As a freelance writer, I spend many of my days at home alone with only my keyboard for company. But once in a while I venture out of my self-imposed isolation to learn more about my craft, meet other writers and network with editors and agents. In short, I attend a writers’ conference.

I love the conference scene, but the costs—registration, hotel and airfare—add up quickly. I can only afford to attend one a year, so I have learned to make the most of my spending. If you need to squeeze all you can from your conference fund, these eight ‘P’s will help:

Pick:
Google the words “writers conference” and you will find thousands of events planned for writers each year, however, conferences are not all the same. Each conference has its own unique focus. Some invite speakers that cater to nonfiction magazine markets, while others are solely for novel-length fiction writers. Still others offer a mix of many genres. Before you shop the conference circuit, identify the goals you hope to achieve by attending a conference. Then ask yourself, “Does this conference offer what I need?” Choosing the closest, the cheapest, or the one that coincides with your vacation schedule will not benefit you if the classes and workshops don’t pertain to your area of interest. Before you send in a hefty deposit, study the agenda, the speakers and the editors for several conferences and select one that will be most beneficial to you.

Preview:
Conference planners post a schedule online, allowing attendees to download the agenda and choose their classes far in advance. Take advantage of this modern convenience. Know who will be speaking and what topics they plan to discuss. Then, review your works in progress and identify the areas of your writing you hope to strengthen by attending the conference.

Prioritize:
Most likely you will see several classes each session that interest you, but you can’t be two places at once. To avoid a last-minute bout of indecision, identify your needs in advance then decide which classes and speakers will benefit you most at this point in your career.

Plan:
Begin the preparation work for editor appointments several months prior to the conference. Good proposals aren’t written overnight nor will they materialize during the stressful week prior to a conference as you prepare to leave town. Start planning your proposals and presentations far in advance to avoid last-minute panics. After you have decided to attend a conference, take time to select which articles and books you would like to pitch, then set a schedule for creating and preparing the queries and proposals you want to take along.

Prepare:
Once you’ve decided which workshops you will attend, read books and articles by the presenting authors. Speakers often talk about personal writing experiences and use examples and excerpts from their work to demonstrate points from their lessons. If you have read some of their material, you will better understand the examples and the subsequent lessons gleaned from them. Also, jot down questions relating to particular speakers’ areas of expertise. Speakers often allow a few minutes at the end for questions. If they haven’t answered your questions during their talk, you have a list ready when the floor opens. This advance preparation will maximize your learning experience.

Promote:
Around 50 percent of CBA publishing houses do not accept unsolicited material. This means they will only look at queries and proposals sent by authors who have published with them or who come recommended by agents. But publishers provide a loophole to their closed-door policies. Editors attend conferences and make themselves available to writers. You can schedule an appointment to pitch your articles or stories. If they like your ideas, you will receive a request for more material.

As you prepare to promote your work, preview the list of editors and find out how many appointments you are allowed. Most conferences limit you to just a few time slots. After you identify potential targets, order those publishing companies’ current guidelines and study their recent releases to see if your work is really a good fit. Determine which editors are your best options and also compile a backup list in case your top choices are unavailable.

Because editors don’t want a stack of heavy proposals weighting down their suitcases on the trip home, they usually ask you to mail any requested material after the conference. However, keep material with you in case they want to glance at it. Some writers carry full proposals while others prefer a project sheet. A project sheet lists the working title, intended audience, approximate length, estimated completion date, and a few sentences outlining the main points of each project you have under construction.

Pack:
Conference fashion ranges from jeans and t-shirts to dressy business suits, but the majority of attendees opt for a business-casual look—khakis and a blouse or polo. You will want to be comfortable while you sit in those long classes, but choose something professional, too, especially if you intend to meet with editors. Editors are there to review your writing material, but they also take appearance into account. Should an editor choose to buy your manuscript, you may someday be involved in publicity or book signings for the company, in which case your appearance will reflect on them. So show them you will represent their company with professionalism.

Bring materials to take notes. Carry a bag for toting your notebook, class schedule, and materials you hope to present to editors. Keep information about your works in progress with you at all times. Editors and agents are everywhere at writers conferences, and unexpected opportunities may arise.

Take money for book and material purchases. Conference speakers often bring books to sell, and you can usually find some great bargains. And bring a slightly larger suitcase than you actually need. You will be glad for the extra room when you travel home with a caseload of books, freebies, and other purchases.

Party:
Don’t forget to have some fun while you’re at the conference! Sitting in workshops all day or running from one editor appointment to the next can become stressful. Take time to unwind. Make some friends, laugh, talk, and just generally have a terrific time!

Attending a writer’s conference can help you grow as a writer. But remember, what you gain from a conference depends largely on what you invest. Before your next trip, spend some time strategizing and make your conference dollar work hard for you.