On the third Saturday of last month MFA students gathered to hear Manuel Munoz and Aurelie Sheehan’s thoughts about the upcoming venture to AWP; the conference takes place in Denver, CO this year, April 7-10.
In our discussion, we asked both Manuel and Aurelie to share with us tips and past experiences about the conference, since for many of us, this marks our first time to AWP. Here’s a rundown of what they each had to say:
For selecting which panels and presentations to attend (the schedule is over 70 pages long!), Aurelie suggested breaking up your choices into two categories: those that serve a practical function (ie: publishing information, craft discussions) and those that serve a personal interest/passion. In order to keep from becoming rundown, it might be best to limit yourself to between 2 and 3 panels per day (and, as a past attendee pointed out later, it also helps to allow yourself ample amount of time to trek from one room to another–there’s only 15 minutes between each slot!).
One observation that Aurelie made was that AWP can be an extremely stressful and intimidating time: the conference hosts thousands and thousands of writers, editors, participants and guests, and you really have to force yourself to be social. So, she says, GO to the readings, GO to the Book Fair, GO to the after-hour events…but also take care of yourself.
Both Aurelie and Manuel talked about networking, and the fact that for many of us, that idea can be rather “dreamy”: we may want to meet our favorite author, we may want to hand out sections of our manuscripts (don’t, they both say), or we may just want to hide in a corner. The more important focus, however, is to strike up conversations with those around you: don’t look so far forward that you neglect to see someone right in front of you. Strive to make friendships rather than connections: you never know where those friendships will lead you, because, as Manuel pointed out, ten years from now, those same people will be published writers or editors at some of the top literary agencies in the country.
Most of these chances to unite with our peers, Manuel says,will occur during the big showcases at night and during panel discussions during the day. The Book Fair is also a great place to mingle and see what others are reading. Small presses will usually host “cocktail parties,” and these pose another great opportunity to take the writing discussions ”outside” their normal settings. In any case, the essential point to take away is to BE NICE, and don’t feel as though you have to make things happen this year. (Aurelie: “I realized later that connections that were important to me were those of my peers.”)
Manuel: “Wait until Saturday or Sunday to go to the Book Fair: you can usually get something on the cheap” (ie: free!). Look for a variety of presses: small, midsize and large; try and come home with at least five that you’d be interested in submitting to.
The two pieces of advice that sum up the whole experience? First, HAVE FUN! and two, Permit yourself to have a mad moment. (Scream, rant, rave, take the bus to downtown Denver, walk into a coffee shop and swear that’s the last writer you’ll ever try to talk to…and then collect your thoughts, get back on the bus, return to the conference hall and walk into another room.)
