Now What?

You’ve taken that all important first step—you have registered for KCWC.  “Now what?” you may ask.  What should you expect? 

 

First of all, you’re not alone. At some point, we have all been in your shoes. We are a fairly small conference, offering a more personal experience. Take comfort in knowing that you will be surrounded by caring individuals who share your love of writing.

 

Thursday evening, from 7:00 PM–9:00 PM is the Meet and Greet, at Grace Heartland Church. This informal event will be located in the main church building (on the right) and is a chance for  you to meet some of the presenters, the planning committee members, and fellow attendees. You can drop in and stay a few minutes or come and stay the whole time. Light refreshments will be provided.

 

When you arrive Friday morning, go to the Family Life Center (Entrance is the covered portico in the center of the building). Check in at the registration desk and receive your attendee packet and name tag. If you’re new to the world of writing, you may be interested in attending the “Newbie” class. It starts at 8:15, so be sure and get there early. Feel free to walk around, check out the bookstore, and meet others.  Just don’t forget to go to the opening session at 9:00!

 

Besides the keynote sessions and workshops, you may also sign up for an appointment with a faculty member. These one-on-one sessions are limited to 15 minutes. You may share a short piece of your writing and ask for input. Remember, not every faculty member is an editor, but he or she has experience in the writing market and is a viable asset.

 

Networking is important. You need to get to know people in the industry. Take the time to meet people and make a great first impression. Consider bringing business cards with you. Even though you may not be published, the card can be a good way for others to remember you, so be sure all your information is current and correct. Including a small picture of yourself on the card is a good reminder. If you don’t have business cards, you can create some yourself on your own computer. Keep it simple. (Look for our next post, “Dos and Don’ts of Networking,” for more on this topic)

 

Friday evening, after dinner, we will have a Taste of Kentucky. This new feature will be a time for socializing, meeting the presenters, getting a book autographed, and learning more about Kentucky—not to mention, eating some great desserts. Besides all this, we will have an “open mike” time. Published authors are encouraged to bring a copy of their work and read a selected passage.  Each person will be limited to approximately 2 minutes. 

 

Come ready to learn, ready to make new friends, and ready to get motivated. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

Trish Nall, KCWC Secretary