Why I Go to Conferences--And Why You Should, Too

I’m kind of a conference junkie.

Given unlimited time (oh, and money), I’d be hopping planes and checking into hotels all over the world. Why? I mean, I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for all this time change/jet lag/bag hauling stuff, so why even bother?

Read books on the same topics, you might counter. There’s a ton of info on the Internet. Oh, yes.

Well, I do those things, too. Because like Kipling’s “The Elephant’s Child”, I am full of “ ‘satiable curiosity” and Must. Keep. Learning.

I’ve written before about my extensive library, but a conference does more than provide information.

At my most recent conference this past weekend, I attended sessions on topics I didn’t even know existed. How am I supposed to look that up? The session on CPTED introduced me to a topic I was unaware existed. And it gave me a subplot/career change for one of my characters that I wouldn’t have known about.

I attended sessions describing panelists’ personal experiences. How does one look those up on-line? These were people I could look in the eye and know they were there. One can write anything on-line. There is no vetting.

And the contacts one can make! At the Public Safety Writers Association Conference, I sat with a wide-range of public safety workers who generously answered questions and offered to be future contacts for more questions. Contacts are one huge reason I attend as many conferences as I can.

So, look for me, at your next conference. I might be sitting next to you. I’d be the one with a lot of questions about what you do.