Next week I’m hosting The Writer’s Craft Summit, an incredible event for fiction authors featuring over 25 top authors, editors, and writing coaching.
Obviously, I’m super excited to be hosting the event, but the fact is I’m just a huge fan of virtual summits in general.
I mean, what’s not to love about being able to get all the benefits of an in-person conference without having to endure the stress of travelling to an event, the agony of waiting in long lines to get into cramped conference halls, or the gut punch of being overcharged for mediocre food and bottled water?
Me… I’d rather stay home, relax, eat my own food, and learn at my own pace.
Over the years, I’ve experienced virtual summits as a participant, a panelist, and now as I host. As a result, I’ve given a lot of thought to how to get the most out of a summit. In this email, I’m going to share with you my top 4 tips, so you can truly benefit from your Writer’s Craft Summit experience next week.
Tip #1. Be an Active Learner
One of the mistakes consumers of info-tainment often make is convincing themselves that by simply watching summit presentations, viewing an online course, or listening to a podcast, they’ll instantaneously experience profound benefits.
This is simply not the case.
Most of the time, education and skill development require active participation on your part.
One the best ways to stay engaged and to take advantage of high quality information is to take notes — preferably by hand. This prevents multi-tasking, supports focus, and facilitates neural imprinting.
(In their Writer’s Craft Summit presentations, both Ben Settle and Elisa Doucette discuss neural imprinting and the import role physical handwriting plays in supporting that process.)
Learning is not like watching a movie. Don’t just passively view The Writer’s Craft Summit sessions like you’re watching a show on Netflix. Instead, look for specific information applicable to the challenges you’re currently grappling with and the goals you want to achieve with your writing. Record the information via note taking, and then put the advice and strategies into action following the summit.
Tip #2. Ask Questions
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to fiction writing. You need to figure out what works best for you, in your particular situation, and for the specific book you are currently writing.
What works best for one writer might not be appropriate at all for another, so you’ll want to personalize the advice you get.
As one of over a dozen Writer’s Craft Summit All Access Pass bonuses, I’ll be hosting live after party sessions every night of the summit. These sessions are your opportunity to get on live with me and ask questions particular to your unique situation.
If you’ve ever been to an in-person writing conference, you’ll know some of the most interesting moments aren’t what happens on the panels, but rather what happens at the after parties in the hotel rooms, bars, and lobbies. We’re going to create those moments virtually, so grab your All Access Pass and get in on these exclusive Q&A sessions.
Tip #3. Identify Influencers and Teachers
When I first started learning about writing, publishing, and book marketing, I kept reading advice about how I needed to “identify influencers” in my niche. I remember thinking, “I’m totally new to this space. How am I supposed to know who are influencers and where to find them?”
Luckily, I soon discovered online summits are the perfect place to spot these folks.
If someone has been invited to participate in a summit, they’ve likely built a large platform, developed a strong following, or reached a certain level of expertise and success in their chosen industry. These are the kinds of people you want to follow, learn from, and engage with as you continue to grow your author career.
It’s unlikely every single presentation at The Writer’s Craft Summit is going to resonate with you. That said, I can almost guarantee there will be several speakers who are going to turn you into a die-hard fan after you hear them speak. You’ll be able to join their tribe and learn from them in the months and years to come.
Success leaves clues. Spotting teachers who have already achieved what you want to achieve and learning from them is a simple shortcut to success, so get started identifying who those influencers are next week at the summit.
#4. Invest in Yourself
Many people go tens of thousands of dollars into debt to attain a University education, and yet they hesitate to spend even a small sum of money on the activities they truly care about.
Even more people will spend hours supporting their children and their spouse, only to feel guilty if they take even a little bit of time for themselves. It’s as if they feel they don’t deserve the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
But investing in yourself – be it with time or money — is not a frivolous act.
The arts matter. Your ability to communicate a story using the written word matters. It matters to your future readers, and it matters to our culture.
And, of course, it also matters to you. Improving your writing can change your life in beautiful and profound ways that are well worth the investment.
To get the most out of The Writer’s Craft Summit, you’ll either need to invest the time to watch the video sessions for free within the 24-hour period after they are released, or you’ll need to invest a small amount of money to purchase the All Access Pass. Either way, you need to make a conscious decision to do something for yourself. This isn’t about your family, or your friends, or your boss, or your neighbors. It’s about you and what you want to achieve.
You need to give yourself the gift of education, and the permission to pursue your dreams regardless of whether anyone else in your life believes you can do it or not. Because I believe you can do it. I’ve helped hundreds of writers improve their craft, and I’m ready to help you as well.
All you have to do is: 1) be an active learner, 2) ask questions, 3) identify teachers you resonate with, and 4) invest in yourself.
With these 4 tips, you’ll be sure to get the most out of The Writer’s Craft Summit next week.
Not registered for the summit yet? Click the image below to get registered.
