The Babes have offered RWA conference boot camp in their tips.  Read & heed, that's years of experience. 

 “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  Attend with a goal in mind, however small.  

 

Go to Learn.  RWA has everything a new writer could want.   With 100 workshops, it’s a writer’s heaven.  Get excited about all this information you have at your fingertips, without learning it the hard way like most published authors.  

Don’t make an editor agent apt. without having completed a book.  It’s a waste of their time and nothing productive will come for it.  if you don't have something to sell or for them to buy, then you are steps away from agents and editors.  If you already have an appointment, then follow Leanne’s suggestions and ask questions, get to know the editor’s tastes.

Don’t gossip in public.  Nuff said.  The walls have ears.  And it’s about 2500 women in one area.  You do the math.

Volunteer.  My first several conferences I volunteered in registration and the goody room (back when we got tons of books to open)   I met my first fan in the NYC Goody room.  (Hi Leslie!)  Working side by side for 3 hours, we laughed and chatted, then took a break for formal introductions.  To hear someone say they read your work and loved it to the point of screaming was a moment I’ll never forget.

Mind your manners.  If you don’t know professional etiquette, read back on some posts.  Or get a book on it.  I’m surprised at how many people think interrupting a private conversation to gush is appropriate.  The opportunity will come again, if not, drop a note.  Published writers have goals too and you might be interrupting one.

Ditto on Mary’s post, if you want to be treated like a professional writer, then act like one.  Published or not,  Book 1 or book 20, I’ve seen multi published NYT sellers act like perfect over blown artists they think they are.  Trust me, the stories follow them.

Dressing the part... I have seen writers show up to workshops in clothes I'd wear to wash the dog.  Sloppy tee shirts and shorts are not professional attire.  Leave it at home.  You don't have to  go all out with suits, but if its something you throw on daily, it doesn't belong at a conference.  (shoes, the exception)  Drag out the good stuff, get dolled up.  Step out as a professional glad-to-be-here writer.  Acting professional means taking every part of your writer life seriously.  Care enough to look your best.  

Promo overkill.  If you have a new book or your first coming out, its okay to be excited, but its not to force it on everyone.  I’m not a promo bunny and never will be, so probably why it annoys me to no end to have material shoved at me when we are all writers, all with books in stages. 

You’re singing to the wrong chorus. 

This last one is a bone with me....

Writing in the lobby, in a bar….  with a laptop or whatever.   I see this a lot and don’t get it.  You paid all that money to attend a national conference to sit in a lobby and look artsy?   You are not impressing anyone.  In fact, it smacks of an amateur.   Writing in the corner of a your local coffee shop is not the same as RWA National conference.   Leave the laptop in the room, and get out there and network! Introduce yourself, even with a name tag!  The possibilities are endless.

Most of all.... have fun! 
See you there!!!

 Amy

P.S. Don’t forget the SF marathon is running conference week and it will be very crowded, expect delays!