No matter where you are in the process of becoming an author, attending a writers conference can be a valuable experience.

If you’ve completed your manuscript or book proposal, you can:

• Get sections critiqued from agents, editors, and other attendees
• Learn from industry professionals (in a session) or your author peers about the best ways to market it
• Pitch it to a literary agent or an acquisitions editor from a publishing house

If you are working on a manuscript or book proposal, you can:

• Get advice on editing, book design, and publishing
• Run the idea by publishing professionals to get thoughts on the book’s sales potential
• Get sections critiqued from agents, editors, and other attendees
• Learn what goes into a compelling book description (aka “hook”)

If you haven’t written a single word, you can:

• Listen to and learn from the writing and publishing experiences of other authors
• Attend sessions on how to tell a story, craft believable dialogue, or otherwise create quality content
• Find out what agents and editors are looking for

I think all aspiring authors should attend at least one writers conference

To find a writers conference near you, just do a simple Google search. Some conferences are quite expensive, but others cost less than $100 and are packed with useful sessions. Personally, I think it’s a smart idea for any aspiring author to attend at least one. Not only is it a great chance to meet people who are in the same boat, it also enables you to see what you’re up against. Watching the “pitch an agent/editor” line snake around the block is a wake-up call for anyone, no matter which publishing route you pursue. With hundreds of thousands of books being released every year, you’ll need to find a way to make yours stand out. Authors who take action to improve their books and learn how to succeed in the publishing industry will have an edge over the competition.

-Maria

This blog post originally appeared on CreateSpace.com. Reprinted with permission. © 2013 CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.