Before you head to a writer's conference, take a moment to face your fears. Most likely, you will have an opportunity to pitch your manuscript to an agent, or editor or publisher. Deep breath here. It's nerve-wracking when your hard work collides with a potential sale.
The possibilities are exhilerating, yet self-doubt sneaks in and destroys confidence and self-esteem. One way to regain your equilibrium is to acknowledge those fears.
"I suck as a writer," "This is a waste of time," "What was I thinking?" "I'm not ready for this!" "I've spent too much money already." "I'm a fool for trying..."
All those thoughts swirling in your head are distractions from the purpose of your mission - to attend a writer's conference and talk to folks in the publishing world. Consider the small child afraid of the monster under the bed; only after looking under said bed does the child feel better. He's confirmed there are no monsters under the bed or in the closet. He's checked! He feels so much better and calms right down.
Take the advice of the small child. Face your fears. Yes, you are a writer and a worthy one, you've had your work proofed and reproofed. You are a good writer! This is not a waste of time, this is another step closer to your goal. You will not reach your goal if you do not move toward it! You were thinking as a writer and yes, you are ready for this. Even rejections will help you learn how to improve your writing skills. As for money, everything costs too much, at least you know this money went toward reaching your goal. As for being a fool, you're in good company. Dreamers and fools make wonderful friends and enjoyable company.
Once your mind is clear of self-doubt it is so much easier to concentrate on making your pitch. Give yourself five words that can spiral into conversation. These five words serve as springboards to conversation about your plot, yourself or perhaps a sequel or series. It's easier to remember simple words over full sentences. If you have a great opening for conversation, remember to deliver it in a casual way. Excited, too. Excitement for your work will enliven others to become interested as well.
One last thought before you talk to a potential buyer. As you pass through the door to sit a moment with an agent or editor, consider this a step into a circle of comraderie. There are no monsters under the table or behind the door. I know, because I already checked.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Showing posts with label conferences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conferences. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Namaste
I’m involved with a number of writing groups and events one of which is the Love is Murder Con (LIM CON) held during the first weekend in February. We’ve held it annually until now, taking a break in 2010 to reorganize and the decision was an appropriate one for the board, the conference and the attendees. Just wait until you see what we have planned for 2011.
We had our most recent board meeting last week to go over a variety of issues that conference boards usually discuss and I left the meeting feeling quite excited about the 2011 LIM CON. As we continue to hear of other CON’s folding or taking even longer breaks than just the one year we did, it’s becoming clearer that our 2011 LIM CON will be a well-attended and high-energy event.
We’re working on a new web page so check the website from time to time, especially in Jan 2010 for updates. The url is www.loveismurder.net.
In the meantime, I’ve been happily working and writing and cooking. I’m working on a cookbook that I’m very excited about and hope to have it available for the 2011 Holiday Season. I continue to plug away at my fiction and have started writing more poetry and short stories.
I say happily working because I do have a good job. It’s hard and challenging work, but I’m happily and gainfully employed with benefits and I have a job that is as about as guaranteed as they come. Given the cost of my daughter’s education, a recent divorce and so many other issues, I doubt I’ll retire anytime soon, but that’s okay since I do actually enjoy my work and I receive bi-annual feedback during reviews that my work is appreciated. I count my blessings each and everyday.
While I’ve hits some bumps in the road these past two years, 2010 and beyond is shaping up to be incredibly rewarding on all fronts and I have to say that I’m excited about it, especially the time I’ve been able to carve out for my writing. Interestingly enough my yoga practice has facilitated this more than anything else. I’m a yoga cheerleader these days because the yoga process and philosophy has provided me with a foundation to accomplish many things I only dreamed about, and more importantly, helped me through some difficult times.
So, as I continue to be busy with work, writing, and living my life, I’ve finally found a peacefulness that I’ve never known before and a sense of living consciously that has kept me safe from some very negative energy from people that have unpleasantly surprised me of late. To these individuals and everyone else out there I wish only good things and positive energy and will genuinely end this entry on a yoga note - Namaste.
We had our most recent board meeting last week to go over a variety of issues that conference boards usually discuss and I left the meeting feeling quite excited about the 2011 LIM CON. As we continue to hear of other CON’s folding or taking even longer breaks than just the one year we did, it’s becoming clearer that our 2011 LIM CON will be a well-attended and high-energy event.
We’re working on a new web page so check the website from time to time, especially in Jan 2010 for updates. The url is www.loveismurder.net.
In the meantime, I’ve been happily working and writing and cooking. I’m working on a cookbook that I’m very excited about and hope to have it available for the 2011 Holiday Season. I continue to plug away at my fiction and have started writing more poetry and short stories.
I say happily working because I do have a good job. It’s hard and challenging work, but I’m happily and gainfully employed with benefits and I have a job that is as about as guaranteed as they come. Given the cost of my daughter’s education, a recent divorce and so many other issues, I doubt I’ll retire anytime soon, but that’s okay since I do actually enjoy my work and I receive bi-annual feedback during reviews that my work is appreciated. I count my blessings each and everyday.
