Hurray, the Online Writers Conference site officially launched this weekend! Go register immediately. I'll wait to say my piece till you're done.
...painless, easy, and free registration process, right? I am thrilled beyond words, honored to play a role in this, and looking forward to hearing how helpful it is for your writing craft and career.
This online conference is, in one way, only a small consolation for the loss of the LA Times Festival of Books. The awesome energy of many hundreds of exhibitors, publishers, and live shows on stages scattered throughout the USC campus... that's a unique experience.
On the other hand, this online conference can be much more than the Festival of Books.
Most obviously, it is not limited by geography: anyone in the world can participate, without plane flights or hotel reservations. This might be its greatest advantage, but there are others...
It is not limited by booth space: everyone in the world can "fit in." It is a much more spacious experience than my regular 10'x10' Festival booth. No jostling or peering over shoulders!
It is not limited by parking availability: that's a real challenge if you've ever been to the Festival of Books. Being one of an extra 120,000 persons gathering anyplace in Central LA requires patience and creativity!
It is not hampered by weather: if you're on the 'net, you're already enjoying a normal modicum of comfort. I hope the weather will be pleasant wherever you are, come April 18 and 19, but you need not venture out in it!
It is less constrained by time: It is a LIVE two-day interactive event, just like the Festival of Books in that way. But if you miss even one hour of the Festival of Books, too bad for you. If you miss even an entire day of the Online Writers Conference, you can watch it later after we post the recorded videos... at which point you will claw your face, howling "IF I HAD BEEN ON THE LIVE STREAM I COULD HAVE ASKED MY LIFE-ALTERING QUESTION IN PERSON!" We cannot guarantee that any of our guest speakers will answer your email or respond to your comment on their own sites once the magic moment of live interaction has passed. Recorded video can be cold consolation.
Most of all, the Online Writers Conference is curated. It is like a "best parts version" of a regular writers' conference or book festival, professionally organized and hosted by Russell Nohelty and yours truly. Everything to do with the craft of writing is jammed into Saturday; everything to do with the business of writing is packed into Sunday. All the sessions are scheduled in the order you'll need to know them as you bring a single thing from "great idea" all the way to "great seller."
Of course, you saw the session schedule and the descriptions of all the speakers on our registration page, right?
Oh, you were in such a hurry to register you didn't bother to scroll down past the first "Register now" button?
Well, head back over there and peruse the topics and the panelist descriptions. Begin preparing your questions. Feel free to send them to me early, if you're that organized!
And for those of you who have read this entire post without actually registering for The Online Writers Conference ...go register now, for free!
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