Disappointing conference

Attending the "largest writers conference in the country" sounded like a wonderful idea, especially since it is held in Boston this year. But then a "perfect storm" of negative factors ruined it for me.(Yes I know "perfect storm" is overused, but I have my reasons this time.)

The Conference is the annual Conference and Bookfair of The Association of Writers and Writing Programs, known as AWP. Because I had to teach a class Thursday afternoon, the only time I could pick up my registration packet and name tag was Wednesday afternoon. I drove to Quincy and rode the T to the Hynes Convention Center. Then I discovered there was a three-block hike from the subway stop to the center. Also, it turns out my hike coincided with the start of a three-day nor'easter that was just starting to slam into Boston.

After my class on Thursday, I attempted to drive up to Quincy, as I had done the afternoon before, but the blizzard was in full force, and I could not make it. The heavy snow and winds gusting over 60 mph made it impossible. So I turned back. On Friday I decided to avoid that problem by taking a commuter bus from Cape Cod to South Station in Boston. The bus crawled along the road through the same blizzard about about 10 mph. So the scheduled one-hour trip took about three hours. Then I still had to take two subway lines form South Station to the convention center, plus the three-block trek through the snow. I had already missed about half of the convention.

Then there was a problem with some talks being canceled because the speakers could not get to Boston because of the storm. Other talks were overcrowded, and I couldn't even get in the door. The layout was confusing and finding alternate rooms was difficult.

I did make it to one good talk about voice in writing. It too was overcrowded, but at least I got there early and had a seat. Others were sitting on the floor. Four excellent writers spoke, but the introductions were confusing, so I was not sure who was who. One said "Voice is what causes the story to happen." One said, "You have to be willing to sound like a complete idiot--don't be afraid to play."  Several suggested staging "character interviews" with your characters to learn their voices.

My favorite quote was "In writing and in life, don't change for somebody who doesn't love you."

Unfortunately, I next went to the two-year college caucus, where I thought I would share best practices with other two-year college writing professors, but instead the whole meeting was taken up with in-house organizational politics. I disliked it intently and decided to leave. I didn't even attempt to return on Saturday.

I am looking forward to returning to small, intimate writers conferences, where we actually spent time discussing writing.

5 p.m. update: The weather finally cleared, and I went for a great three-mile run this afternoon. It sure feels good.