While I’ve hits some bumps in the road these past two years, 2010 and beyond is shaping up to be incredibly rewarding on all fronts and I have to say that I’m excited about it, especially the time I’ve been able to carve out for my writing. Interestingly enough my yoga practice has facilitated this more than anything else. I’m a yoga cheerleader these days because the yoga process and philosophy has provided me with a foundation to accomplish many things I only dreamed about, and more importantly, helped me through some difficult times.
So, as I continue to be busy with work, writing, and living my life, I’ve finally found a peacefulness that I’ve never known before and a sense of living consciously that has kept me safe from some very negative energy from people that have unpleasantly surprised me of late. To these individuals and everyone else out there I wish only good things and positive energy and will genuinely end this entry on a yoga note - Namaste.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A conference is like a garage sale by Morgan Mandel
A conference is like a garage sale. I never know what I'll discover, but I usually can find something I like to take home with me. Among my take home items, of course, are books, some of them free. Those are just the tangible goodies.
With June's mention of Spring Fling 2010 coming in April, I remember back to my first conference, Of Dark and Stormy Nights, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. I read about its existence in a magazine and decided to try it out. There I met many fascinating mystery writers, made friends, and learned much about writing from their panels and speeches. What impressed me was the fact that many others were like me in the same boat, striving to get published. There were also others who had made it to the promised land of publication and were happy to share their experiences.
That was quite a while back. Since then, I've been to Bouchercon, the National RWA conference, Love is Murder, and Spring Fling, to name a few conferences. Each held something unique for me to remember. I got my first contract at Love is Murder one year and had Two Wrongs published, which led to the next contract for Girl of My Dreams. Another year I got my inspiration to self-publish. The result is my recent release, Killer Career.
In April, I'll be going to another Spring Fling conference. I don't know what I'll take back this time, but I'm sure to find something great. For info. on this conference to be held April 23 and 24 at the Hyatt in Deerfield, IL, click onto: http://www.chicagospringfling.com/
What about you? Have you been to any conferences? If so, what do you like about them? Or, maybe you're thinking of trying one. Which one?
With June's mention of Spring Fling 2010 coming in April, I remember back to my first conference, Of Dark and Stormy Nights, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. I read about its existence in a magazine and decided to try it out. There I met many fascinating mystery writers, made friends, and learned much about writing from their panels and speeches. What impressed me was the fact that many others were like me in the same boat, striving to get published. There were also others who had made it to the promised land of publication and were happy to share their experiences.
That was quite a while back. Since then, I've been to Bouchercon, the National RWA conference, Love is Murder, and Spring Fling, to name a few conferences. Each held something unique for me to remember. I got my first contract at Love is Murder one year and had Two Wrongs published, which led to the next contract for Girl of My Dreams. Another year I got my inspiration to self-publish. The result is my recent release, Killer Career.
In April, I'll be going to another Spring Fling conference. I don't know what I'll take back this time, but I'm sure to find something great. For info. on this conference to be held April 23 and 24 at the Hyatt in Deerfield, IL, click onto: http://www.chicagospringfling.com/
What about you? Have you been to any conferences? If so, what do you like about them? Or, maybe you're thinking of trying one. Which one?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Publishers Weekly Morning Report
Two things caught my attention today on the PW morning report:
- What President Obama took on vacation to read
- The announcement of Oprah’s pending announcement via twitter of her next pick for her book club.
What author wouldn’t love to be on either one of these two’s reading list!
Most of us aren’t so lucky as to be in the situation of having one of these two famous individuals pick up our work and instantly provide international attention. So, how do the rest of us get noticed? How do we get the word out on our own works of fiction or non-fiction so that lots of people will notice.
Well, that’s always been a struggle for most authors and lately it’s not limited to the less published authors. I know writers with more than a dozen books published that still have to go out and pound the pavement at bookstores, conferences, libraries, and just about any venue where they think their book will find an audience, especially a paying one.
Other things we do for exposure - mostly with our clothes on - is to participate in blogs, leave comments at blogs, conduct interviews, be interviewed, hand out free bookmarks, talk to book clubs, participate in panels at conferences, and so much more. Anyone who has been to some of the larger writers conferences know that there is a wide range of promotional items that authors have to chose from but often at great expense and not necessarily with a great return on the investment.
So, let’s see how creative writers can be without losing their financial shirt. I’d love to see what others are doing to expose themselves - legally - to expand their readership.
In the meantime, for more information on how to access or sign up for Publishers Weekly reports visit the following website:
www.publishersweekly.com
- What President Obama took on vacation to read
- The announcement of Oprah’s pending announcement via twitter of her next pick for her book club.
What author wouldn’t love to be on either one of these two’s reading list!
Most of us aren’t so lucky as to be in the situation of having one of these two famous individuals pick up our work and instantly provide international attention. So, how do the rest of us get noticed? How do we get the word out on our own works of fiction or non-fiction so that lots of people will notice.
