The pinnacle of most writer's careers, other than successfully publishing their first novel or landing that multi-novel contract, will be to attend a writer's convention. The writer's convention experience can be inspirational and powerfully motivating.
Seminars and workshops top the list of beneficial activities, but at a well-organized writers convention, even the lunches, the breaks and break-out sessions, the opportunities to visit writers at their vendor tables and to ask questions that directly relate to your writing goals all offer profitable learning experiences.
When it comes to conventions, the larger, the better. Although I have most often attended the Hampton Roads Writers Convention in Virginia Beach, VA (bonus at HRW, you get to pitch to a variety of book agents!), I also have attended the AWP Writers Convention in Tampa, FL as well as the Authors for Authors Annual Writers Convention in Melbourne, Florida. I have also attended the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, VA, the Miami Annual Book Fair, and the Feria del Libros in La Paz, Bolivia.
The opportunities at these major events are not limited to education, given that most writers conventions offer the opportunity to secure a vendor's table to promote your own books or book related services.
So whether you seek to learn more about writing, publishing, selling your published book, or to actually sell your book, don't miss the next writer's convention coming to your area. I'll be attending the convention closest to my home very soon.