courageous and challenging. With lots of space for the reader to enter the worlds you describe. I love the unassuming cover and simple layout - the whole piece is kind of subversive, which is very cool. Thanks for bringing these words to life, and for sharing them with the rest of us."

Isn't that like the coolest comment you could receive for a first collection? I think it's pretty awesome.

If you're interested in reserving a copy of ENTER before they sell out (there are only a handful left), then send me an e-mail at robertleebrewer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interested in Your Chapbook

(For those who contacted me while I was in Austin last week, I'll contact you with details tonight. I just wanted to get this summary posted while it was still fresh in my brain.)

Time to ENTER the Self-Publishing Arena

My collection ENTER was due to have it's official release on April 1, but the first copies won't be shipping until Thursday morning (and from Austin, TX). I suppose a week late is not the end of the world, though it would've been nice to have copies in readers' hands already.

My first ever chapbook, ENTER.

On April 1, I read a few poems from the collection during the reception for the Blue Ridge Writers Conference. As a National Featured Poet, I'll be reading some more from the collection at the Austin International Poetry Festival, which is where I'll be driving all day tomorrow.

Reese said he likes the cover the best, but I hope most people enjoy the poems more. I think the collection offers a good mix of poems--most of which have found publication in print and online publications.

The collection itself is offered as a limited first edition printing of 101 copies of which a little more than 60 are already claimed. The cost is $10 and includes shipping. Plus, I'm signing all copies I send out. If you're interested in purchasing a copy yourself, send me an e-mail at robertleebrewer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interested in Your Chapbook

Copies of ENTER that are ready to send.

To tell you the truth, this whole chapbook experience feels a little like my writing and publishing is coming full circle. When I was first interested in writing in high school, I self-published a little literary fanzine called Faulty Mindbomb that consisted of poems (by myself and other students), music reviews (from the all ages shows in Dayton and Cincinnati), comics, and other weird stuff. There's something that's just inherently fun about making little booklets to share with others. Hopefully, my readers will agree.

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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Interested in self-publishing for yourself? Then, check out these resources:

• Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, by Dan Poynter
• The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, by Mark Levine
• Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Your Books With Print on Demand and Online Book Marketing on Amazon.com, by Aaron Shepard
• The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier

Blue Ridge Writers Conference: My Experience

Tammy, Will, and I traveled to Blue Ridge, Georgia, this weekend for the 2011 Blue Ridge Writers' Conference, and it was a blast. As a speaker who's been to many events, this one quickly became a favorite. I enjoyed both the content and the context of the conference.

The Content
The meat of the content was delivered on Saturday beginning with a keynote address by literary agent Sally McMillan. She shared her take on changes happening in the book publishing industry right now and hit on most of the key points from the past 10 years to developments as recently as a week ago.

While Hope Clark led a well-received session titled "Where the Money is: Funding Streams for Writers," I attended Scott Owens session titled "The Greatest Writing Prompt Ever." Owens shared his tips for Perpetual Writing Prompts (PWPs), and I won't give away all his tips, but I really liked his idea to create a Family Tree and Association Tree for mining ideas for poems and stories.

Then, McMillan led a session on "The Care and Feeding of a Literary Agent," while I presented my own tips on how to "Target the Best Markets for Your Work." Going up against a literary agent, I expected to have a small crowd, but I nearly ran out of handouts. I covered ways to find markets and how to contact those that you find. Plus, I always try to reserve a little time at the end for writers to ask questions specific to their projects.

After lunch, Owens led a session titled "Exploring the World of Online Journals," while I attended Hope Clark's "Grants - the Free Money Everyone Wants." This topic is Clark's specialty, and if you haven't yet, I would suggest subscribing to her newsletter at FundsForWriters.com. Personally, I learned more about grants than I expected, which is saying a lot about the quality of her information.

Local novelist Jennifer Jabaley presented her session titled "Real People - Know Your Novel's Characters" as I made my final presentation "Establish a Social Media Platform to Launch Your Career." I provided tips on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but of course, I gave a little more too--and answered attendee questions.

