Expense. Time. Sheer terror. There are lots of reasons not to go to a writers conference, but none of them are stopping me from clicking the registration button for the ACFW Conference this fall. God saw fit to drop a tiny bundle of cash in my lap (more on that tomorrow--stay tuned!), so this writer is toodling off to Indianapolis in September. Why?

Top 3 Reasons To Attend A Writers Conference

Networking
This is the best place to target editors and/or agents with your manuscript. Sure, you can send in a proposal via cyberspace any old time, but face-to-face interaction is way more memorable. And with them all herded into one corral, you'll have a much easier time roping one. You'll also get a chance to hang out with writerly buddies you usually only have contact with online.

Growth
Even the most accomplished author can always learn a new trick. Attending a conference is a great way to drink from the water hose of the publishing industry. You can't help but come away drenched with new ideas and insights.

Investment
Besides the fact that you can write this baby off on your taxes, other than monetary, going to a conference is an investment in yourself. You never know what connections you'll make that will pay off in the years ahead, or what facet of the trade you'll pick up that will eventually take your writing to a whole new level. There's a good chance you'll hear some publishing insider information that may change the course of what or how you write in the future.

My advice? Google writers conferences and see if there are any that might work out for you this year. Big or small, near or far, the size, shape, or color doesn't matter. What matters is that you go.