Dollars & Sense for Writers—Guidelines on Where and How to Spend Your Money—Part Four

This is an ongoing series designed to give writers guidelines on where & when to spend your money. 


If you missed the first three posts in the series you can find them here:

• Part One: Which Organizations Should I Join & Why

• Part Two: Which Books Should I Own and Which Should I get at the Library—and What About Magazines, are They Still Relevant?

• Part Three:  How to Evaluate Writing Workshops & Classes

Writing Conferences—When Am I Ready for One & Which One Should I choose

I have my favorites, of course! But just because they’re my favorites doesn’t mean they are the best choice for YOU. I’ve tried to break it all down and give you some things to consider so you can make an informed decision.

The first thing you should consider is your experience level. You need to look at where you are with your writing, that will be the biggest factor in your decision. As you look at the categories realize that your experience may overlap.

Beginner

• Never submitted anything for publication.
• Hasn’t told many people he writes.
• Has submitted a couple of things, but nothing published.

Advanced Beginner

• Has several rejection letters and a couple of acceptances.
• Is a member of a local or online writing group.
• Regularly reads articles or books about writing.

Intermediate

• Has attended a writers event (either a workshop, conference or online class).
• Has an idea of where he wants to go with his writing.
• Has been paid for his writing.

Advanced

• Spends time each day working at the craft of writing and has an income derived from writing.
• Has definite goals and aspirations for his writing.

Once you know which group you fall into, it’s easier to evaluate each individual event. There are 2 reasons to attend a writers event.

• To learn more about the craft of writing
.
• To network with professionals within the writing world
.

Here’s a general breakdown of what is usually offered at each kind of event.

These events vary slightly, so the following information is generalized. You should read all brochures and websites carefully to know what to expect.

Large, National Writing Conference

Expect lots of classes for a wide variety of writers - from beginner to advanced.

• Continuing Classes – these are classes that last for more than one class period and concentrate on one subject. Even though they are continuing, they rarely provide advanced information on a given subject.

• Workshops – these are classes that give an introduction to a concept (like dialogue, plot or setting).

• Breakouts or Panels – these are groups of professionals giving instruction on a given subject. The information here is usually very basic.

• Appointments with Faculty – most large conferences include a private appointment with a member of the faculty. This is where you would pitch a book or article idea to an editor. It can also be valuable to let a seasoned author look at your writing and give one-on-one feedback.

Regional or Local Writing Conference

These tend to have more classes for the beginner and advanced beginner writer, although there are exceptions. Depending on the length of time, the conference will follow the same basic setup as a national conference.

Workshop or Seminar

Many of these are very specific in what they offer. They aren’t for a large number of writers and generally target the intermediate or advanced writer.

The important thing to remember is that it’s never a good idea to write in a vacuum. I have always tried to attend one large conference a year—as a student—to expose myself to the writing industry, both for networking and education. I also try to attend at least one focused workshop or seminar each year I and I try to keep my eyes open for online writing courses and take at least two a year.

Let's share our experiences with specific conferences and events. Leave comments about ones you've attended and how they've helped your writing journey.

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains ChristianWriters Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for SouthernWriters Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Don't miss her new book from Worthy Inspired, WHILE MY SOLDIER SERVES.

Dollars & Sense for Writers—Guidelines on Where & When to Spend Your Money—Part Three

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

This is an ongoing series designed to give writers guidelines on where & when to spend your money. If you missed the first two posts in the series you can find them here:

Part One: Which Organizations Should I Join & Why

Part Two: Which Books Should I Own and Which Should I Get atthe Library—and What About Magazines, are They Still Relevant?

Dollars & Sense for Writers— Guidelines on Where & When to Spend Your Money—Part Two

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Last week, I began this series on Dollars & Sense for Writers Part One. I gave you a run-down on where to start by suggesting you look for a local writers group and an online group or two. Today I’d like to continue by looking at books and magazines for writers.

As a writer, I love books. Beyond that, I love books about writing. I have an extensive library of books on the craft of stringing words together—truthfully more than I need. But early on in my career I just couldn’t pass up a recommended book. Looking back I should have spent more time at the library than on buying books.

Dollars & Sense for Writers—Guidelines on Where & When to Spend Your Money—Part One

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I remember what it was like when I was just starting out as a writer. I thought it was something I wanted to do. I even felt like it was something God called me to do. It’s an exciting time—a time when we’re trying on the moniker of writer.

It’s also a time when we’re deciding exactly how big a commitment we’re going to make. We evaluate how much time we’ll spend an how much money we’ll invest. And it’s rarely an all-ahead-full sort of decision. I took it one step at a time. I would try something, evaluate the results and then readjust.

It was about the time of my first few forays into the writing world that I discovered this writing thing can get expensive . . . fast. 

There are books to buy, organizations to join, classes and workshops to take, even conferences to attend—all without a single bit of profit to support these investments. My budget was limited and I had to make some judgments about where to spend my money.

Today, after many years in the business, I’d like to offer some guidelines on where and when to spend your money. It’s not always a straight-forward answer, but I’m going to try to cover most situations.

Which Organizations Should I join and Why

I’d say one of the most valuable ways to learn about writing specifically and the publishing industry in general is by joining organizations. It’s important that you don’t just concentrate on learning to write, but you also need to know the process of publication so you can begin to earn money. Here is what I suggest.

1. Find a local group. Good places to look are local libraries and bookstores. They will often have a listing of any local writing groups. You can also do a search online. I know it’s not always possible to find a local group, but that’s where I always recommend you start.

2. Find an online group. There are many excellent national groups that have an online presence. I’m a member of several. Here are some I can recommend:

• ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers): is for Christian fiction writers. The membership is reasonable, starting at $50 per year. It also offers lots of benefits to members, including free online classes from publishing professionals, a national conference, and an email loop where you can ask writing related questions.

• My Book Therapy: This is another fiction group, specializing in Christian fiction. It’s a bit smaller and there is a free membership option. That’s good to give you a chance to try it out before you invest money.

• Word Weavers International: This is a great critique group option. They have local groups, as well as an online presence. This group was developed over years of experience in what works to help new and even more advanced writers.

• SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators): This is specifically for those who write for children and young adults.

• ASJA (American Society of Journalists & Authors): This is specifically for the non-fiction writers.

• RWA (RomanceWriters of America): This is a national group for romance writers, and ACFW actual was formed from the membership of RWA.

• NWU (Nationa WritersUnion): I’m not a member of the national freelance writers group, but it’s a reputable group and I hear good things about it.

• NWA (NationalWriters Association): Again, I’m not a member, but this is another reputable group that I hear good things from.

So which of these choices should you make? It depends, in a large part, on what you want to write and where you want your career to go. I recommend you start local, if possible, and look for recommendations.

If you don’t have a local group, you can often find communities of writers through writing blogs. There are a large number of regular readers here on my site and they will be more than happy to give recommendations about this sort of thing.

I’m out of room for today’s post, but below are the topics I’ll be sharing in subsequent posts:

• Which Books Should I Own and Which Should I Get at the Library—and What About Magazines, are They Still Relevant?

• How Do I Evaluate Which Classes I Need or Could Benefit From

• Conferences—When Am I Ready for One and Which One Should I choose

• Website—When Should I Spend the Money? 

• When & How to Hire a Freelance Editor?

Now it’s your turn. What questions do you have about organizations and what other things would you like to see covered in this series? Be sure to leave your thoughts below.

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains ChristianWriters Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for SouthernWriters Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Don't miss her new book from Worthy Inspired, WHILE MY SOLDIER SERVES.