Late summer sees a lot of writing conferences, large and small. But what do we expect after that conference is over?

Writing Tip for Today: Here are some tips for post-conference expectations.

Return to Earth

I’ve attended and presented at conferences large and small. And I’ve watched students walk on air after a good meeting with an agent or editor. I’ve done some air-walking too. But in the post-conference letdown, I’ve also learned to keep expectations low.

Think for a moment about the agent/editor/coach you met with at a conference. Many conferences charge hefty fees for a 5-10 minute meetup. Talk about speed dating. These folks are often jetlagged and teaching workshops too. Now try talking to umpteen eager conferees all afternoon.

I once had an agent yawn in my face. Sure, she was probably dead tired. But her signal was unmistakable too—I’m not interested. Think about the social cues your meetup may have had. Was the person taking notes? Did you find out that everyone/no one they spoke with received a “send me your first chapter” invite? I hope they didn’t start yawning.

While it’s natural to run back to your room and start revising the opening sentences of your work, the fact is that publishing almost always works very slowly. Chances are high that the good news you received from a seven-minute meetup isn’t as golden as you might think. Be realistic and keep expectations low.

Be Patient

After the conference these publishing folks must wade through a ton of submissions. They may have assistants, but in my experience you’ll wait at least six to eight weeks before you hear anything. Sadly, when agents/editors get back to their offices, they revert back to the pressures of finding a gem in a pile of fool’s gold. Be patient.

To help you stop obsessing about the agent who seemed so interested, get to work on your net project. I always have several works-in-progress. That way, I don’t have to put all my publishing hopes in one leaky basket. Get thy BIC and write.

You can also use post-conference time to evaluate your experience. Is this conference worth returning to next year? What did you gain from attending? Did you make more connections with other writers than professionals? What’s your goal in forking over the money to attend?

Keep expectations low, but be patient and optimistic.

Be Optimistic

Keep expectations low. Be patient. Sounds like these events aren’t very productive, doesn’t it? Truth is, travel’s expensive and publishers/agencies don’t send nearly as many people to across-the-country conferences, especially smaller ones. But you can still be optimistic. You’re learning the craft of writing. You’re networking as much as you can to gain an inside lane.

Be optimistic. No doubt you’ve met those at conferences who want to talk about writing more than write. You’ve seen how irritating writer-divas who swim the hallways talking loudly about their writing can be. You can find your own way of conference-going, a way that’s serious and hopeful yet realistic.

If all this were easy we probably wouldn’t all need agents. Signing with one is very difficult even with a face-to-face meeting. And there are scams aplenty. Still, you wouldn’t go to a conference unless you were hoping to gain something there. Carefully weigh your goals for attending, be patient and keep believing in your writing. The more you practice, the faster you’ll gain those skills you need. Keep Writing!