Conference-Vacation Packing Tips

Aiguille du Midi, French Alps

This year, I traveled to two conferences and extended the dates of my stay, making them vacations too. Since I don't waste time and money checking bags, packing was a huge challenge. To make things more difficult (of course), I brought my laptop. I love typing and rearranging my notes on the spot, but the device adds weight to my bag. For one trip, I also needed clothes for temperatures that ranged from below freezing to 107°F. Talk about challenges. 

This is the afternoon temp.

I needed that warm jacket.

Here are some of my packing tips:
1. Pants - Convertible pants (roll-up or zip-offs) do double duty as pants and capris. (Prana Halle). 
2. Shirts - Nicer sleeveless shirts work under a blazer and also with shorts.
3. Packable down coat - lightweight and doesn't take up much space (Patagonia Nano Puff) - I tested this jacket out beforehand. It's warm, but on a windy day, you need a windbreaker over it, so I brought one.
4. Lightweight travel blazer (Uniqulo jersey blazer)
5. Underwear - ExOfficio -2-3 pair for a 2 1/2 week vacation
6. Downy Wrinkle Releaser - 3 oz. This stuff works great, but it's a liquid so it does take up valuable space in your one quart bag.
7. Makeup - Rather than bring a heavy glass container, I put it in a plastic contact lens case.  
8. Toothbrush - I cracked off the handle and threw out the toothbrush before returning home.

Sénanque Abbey in Gordes, France - It was over 100°F that day.

Instead of dealing with laundry, I washed out my things in the sink with shampoo and body wash. After rolling them in a towel, I hung them up to dry. Despite all of my efforts, my backpack was still pretty heavy, but I had everything I needed.

critique tips

While I was in Florida for a nonfiction conference, I did my first radio interview on the Tiberius Show. Here's a short clip of that session.

The conference was excellent. Admission included a fifteen-minute critique, which brings me to the subject of this post. I have some advice for my fellow critiquers:

1. Have a pen and paper handy. The editor was speaking as I rifled through my laptop bag for the thin notepad that I had tucked inside it. My laptop bag has so many compartments, I couldn't find it. Flustered, I grabbed a piece of paper, flipped it over and started taking notes on the backside. I wish I  had the pen and notepad in my hand when I sat down.

2. Bring extra manuscripts with you.  This probably isn't necessary for a fifteen-minute critique, but I've had twenty-five minute critiques that ended early. One editor at the Falling Leaves Retreat asked me if I had anything else she wanted me to look at.

3. Prepare your pitches.  For longer critiques, you might have some time to pitch additional manuscripts. At the Falling Leaves Retreat, someone told me they pitched one. She said you could use the critique time however you wished.

4. You might be able to tape it. Someone at the Beachside Retreat in Florida told me she asked the editor if she could tape the critique session. The answer was yes. 

    

A blue-and-yellow macaw at the Southwick Zoo

Earlier this month, I attended Encore in the Student Union at Rhode Island College. My writing friends had raved about this one-day event, but I had never gone. Instead, I chose longer retreats and conferences, like Falling Leaves and the 21st Century Nonfiction Conference.

a rare white Bengal tiger

At Encore, I sat at one table throughout the event and listened to five author-presenters. They were all great speakers with a wealth of knowledge to share. I scribbled character traits on Post-it notes, completed writing exercises, listened to revision techniques, and delved into numerous ways to add emotion to a manuscript.

Turkey

Two-toed sloth

The buffet was also excellent. Overall, I found that Encore was an affordable way to connect with other writers and to advance my writing skills.