What Is A Writer's Conference?

The Society of Authors in Scotland has created what is expected to be one of the most exciting events in the 2017 writing calendar. ScotsWrite is a weekend conference for all writers at all stages in their writing life. 

But you may be wondering what is a conference for writers and why is it an exciting place to be?

There’s nothing quite like listening to someone speak passionately about the job they love, especially if they’re experts in their field. At ScotsWrite you can expect to hear from experts talking about writing and publishing, because that is what they do - but we think that’s not enough!

We know there are so many different kinds of writers out there, writing in a whole range of field from translation to poetry, from graphic novels to crime fiction, writing for children and young adults. So, we've brought together writers from all of these and more. There will be editors and agents, people with expertise in self publishing and promotion, and also writers who know all about diversifying in what and how they write not only because that’s the way to survive in the current climate, but also because it broadens your skill set as a writer and it’s exciting to try something new and challenge yourself.

At ScotsWrite our theme is IKIGAI, a Japanese word that means your ‘reason for being’. It talks to everything it is to be a writer and everything a writer needs: what we love; what we do well; what we can be paid for; and what the world needs through the four key words of Passion, Profession, Vocation and Mission.

We are all writers but we are people first, and we have to know how to keep ourselves fit and healthy both physically and mentally. These are important life skills to learn or improve on. Sitting for long periods at a desk is no way to keep fit, and writers are sensitive folk pouring out emotion onto the page, and having to deal with rejection, which is never easy. We have families and lives outside our writing and in those areas as well as our writing we often have to get through a maze of legal matters. But we also need to enjoy ourselves so that we bring life and energy to our writing. 

That’s why we’ve set the conference in an excellent four-star hotel, The Westerwood Hotel and Golf Resort, which is centrally situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

With our ScotsWrite conference we’ve tried to address all of these things and more. You can learn how to make an editor fall in love with your book, how to keep yourself fit at your desk, how to do CPR with the Save a Life Scotland team and take part in early morning Tai Chi to get yourself relaxed and focused for the day ahead. Our legal eagles will be on hand to chat and at the end of the conference day you can speak with others at The Botanist Gin tasting, and later after the Gala dinner you can dance the evening away at the truly Scottish Ceilidh.

One of the best things about being around other writers or people involved with writing is the opportunity to discover new friends amongst a like-minded community.  It’s also a chance to get away from hectic lives and talk about what we all love doing most - writing!

The Society of Authors in Scotland has a voluntary committee who are all writers, with a wide range of writing experience, and we’ve designed a conference that we want to go to!

ScotsWrite is everything a writer needs. It’s a conference designed by writers for writers and it takes place from 22–24 September 2017 at the Westerwood Hotel and Golf Resort, Nr Glasgow. For booking see the website here. 

Earlybird rates are only available until 22nd June - book now to get the best deal.

Use #ScotsWrite17 on Twitter.