Victoria, I agree wholeheartedly. I have attended the Muse and Marketplace conference for the last few years in Boston. Every time I learn something, meet new and returning writers and get inspired to write more. I am glad you are putting yourself out there and investing in your writing craft. Phyllis

Some can be wonderful, energizing and uplifting, but some can be snarky and in-crowd snobbish. To my shock and surprise after having such a great experience at Mendocino Coast Writer's Conference in 2017, 2018 was a bizarre nightmare. People are funny I guess, and you just never know who you may be thrown in with. But overall, I think it's mostly a good thing to get out there and meet other writers, teachers, and agents. Get all the information you can. Sometimes you might make a few real friendships that last much longer than the conference itself.