It was great to see lots of you again at the workshop this year! I found I really missed the comraderie of being in a morning class. Next year I'll sign up earlier. And I'll have a new book done, I hope.
So what was the most interesting thing you learned this year? I think I learned that if you want to win the daily writing contest you had to write something about Carol and Cheri.
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LOL, Rebecca. I think you may be right about the contest idea.
This conference was amazing. I think there were so many participants, however, that they've outgrown the Conference Center.
And I have to admit, though, that I'm feeling a little intimidated after this year!
I have never worked so hard before a conference (getting back into both reading and writing), but I feel that my writing is not on par with what else is out there.
I think if I had not done anything in preparation for the conference, I wouldn't feel this way. But I spent an average of 10-12 hours a week after work writing for the past several months.
And to not see a 'jump' up from where my writing was a year ago, admittedly, is somewhat disheartening.
So, that's what I'm thinking today, anyway. (I'm sure it will change tomorrow!)
How do you know you haven't jumped up? Who says so? All those hours of work did something for you.
I say so! :D
I thought I had overhauled my manuscript (pre-conference) to *almost* submission-ready, but a lot of the 'same old things' were pointed out (...and I do agree with them).
So now I'm just questioning my ability to even see what I'm doing as I work on my novels--and particularly this one.
Maybe the fact that it's one I started years ago is the issue. Maybe I need to just put it away and work on something completely new. :)
For those who did attend the conference this year, what was the most valuable thing that you learned?
For me, it has been that I need to cull the superfluous words in my text. Simplify! Simplify! :)
Less words...more VOICE.
I would definitely suggest starting something new. In fact, start something new, and write it like it is the one that is going to get published.
Martine Leavitt said: The best part of making books is writing them. You think publishing is all that, but it's not.
Tracy Hickman said: If it isn't read, it's dead.
Trying to reconcile these two pieces of wisdom is making me run the squirrel wheel in my brain.
Rebecca, both of those comments make sense in their own way, I suppose.
A writer who only writes to get published, is going to find out that publishing isn't everything...you have to keep writing!
And a writer who only writes for writing's sake is writing to no one. Only when your words are read do they become 'real' and take on a life of their own?
That's the initial impression I have of both of those quotes, anyway...
Both are good to think about.
(Have you come to any ideas on what they mean to you?)
Here's what I think.
I will enjoy writing far more than I ever enjoy publishing. The business side of this profession simply makes me cringe. I have no business sense whatever. I should probably get an agent, but I would rather be writing stories that writing query letters.
On the other hand, publishing is not something I do for myself, but for the readers. If I don't work towards publication, then very few people will ever read my books, no matter how good they are.
I...uh...didn't pay for conference this year, but I went to Friday's afternoon session anyway. Don't tell on me!! Anyway, I really liked Martine's session. I agree that concrete and emotional goals are needed, but I don't think they are needed in the first chapter. Dunno, I wouldn't want to give away the book before it needs to be given away.
I understand Lisa Hale gave a session. Did anyone go to it? Lisa is my favorite. She's in my Dipped in Bronze writing group, and she is a fantastic reader. I love her.
This past year I've gotten a little discouraged. I've decided that I'm going to become a really great writer before I try to publish anything.Then everyone will think I'm really great. yeah! Er...naw, I'll probably always be rotten, but if I work at it, maybe I can get a little less rotten.
I LOVED Lisa Hale's session! Who is that woman? She was incredible. And her session was packed. Even Carol and Cheri were there, sitting on the floor, in the back.
I missed all of you at the WIFYR conference this year. Took care of my aged father and worked on a revision. But I missed seeing all of you and just hanging out with other authors. You mentioned agents. I also got an agent and he's doing some surprising things, like already contacting my editor and letting her know that I have another book coming and staying in touch with her. Funny thing, is she is now cc-ing the agent with every message she sends me. He is also keeping track of book sales and reviews for my first book, which he did not represent, and sending them to my editor. How cool is that? He also emails me almost every day with new things he thinks of.
So what publishing ideas did you folks get at the conference? Did anyone get to talk to an editor or agent?
Great to see you here Dene! How are Petronella's sales going? I'm going to B&N tomorrow and I'll request it if they haven't got a copy in.
I had a very short, unofficial conversation with Martha Mihalick which consisted of - "Hi, I got your rewrite but I haven't read it yet."
I didn't like the agent at first - he said he used to be a stock broker and thought that being a literary agent was very similar to that. But then after he gave his presentation on Friday I was almost convinced that I had to get an agent for myself someday.
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