Reasons to Attend the NETWO Writing Conference:

If you’re an aspiring author and you’ve never attended a writers’ conference, why not?

In the past, I’ve had the opportunity to go to the annual conference held by the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization. NETWO’s annual Spring Conference will be held this year on April 5, 2025, at Northeast Texas Community College.

Attending has allowed me to see and visit with old friends and network with writers from all over Texas. I’ve met some pretty neat people. Overall, it’s proven to be a fantastic experience that just seems to improve yearly.

I signed up for a one-on-one interview with an editor at my first conference. Did I have any idea what to expect? Absolutely not. You might compare my experience to jumping off a cliff with my eyes closed. Literally, I didn’t know the first thing about how to make a pitch and was so nervous I couldn’t breathe. But guess what? I survived.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in the possibility of writing or have begun the process. Whether you’re looking for an agent/publisher or have already been published, I guarantee you will come away from the NETWO writing conference with something you can put to good use. You may get good advice on building your marketing plan or information on preparing your elevator pitch, query, or synopsis. You might be inspired by a speaker sharing his/her road to publication. You might talk to someone who has gone the small press or self-publish route and get their take on the subject.

I like to ‘collect’ characters. It’s always possible that I might see someone whose mannerisms or personality would be a perfect fit for my WIP or overhear some great dialog. Like any good writer, I’m always looking for ideas to file away for later use. I’ve been known to make observations while attending the conference. You just never know. My daughter Carrie is fond of telling people, “You’d better be careful what you say around my mother, or you’ll find yourself in one of her novels. And it might not be pretty.”

So, the next time you come across something about an upcoming writing conference and think it might be interesting, don’t just think about it. Register and attend. You’ll be glad you did.