The Context
This is where the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference really stands out for me. I mean, you expect to receive great information from presenters when you attend a conference, right? What really makes a difference for me is how well the conference manages the important "other stuff."

For instance, this conference had a book fair/reception on Friday evening with food, drinks, live music and readings (both poetry and fiction) by the speakers. It really encouraged interaction between the speakers and the attendees, which is one of the big benefits of a conference.

Also encouraging interaction and a relaxed atmosphere were 15-minute breaks between sessions and a lunch break that lasted 90 minutes. Since Blue Ridge is such a walkable town and the weather cooperated, it made for a very enjoyable break that opened up many side conversations.

If you have a chance next year, I encourage you to make it out to this conference.

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If you're an organizer searching for speakers for your event, please contact me at robertleebrewer@gmail.com. As a Senior Content Editor in the Writer's Digest Writing Community, I'm able to speak on myriad topics related to the business and craft sides of writing. And if I'm not the best person to handle a topic, I probably know someone who is.

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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For lists of writing conferences, check out these resources:

• 2011 Guide to Literary Agents, edited by Chuck Sambuchino
• 2011 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, edited by Alice Pope
• 2011 Poet's Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer
• 2011 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, edited by Alice Pope

Upcoming Speaking Events (January 2011)

This past weekend, I firmed up some upcoming speaking plans. I usually end up doing a handful of events each year, and it appears that I'll continue that trend in the near future. (If you run an event and need speakers, just send me an e-mail with details at robertleebrewer@gmail.com.)

So here are the upcoming events:

Blue Ridge Writers' Conference
On April 1-2, I'll be in Blue Ridge, Georgia, speaking on the following topics: "Target the Best Markets for Your Work" and "Establish a Social Media Platform to Launch Your Career." Other speakers include Sally McMillan, Scott Owens, Hope Clark, and Jennifer Jabaley. Learn more at their website: http://blueridgewritersconference.com/.

Austin International Poetry Festival
This event is sort of a surprise, but I was just invited to be a National Speaker from April 7-10. In addition to 200 local poets, there will be more than a dozen national and international poets (including myself) leading workshops and giving readings as poets take over Austin for four days of National Poetry Month. Learn more online at http://www.aipf.org/.

Plus, I already have the following event on my 2012 calendar:

Writing Away Retreats
I'll be a member of the Writing Away Retreats staff on Labor Day Weekend in 2012. At the moment, the other staff includes Sandra Bond, Barbara Samuel (O'Neal), Kate Gale, and Kristen Nelson. Based in Breckenridge, Colorado, these Writing Away Retreats really are something else and include manuscript consultations with members of the staff (including myself). Learn more online at http://www.writingawayretreats.com/.

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I admit that I'm excited about all of these events for multiple reasons. Of course, I'm always excited (and nervous) to be around other writers. But I'm also very interested in visiting all three of the locations: Blue Ridge, Austin and Breckenridge.

If you're able to make it out to any of these events, just let me know. Maybe we can meet up before or at least during the event. And if you're the shy type, just remember: I am too. Can't wait to hit the road in April!

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Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

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Travelers and conference goers need the right stuff to get the most out of the experience, including:

• An interesting book that makes you look really smart. Like The Poetry Home Repair Manual, by Ted Kooser, or the 2011 Writer's Market, edited by yours truly. 
• A smartphone, so that you can social network between (or even during) sessions. I recently purchased a Droid Incredible (and love it), but I know many who have an iPhone (and love it). As my buddy Brian Klems likes to say, " You really can't go wrong with either."
• Luggage. Personally, I prefer to use my orange JanSport backpack from college, but there are times when I have to bite the bullet and pack a suitcase. If you go this route, make sure your luggage has wheels and is easy to manuever around people who just stop walking without warning in airport terminals and hotel lobbies (it happens--often).
• Doritos. It never hurts to have something around on which to munch.