How to Pack for a Writers' Conference

So you've been writing a while (or maybe a long time) and you are finally heading off to your first writers' conference. You've heard others rave about the experience - how they grew in their craft, learned much about the business, solved problems in current projects and rubbed shoulders with editors and other writers. Whether you scraped the money together yourself, received it as a gift or won a scholarship (or bursary, as my Canadian friends say) you want to make the most of the opportunity. But what should you take with you?

I recall preparing to attend my first writers' conference and receiving advice from fellow-writers.

"Make sure you take a resume!"

"Don't go without several copies of article manuscripts you hope to sell!"

"With your history as a speaker, you should definitely take a brochure and business cards along, enough to hand out to all you meet!"

My head was swimming! I was just beginning to write for publication, had sold a few articles and had no clue whether I'd ever sell another. My greatest fear was that I'd have "beginner" written all over me and be the laughing stock of the conference. I craved any advice I could get, but if I packed all the things people suggested I would have needed five suitcases...for a four-day conference!

That was in the last century.

I have since moved on to become a faculty member. As a seasoned conference-goer, I've learned a lot about packing, probably more from my mistakes than from my successes. I've also learned a lot from listening to the experiences of others. So here are some basic guidelines to help you not only enjoy your conference experience but also present your work and yourself well.

Something to Wear
To begin, you need clothes to wear. Keep it simple. Pack light.

- Take a few things that mix-and-match. Every item should be able to serve you at least twice, if not more. Don't worry about having a completely different outfit for every day. Nobody will remember what you wear unless the smell of it precedes you.

- Layers are best. You will likely be in and out of either air-conditioning or heat, and no two rooms are the same.