I just returned from my very first writer’s conference—DFWCon—and I’m still absorbing everything I learned. It was a whirlwind of panels, pitch sessions, and hallway conversations, each one reminding me how much there is to discover about the craft of writing.
I met some truly fascinating people, made a few new friends, and even connected with an editor who showed interest in my debut novel, Universal Justice … fingers crossed.
The conference featured two inspiring keynote speakers: Carly Watters, senior literary agent with P.S. Literary, and Kelly Bishop, the Tony Award-winning actress, best known for her roles as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls and Marjorie Houseman in Dirty Dancing. I picked up a copy of Kelly’s memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl, while I was there—her reflections on life and legacy were a beautiful complement to the weekend’s creative energy.
Growth begins with curiosity,
and DFWCon gave me plenty to be curious about.
Since the conference was hosted by an organization I already belong to, I volunteered to help out. My favorite assignment? Gong duty during the agent pitch sessions. It was my job to sound the gong signaling when time was almost up—and again when it was. It was surprisingly fun and gave me a chance to meet some of the agents one-on-one. If you ever attend a conference, I highly recommend volunteering. It’s a great way to peek behind the curtain and feel like part of the big picture.
Most of all, I walked away with a deeper appreciation for the ever-evolving world of publishing. If I thought I had a handle on things before, this weekend gently proved otherwise—and I’m grateful for that. Growth begins with curiosity, and DFWCon gave me plenty to be curious about.
Now I’m back at my desk, working on a final polish of Universal Justice for submission. Wish me luck!
Have you ever been to a writing conference or convention?
What did you take away from it?