[Writer Post] Comfort Zones – Book Shows and Conventions
When you’re a writer, it’s important to take some steps outside your comfort zone. Try a new genre, topic, or length of story, or go to some events that aren’t in your genre. Not only will it stretch you as a writer, you might find some new readers. Genre-specific events are great because the people there already “get you”, but going to something new… that takes some effort.
Me and my table.
This past weekend, I did just that. I attended The East Texas Book Festival in Tyler, TX. Why? Because my mother, the burgeoning inspirational writer, wanted to do it and this was one of the few events that we could actually do together. So I paid my table fee and away we went.
Marilyn Eudaly talking to readers.
Fortunately it was a low-cost event. That’s something to pay attention to. I’ll pay more for a new venue if it’s something like Dallas Comic Con’s Fan Days, because I know 1) they’re “my” people, and 2) I know there are going to be thousands. This one I had no idea about.
William Carl – and his wife, Barbara – across the way neighbors.
What it turned out to be was something akin to a craft show for writers. There were traditionally published writers, self-published writers, and all genres. The people were great. The staff did their best when things went just a touch sideways. But there were issues. If the attendees came for the speakers, they had no time on the floor to shop. The “breakout sessions” were scheduled with only 5 minutes between them from open to close.
A shot of the room.
It was a slow day. I won’t sugar coat that. Apparently it was a bad weekend for this as well, with many things going on in Tyler competing for people’s attention. And, whether intentional or not, it was geared for younger readers. I knew it had affiliations with libraries, but nowhere did it emphasize young and young adult age groups. That’s not necessarily my audience (yet). I did manage to cover my expenses and sell some Yard Dog Press books to a library lady at the end of the day, but mostly I went to meet people – which I did, and “re-met” a fellow SF author, Marianne Dyson (she and I have circled at ApolloCon especially this last year).
Elvis and Me.
So though it wasn’t an overwhelming success, it was a step in the right direction. And you never know who you might meet at these things. I got to meet Elvis, a therapy dog that helps kids who are traumatized by reading aloud or have difficulty reading do so in a non-threatening environment. They read to HIM. We all took “Elvis breaks” during the day.
So…step out and try something new. It may not be a financial windfall, but you never know what you’ll encounter.