A Video From A Writing Conference

This morning I received an email from a Terry Brooks fan who wanted to share a YouTube video with other fans.
The video is taken from the signing room at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia, Canada. Terry attended that conference as a guest speaker in October 2009. Along with Diana Gabaladon, Jack Whyte, Robert J. Sawyer, Richelle Mead, and many others, Terry spent a weekend in Surrey teaching the craft of writing, answering questions about the publishing industry, and lending what experience he has garnered over the years to people hoping to be published authors.
My own stance on this has been made fairly clear over the last two years. I love writing conferences. While gaining great writing and business advice, conferences are the best way to build professional relationships with writers and agents that money can buy.
Here is some of the visual evidence:

First, it is just cool watching people talk with their writing heroes.
Second, you notice how intimate a setting it is. Those who attend conferences get direct access to published authors, editors, and agents in a manner that is simply not possible any other way. These people give of their time, to help others. Over the days of the conference, there is a meeting of minds between the teacher and the student, and it is during those moments that the money, time, and energy of attending the retreat is realized.
It is easy to see the fan in the video has received great advice and training. She comments on it repeatedly. You can hear the dream in her voice and the tenacity it takes to break into the industry. It seems she is having professional success, if you listen to her and Terry talk. That is the entire point of these conferences.
If you are a hopeful writer, I highly recommend attending a writing conference. Be picky about which one you want to attend though. Make sure a writer you respect is there. Make sure there is an editor attending who edits work similar to your book. Make sure an agent is there who represents writers whose styles are similar to your own.
To find writing conferences near you, click HERE.
It is obvious the fan in the video above has let nothing stop her.
Nothing should stop you from your dream either.