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Meg Waite Clayton

Author of the international bestsellers The Postmistress of Paris, The Last Train to London, and 6 other novels

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March 2, 2013 By Meg Waite Clayton

What Do You Get at a Writers Conference?

Several times over the course of the San Francisco Writers Conference last month, I was asked what’s in a conference for the writers-panelists. A few of the answers I gave:

  • Gets me out of my jammies before noon.
    SheWrites Lunch Table at San Francisco Writers Conference
    SheWrites Lunch Table at San Francisco Writers Conference
  • Spending a day with real people instead of imaginary ones.
  • Cred with my two sons, who are completely impressed that my photo sits on the conference homepage with R.L. Stine!

They all hint at a part of the truth, which is that writers spend a lot of time by ourselves, and we look forward to interacting with people in publishing–writers, editors, and the like. Even if they aren’t our agents or our editors or publishers, they share a love of books.

Marvelous Dialogue Panel Moderator Taylor Martindale (center) with Becky Vinter (left) and Marilyn Atlas
Marvelous Dialogue Panel Moderator Taylor Martindale (center) with Becky Vinter (left) and Marilyn Atlas

I also–and I expect this is true of most writers, or at least those of us who are having these kinds of conversations with participants at writers conferences rather than huddling in the green room–really enjoy chatting with readers and aspiring writers. Maybe they’re my readers, or maybe they will be, or maybe they read, say, horror–which I am never going to write. (I know: Never say never!) Maybe they have just started putting pen to paper, or maybe they are poised to be the next Jane Austen. I don’t suppose I’ll ever be so far away from the long years I spent struggling to be published to not have great empathy for those still finding their way.
Which is to say nothing of the teaching, which is satisfying in itself.
A big thanks to everyone who came to listen and learn, and everyone who said hello, or shook my outstretched hand. The photos in this post and below are from Saturday at the conference. I previously posted the Friday photos along with 10 Tips for Writing Dialogue (aka the Friday panel handout), and the Writing Love Stories: The Missing Handout. – Meg

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Filed Under: Writing Tips Tagged With: agents, becky vintner, cara black, editors, Kimberley Cameron, Laurie McLean, Linda Lee, literary agents, Marilyn Atlas, michael Larsen, publishers, San Francisco Writers Conference, shewrites.com, Tanya Egan Gibson, Taylor Martindale, writers conferences, writing

Meg Waite Clayton


Meg Waite Clayton is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of eight novels, including the Good Morning America Buzz pick and New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS, the National Jewish Book Award finalist THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON, the Langum-Prize honored THE RACE FOR PARIS, and THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Essential Best Friend Novels of all time. Her novels have been published in 23 languages. She has also written more than 100 pieces for major newspapers, magazines, and public radio, mentors in the OpEd Project, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the California bar. megwaiteclayton.com

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