Wouldn’t You Love To Attend a Writing Conference in Your Pajamas?

We’re inside the two week window for WANA Con! This is the first conference I’ve ever heard of where you can learn, meet and greet in your jammies. I am so in!

And not just because I’m teaching there (which I am on Day 1). Because of the line-up  Kristen Lamb has put together. Would you look at this agenda? Can I get a big “Squeeee?!”

WANACon  2013 Agenda

 Pre-Conference Social Hour – Thursday 2/21 – 8 to 10 pm

Day 1, Friday Feb. 22nd
8 am to 9:30 pm, all times EST

Marcy Kennedy
Twitter: Ten Essentials Every Writer Needs to Know

Jared Kuritz
(two-part workshop)
Publishing 101: Understanding Your Publishing Options
Platform Building and Book Marketing

J.E. Fishman
9 Steps on the Journey to Quality

Candace Havens
(Creator of FastDraft)
Keynote: Dream Big

 Helen Zimmermann
How to Find an Agent: Choosing and Querying Agents

 Jenny Hansen
LinkedIn – Your Professional Identity (The Cliffs Notes)

Just a quick note about my LinkedIn class…

We’re going to review topics like “5 Things You Need To Know To Rock LinkedIn.” We’re also going to be looking at LinkedIn profiles and talking about what works well and what could be improved. If LinkedIn has been making you want to hide under the covers, or if you’d simply like to know more, I hope you’ll join us on Friday night.

Special More Cowbell Offer:

• Add the URL to your LinkedIn profile in the comments if you’d like to have me go over it during the seminar.
• I’ll be picking at least THREE profiles here on More Cowbell over the next two weeks! One today and two more as we get closer.
• I’ll give the winners a summary of 4-5 changes profile changes they can make for better LinkedIn results.

Day 2, Saturday, Feb. 23rd
10 am to 11:30 pm – all times EST

Jason Chatraw
9 Ways to Make eBooks POP!

Joshua Graham
Indie & Traditional Publishing

Allison Brennan
Villains

 Shirley Jump
Keynote: Using Rejection to Fuel Writing Success

Susan Spann
(two part workshop)
Contracts & Copyrights: Understanding your Publishing Deal
Law for the Lone Wolf: An Author’s Tour of Publishing Law and Business

*******

Throughout both days, there will be agents extraordinaire in Salon B, speaking and taking pitch appointments (and they won’t be able to see you sweat!):

Gordon Warnock (Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management)
Helen Zimmermann (Helen Zimmerman Agency)
Laurie McLean (Larsen Pomada Literary Agents)
Pam van Hylckama Vlieg (Larsen Pomada Literary Agents)

Other groovy happenings:

• Surprise Pajama Sunday – Feb 24th from 11AM-1PM EST
• Exclusive event for Dual-Day Attendees – Prizes & Special Presentations
• “WANA Mama” Kristen Lamb gives a sneak peek of one of her most popular seminars.

I linked to Marcy’s WANACon post above, but she makes two completely excellent points about online conferences:

Lower Conference Registration Costs

I’ve paid from $400 to more than $1000 just to register for regular conferences. Because online conferences don’t require their instructors to travel to the site of the conference, they don’t need to charge as much to attendees. WANACon is $125 to attend both days, and $75 if you only want to attend one day.

Flexibility for Attendees

For most conferences, you have to be at a session to benefit from the teaching. If you miss it, you’ll have to pay extra to buy the recording. With online conferences, a limited-time recording of the sessions is often included as part of the conference fee. This means you can “attend” even if you have to be at work when the session you desperately want is running or if you get called away by the needs of your kids.

WANACon Registration Links:

WANACon 2013 Both Days (you know you want to…)
WANACon 2013 Day One (that’s my day!!)
WANACon 2013 Day Two
WANACon 2013 Agent Pitch

If you’re not ready to attend a conference and would just like a list of writing organizations, click here.

Have you ever been to a writing conference? What about an online conference? What do you look for when you attend conferences of any type? Which ones do you LOVE and recommend the most? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!

Jenny