Things to Take to a Writer’s Conference
Donna Trussell, former Sewanee Writers’ Conference attendee, wrote a list called “The Things They Didn’t Carry” — the title being inspired by Tim O’Brien’s short story called “The Things They Carried” — to help those heading to conferences to pack the right items.
Her list is below — click on it for the whole list — and I’m going to add some of my own items:
- Luna Bars — preferably Peppermint
- Running shoes
- Noise machine to block out people who party later than you do
- Deck of cards for poker
- Change for poker
- Your laptop
- Hiking shoes and good socks
- Extra paper and pens
- Actual real money — just in case
- Bourbon
- Books — I know, I know. What writer doesn’t pack books?
- Stamps
- Envelopes
1) Small bedside reading lamp. Not only does it make for a more pleasant atmosphere than an overhead light, it will also allow you to read yourself to sleep.
2) Outside by CB I Hate Perfume, tested against Sewanee mosquitos by fiction writer Sharon Mauldin Reynolds. No one wants to smell like DEET at a writers conference.
3) Wristwatch. Cell phones can be out of range, out of charge, turned off or left back in your room.