When is the conference?
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 29-31, 2010. Friday night from 6:30-8:30 pm there will be a no-host mixer to allow participants to network with each other. No workshops or appointments are scheduled for Friday evening. Saturday hours are 8:30 am-5 pm, with concurrent workshops and lectures, a hosted networking luncheon, and a hosted reception immediately following the last workshop at 5 pm. The reception is from 5-6 pm. Sunday hours are 9 am-3:30 pm, all concurrent sessions.

Where is the conference held?
Doubletree Hotel, Mission Valley. Participants must identify themselves as SDSU Writers' Conference participants to receive the conference rates. To register for a room, contact the Doubletree directly at (619) 297-5466.

Does my conference registration act as a hotel reservation?
No! Participants are responsible for all of their travel plans and reservations.

What is the refund policy for the conference?
Cancellations through January 22, 100% refunded, less $17 processing fee. January 23-26, 65% refunded. No refunds will be given after January 27. Doubletree Hotel has a separate refund policy. Please contact them directly for more information at (619) 297-5466 or after business hours at (800) 222-8733.

What should I wear?
Room temperatures vary from room to room. We suggest you dress in layers. Most people are not in suits and ties or high heels and dresses, but generally they look casually professional.

Is there a program for the conference?
There will be a program; however, programs are not available in advance. They are included as part of the packet each participant receives upon check-in.

Can participants obtain a program sooner?
No. Refer back to last question/answer.

When will I receive my appointment schedule?
Participants will receive their appointment schedule when they check in at the conference.

Can participants obtain their appointment schedule sooner?
No.

When can I check in?
Participants may check in on Friday from 4-7 pm, Saturday beginning at 7:30 am and continuing throughout the conference.

How does the conference work?
The conference begins on Friday evening with a no-host mixer from 6:30-8:30 pm. On Saturday, the conference begins at 8:30 am with brief introductions and a speaker, and then continues with one-hour tracks of breakout workshops and lectures. Approximately eight sessions run each hour. If participants do not like the session they have entered, they are free to leave and go to another. Saturday evening there is a reception. Sunday the workshops begin at 9 am and end at 3 pm.

What are consultation appointments?
Consultations are meetings during the conference weekend with editors and agents. Each conference participant may schedule up to three consultations. Consultations do not require pages submitted in advance of the meeting and must be scheduled no later than January 15, 2010. See Making Appointments for a complete list of rules and fees.

What happens in a consultation appointment?
The participant should BRING TO THE MEETING the opening pages of their manuscript, synopsis, or simply an idea to discuss. The editor or agent may read the material presented during the meeting and discuss it (or their idea) with them. These meetings are ten minutes long.

What are advance reading appointments?
Participating editors will read the opening ten pages of your manuscript (no synopsis, must be first pages) in advance of the meeting. Participant MUST submit the pages prior to the conference and no later than January 5, 2010. See Making Appointments for a complete list of rules and fees. Given the popularity of the advanced readings, the number of appointments is limited to one per participant in order to give the editors enough time to devote to each submission.

What is the difference between the consultation appointment and advance reading appointment?
There are three differences:
1. Only editors will be doing the advance reading appointments.
2. Advance reading appointment material must be submitted in advance by submission deadlines.
3. Editors have had the opportunity to review the first 10 pages of your manuscript prior to an advance reading appointment.

Is there a limit to how many meetings I can have during the conference?
Yes; each participant is limited to three appointments, which may be scheduled in either combination (i.e., two consultations, one advance reading appointment; or three consultation appointments); however, in the interest of fairness, only one appointment may be made with an editor.

How do the consultation appointment and advance reading appointments work?
Appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis (See Making Appointments for a complete list of rules). This is a tremendously popular aspect of our conference and we receive hundreds of requests for appointments. To avoid disappointment, please submit appointment form and submission if requesting an advance reading as soon as possible.

Will appointment scheduling take place during the conference?
If consultation appointments are available, there will be the opportunity to sign up for them 4-6 pm on Friday night and until 10 am on Saturday morning. Consultation appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and cost $50 each. Once the conference begins, even those people who already have three appointments may take advantage of the openings and schedule additional appointments. No advanced reading appointments will be scheduled after the January 5, 2010 deadline.

Will appointment meetings take place on Friday night or during the receptions or lunches?
No. Appointment meetings are scheduled during the workshops on Saturday and Sunday. Appointment times are closely monitored and run on schedule. You should plan to arrive for your appointment a few minutes early.

Will there be opportunities to meet with the editors and agents other than during the consultation and advance reading appointments?
Yes. The conference is structured to give the editors and agents free time to mingle with the participants. Also, the reception on Saturday evening is the perfect opportunity to talk with them.

What if I want to go to two sessions and they meet at the same time?
CDs of all sessions (except the editor/agent appointments) will be available for purchase at the conference.

I cannot attend all three days of the conference, is there a reduced rate or a per day rate for the conference?
No. The conference fee is a flat fee, regardless of how many days you attend.