Retreat Dates: Friday, August 22nd to Thursday, August 28th. Conference Dates: Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 29th to Monday, September 1st.
One of these years, I’d sure like to attend this conference. It looks like loads of fun and information, and the fact that it’s held in Hawaii is definitely a plus! Check out their conference site for more details: www.mauiwriters.com.
They also have an online resource for writers for those of us who are currently watching from the sidelines. The cost to “join” is around $20. Not too shaby for all they advertise.
I started a new book on writing this morning: Chapter After Chapter, Discover the Dedication & Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams by Heather Sellers. I have to say that after only chapter one, this book is going on my list of “must reads for writers”.
Heather speaks directly to the perfectionistic procrastinator in all writers, urging us out of the fairy tale land in our heads and onto the raw, very-rough terrain of our ideas in print. Actually sitting down TO WRITE is what the book is about, and it’s working. Here I am. Hey, it may only be a blog entry, but it’s better than just thinking about writing a blog entry.
The truth is that all the world over, people have ideas. For everything. And ideas are great things. We need them, but for most of my life now, that’s largely all I’ve had, and I’ve kept them in the safest non-space in creation: the ever-changing cosmos between my ears. That’s why I’m not actually getting anywhere with my writing.
Writers write for a myriad of reasons. Self-discovery. Self-expression. But at the end of all that, at the end where the “aha” moment should be – God, please let it be there – we should have something to present to the world, something that will make a little more sense of our experiences here, give a little hope, encouragement or just offer a passing “I’ve been there, too, hang on”. Because, what’s the point of understanding ourselves better if not to share the insight?
So instead of thinking to myself “I need to write my novel”, I will ask myself ”What do I see or understand that could be of use to someone else?” Because though humanity experiences the same events, how we react to them, process them is legion. And somewhere in all that living and learning and hoping and yearning lie all the seeds we will ever need. The seeds of gifts that, while perhaps not ”perfect” as the often unrealistically high standards of writers go, will connect with others on a core level and ease them in some material way.
And what better reward is there for writing … or anything for that matter?
Writer’s Digest has added a product and services directory to their site. It’s called The Writer’s Mart, and you can check it out by clicking here.
Meeting an agent in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or a book proposal, you can write “Requested Material” on your submission, putting yourself way ahead of the pack.
There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face. Below are a few upcoming events.
Southern Lights Writers’ Conference (romance writing) -March 28-30, Jacksonville, Florida
Northern Colorado Writers’ Conference – April 4-5, Fort Collins, Colorado
League of Vermont Writers Spring Session – April 19, Rutland, Vermont features instructional presentations on querying and pitching agents, while a session on July 19 in Burlington, Vermont is a mini pitch slam with a half dozen or so agents hearing live pitches.
Muse and the Marketplace – April 26-27, Boston, MA
Writer’s Digest Books Writers’ Conference/Book Expo America – May 28, Los Angeles, CA
Agents and Editors Conference – June 20-22, Austin, Texas
Jackson Hole Writers’ Conference – June 26-29, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
I’ve looked into this a little. Make that a very little. But Writer’s Digest provides more info on what seems to be an oddly viable market. ‘Course the sheer size and reliability of Amazon.com can make almost anything viable.
Check it out here.
“ITW’s annual celebration of the thriller world is the largest event of its kind, a meeting place for authors, readers, budding writers, and publishing industry professionals. This year we’re in the heart of New York in July, with two special add-on events, CraftFest and AgentFest, where authors of all levels can meet the professionals …”
Go to the ThrillerFest site by clicking here.
Debbie is with Muse Literary Management and is seeking literary novels and short story collections with popular appeal, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, espionage fiction/nonfiction, children’s fiction/nonfiction and literary narrative nonfiction.
Other areas of interest include music, writing, birds and gardening.
Click here to read her full interview with GLA, Guide to Literary Agents.
