One of the greatest things I've learned at conferences is that editors, publishers, agents, big-name authors, are all people too.  It's great to hear them talk about their own lives, to laugh with them over a joke at a meal, etc.  Being extremely shy around editors, it's always a great experience for me to go to conferences and feel more comfortable talking with them. 

I always come away with lots of ideas at conferences.  As speakers are talking or

I'm overhearing conversations, snippets of ideas will come to mind.  When I get home from the conference, there are all kinds of ideas for stories, articles, or books mixed in with my notes.

Kathryn Lay