November 24, 2008

I love writers’ conferences, but let’s face it. They’re expensive: the travel (often including plane tickets, shuttles), hotel rooms, and food. (Plus child care, if you have small children.) Even if money isn’t an issue, you might not be physically able to handle a conference away from home.

Have I got great news for you!

If you don’t delay, you can sign up to attend the week-long Muse Online Writers Conference in 2009 for FREE. The conference isn’t until October 14-18, but I encourage you to sign up now. I waited too long last year, and it was full when I tried to register.

Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson are co-founders of the Muse Online Writer’s Conference. They wanted to create a FREE conference, designed to help writers get together to mingle and network with some of the professionals in this business. Their first conference was in 2006, with nearly 1,300 attendees from around the world.

You attend from the comfort of your own home. No need to worry about conference clothes, finding a sitter for the kids or coming up with the extra money to travel. Just settle in at your computer and enjoy.

The conference is geared to anyone, from mystery, poetry, and children’s writing, to romance, suspense, and nonfiction. They also have workshops that are specifically geared for promotion, writing media releases, scheduling, making time to write, handling rejections, and more.

This free conference also allows attendees to get to know some of their favorite authors by chatting with them either during their scheduled real time chats or all week in their private forum.

Next year’s The Muse Online Writers Conference will be held October 12 – 18, 2009. Remember, it’s one week of FREE workshops and FREE chats with their presenters, along with FREE handouts to be given out before the conference begins so everyone can read and begin preparing their questions for the presenters.

For more information, check out these links that tell about last month’s conference. This is what could be available to you next October for free-if you act now.

*Seven pages of presenters for the 2008 October conference

*The week’s worth of workshops in 2008

*Here’s the page where you find the yahoo registration link:

The deadline to register is August 1, 2009, but I urge you not to wait to register. I waited last year, and it was full. I expect this year it will fill up even faster. I’m hoping to encourage my critique group to “attend” this conference with me.

(After you register, you will get a free sample copy of Lea Schizas’ Monthly Links Newsletter.)

4 Comments »

1. 

   I was a first time attendee of the online Muse Conference this year and I can’t gush enough about it. The presenters were fantastic, the on-line chats incredibly helpful and Lea has continued with weekly chats that have really helped me improve my writing. I’m already signed up for next year. It really is free, no strings attached. It’s a lot of work- many people take the week off to do this conference- but the more you put in, the more you’ll get out of it. See you at the confernece next year Kristi!

   Comment by Joanne — November 24, 2008 @ 3:31 pm

2. 

   Joanne, thank you for the endorsement “from one who’s been there.” I didn’t know anyone personally who had attended the online workshop, but the presenters are first class and the workshop topics left me drooling. Knowing about the conference nearly a year ahead of time lets people plan for it–even take vacation days for it or arrange day care that week–so they can immerse themselves in the conference. Amazing to find something that is actually free, yet worth the time!
   Kristi

   Comment by Kristi Holl — November 24, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

3. 

   This year was my first year at the Muse Conference, and my first writing conference ever. It was wonderful, and I learned so much! I signed up again for next year as soon as registrations opened up. Money and time are a huge issue for me, so the Muse Conference really hit the spot. ^_^

   Comment by Sina'i — December 2, 2008 @ 4:49 am

4. 

   Thanks for the information and endorsement, Sinai. I think money is a big issue for most of us, and the chance to learn from so many great writers just by signing up for free and showing up at the computer is a god-send. It’s so very generous of them. Personally, I also like getting to sleep in my own bed!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — December 2, 2008 @ 3:09 pm

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