By Nicole Murphy
Convenor, Conflux Writer’s Day
A couple of conversations have made it clear that some people don’t quite get the Conflux Writer’s Day. So let me attempt to explain…
My day job (yes, this is important) is as a professional conference organiser. The company I work for specialises in academic conferences. At these, you have a mix of keynote speakers (chosen by the committee) and concurrent presentations. The concurrents are chosen after a blind review process. They’re called concurrents because they run concurrently in the program. The keynotes don’t have to compete with anyone else.
The concurrent presentations are quite short – between 10-20 minutes – and are designed to present the latest research. Generally, each is done by one person (although occasionally two or three will present). It’s an overload of information.
My specialty is working with these speakers and running the process to pull these presentations together. It’s something I really enjoy.
Now, I happen to believe that writers need to get as much information from as many different sources as possible when deciding on things like career development. Everyone’s journey is unique, and if you get caught up with thinking that one person’s way is the only way to do things, you’ll damage yourself because you CAN’T have someone else’s career.
And what’s a good way to give writers a lot of information, I thought? The format of an academic conference would work really well.
And lo, the Conflux Writer’s Day was born.
Some of the presenters will have the opportunity for Q&A at the end of their presentations. Some are doing almost all their presentations that way. Some are going to have audience involvement.
But mostly, you’ll be sitting and writing copious notes and having your brain expanded and perhaps even a little overwhelmed by all the information being flung at you. You’ll have morning and afternoon tea and lunch (all fully catered) to take a breather and chat to people.
At 5pm, you’ll be exhausted but buzzing with everything that’s just happened. You’ll need a few days, maybe even weeks for it all to sink in but I’m confident that everyone that attends the Conflux Writer’s Day will find it one of the most valuable experiences of their writing career.
If you’ve not registered yet, don’t miss out! http://conflux.org.au/conflux-writers-day-2/registration/
NOTE: This is probably going to be the only Conflux Writer’s Day ever run, so if you don’t come this time, you’ll miss out – maybe forever!
Recent Comments