Yesterday saw the East Midlands’ second Writing Industries Conference at Loughborough University. This was my first time at this particualr conference, so I was somewhat apprehensive before I arrived (no help from National Rail and some signal failures near Derby). I was apprehensive about the conference subtitle too: ‘The End of the Print Age’. Was this simply going to be a day chiming the death knell for the printed publishing industry?
The day began with a keynote from Graham Joyce (who you can currently follow online as he tries to write a first draft of a new novel in 40 days). Graham’s frank speech contained some home truths. ‘The digital age is here and we are writers either face up or fossilise’, he said, before suggesting diversification of skills – writing in 3 different ways to survive. The keynote in many ways set the tone for the day: writers must be industrious because while books sales plummet and potential income from ebooks is not realised, being a writer will be difficult.
A selection of panels then followed throughout the day on subjects as diverse as paranormal romance and poetry and the community. I was speaking on ‘Writing in the Digital Era and Telling Stories that Fight Back’, in such esteemed company as Graham Joyce, Steve Ince who writes and designs for the booming gaming industry, and Richard Birkin who creates all sorts of innovative online content – and was the designer of Kemp Folds (and also gives me the opportunity to link to a viral craze. We discussed what it means to be a writer on social networks, how important a website or blog is, your ‘Google footprint’ and creativity and innovation in online collaboration. We faced questions from writers worried about giving too much away for free, concerned about how to manage their online persona and wondering if and how any money can be made from writing online.
Writing in the Digital Era panel: Richard Birkin, Graham Joyce, Alex Pryce and Steve Ince.
Photo by Adele from Un:Bound Blogzine
I also attended Poetry and Community with Cathy Grindrod, River Wolton, Alison Dunne and Paul Munden addressed conducting yourself as a writer offline – with questions addressing how to get into community work, what the role of a writer in residence really was, how to negotiate rates and how to gain the confidence to agree to doing workshops and community projects.
In other rooms, throughout the day, agents including Lorella Belli, James Wills, Alan Mahar and Jane Finigan offered one to one sessions pre-booked by delegates. Before they arrived the lucky delegates submitted writing for the agents to read, and in the sessions the agents discussed the work. This is a rare opportunity for dialogue over submissions, and I’m sure it gave the writers valuable insight to take away. Workshops too offered advice and guidance in working with an audience, union representation from the Writer’s Guild and writing for the gaming industry. A book stall in the lobby provided guide books like the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and novels and poetry from speakers.
Throughout the day delegates could participate in virtual debate by following #WIC2010 on Twitter. One blogger noted that ‘It was very handy for all 3 of the people using it to talk to each other!’ – and I do concur that it was underused. However, much of this could be put down to people not wanting to look like they were texting during sessions, 3G phones still not being totally widespread, and there being a lack of awareness of the free wifi log in codes available. It continues to be useful after the event though, where I can view others thoughts (and links to their blogs about the event). Another blogger found evidence that there still remains a tension between writers who want/need to make a living through writing, and those for whom community engagement – and probably another job – are more important.
As part of my role at the event I was co-ordinating recording of all panels and speeches to be podcast online at a later date. I’ll post the links on this blog when I do so you can hear what was said.
What are your thoughts on conferences for writers? Have you attended a useful one? Are they just evangelical back slapping or a way for public funding to get more evaluation forms filled in?
April 1st, 2010 → 3:37 pm
[...] Alex Pryce posted about her day at IncWriters. [...]