Well, that’s always been a struggle for most authors and lately it’s not limited to the less published authors. I know writers with more than a dozen books published that still have to go out and pound the pavement at bookstores, conferences, libraries, and just about any venue where they think their book will find an audience, especially a paying one.
Other things we do for exposure - mostly with our clothes on - is to participate in blogs, leave comments at blogs, conduct interviews, be interviewed, hand out free bookmarks, talk to book clubs, participate in panels at conferences, and so much more. Anyone who has been to some of the larger writers conferences know that there is a wide range of promotional items that authors have to chose from but often at great expense and not necessarily with a great return on the investment.
So, let’s see how creative writers can be without losing their financial shirt. I’d love to see what others are doing to expose themselves - legally - to expand their readership.
In the meantime, for more information on how to access or sign up for Publishers Weekly reports visit the following website:
www.publishersweekly.com
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
How to Get Ready for a Writers' Conference by Morgan Mandel
Feb 6, 7 & 8 - this Friday, Saturday & Sunday, I'll be at the 11th annual Love is Murder Conference in Wheeling, Illinois. I've been to every one of them and each is better than the one before. Since I've got conference on my mind, I thought I'd provide a checklist for those who are going to a conference.
For more Morgan, check out my daily blog at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com - today's topic is Preditors and Editors Poll Results
Here's how to prepare:
- Register for the conference - try to get on one or more of the panels and to be included in one or more book signings. You still have time if you want to go to Love is Murder.
- If you have food allergies or preferences, arrange for substitutes
- Finish your book
- Scope out the editors and agents and learn their preferences
- If you haven't already, start and maintain a presence on the web - website, blog, listservs, social marketing networks
- Check your wardrobe for suitable clothing that will reflect the image you wish to project. If necessary, save up and purchase new outfits
- Accessorize
- Publicize the event and the fact that you'll be there
- Make plane, train or bus reservations if necessary
- Get directions ahead of time
- Make hotel reservations if you're staying overnight
- Get a copy of the schedule beforehand, if you can, so you can pick your panels and events
- Get to the conference early to get the lay of the land
- Network and make friends
- Pitch to the editors and agents
- Learn a few things and have lots of fun!
I'm not ready yet. I still have some items to finish on the checklist, so I better get cracking. What about you? How do you prepare for a conference? Have I missed anything? Anyone else coming to Love is Murder?
For more Morgan, check out my daily blog at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com - today's topic is Preditors and Editors Poll Results
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
When Love is Murder
Catchy title huh! Love is Murder CON, or more familiarly LIM, is a wonderful Con held in Feb each year, and for 2009 it's coming up soon (Feb 6-8). Go to www.loveismurder.net for more information. But before I go on I must let you know that I am on the board for this Con but lots of members of this blog will be at LIM this year so take a gander at the website and please join us if you haven't signed up already. I have to say that LIM is one of the best and most fun Cons I've been to and been involved with and lots of folks seem to agree.
Being a board memeber is rather interesting and exiciting. Long before I became a member of the LIM board, I of course like many others attended lots of writers conferences/conventions (LIM inlcuded) and from that perspective I often thought and questioned why certain Cons ran things the way they did. Regardless of how a Con is run let me tell everyone that these endeavors are a bucket (I really want to say *#@!) load of work. Now it's not that we don't love to have suggestions to improve and enhance on what we do because believe me we do. BUT it's important that everyone undersand just how much thought and effort goes into a Con even if everything doesn't go they way they want it to.
A recent article from the Romance Writers of America National Organization laid this out quite well explaining all the planning effort invovled in one of these events from finding a hotel to accomodate the Con and the attendees at the most reasonable price possible without detracting from the Con itself, to making the cost of the Con such that the right talent is attracted as headliners and agents and publishers so that the attendees get what they want out of the Con. In other words it ain't as easy at it looks.
The questions that each attendee has to ask him/herself of attending any Con are as follows:
- what will attending this particular Con provide for him/her such a face-to-face meetings with agents, editors, publishers, & librarians (LIM has that)
- meeting top notch writers for both readers and writers (LIM has that)
- networking with other readers/writers as well as the agents, editors, publishers and librarians (LIM has that)
- having a bunch of fun socializing with all of the above (LIM has that)
- and so much more.
So, join us at Love is Murder in 2009 and become part of the coolest crime scene that happens every winter in the Chicago area!
For more information go to www.LoveisMurder.net.
See ya there!
Being a board memeber is rather interesting and exiciting. Long before I became a member of the LIM board, I of course like many others attended lots of writers conferences/conventions (LIM inlcuded) and from that perspective I often thought and questioned why certain Cons ran things the way they did. Regardless of how a Con is run let me tell everyone that these endeavors are a bucket (I really want to say *#@!) load of work. Now it's not that we don't love to have suggestions to improve and enhance on what we do because believe me we do. BUT it's important that everyone undersand just how much thought and effort goes into a Con even if everything doesn't go they way they want it to.
A recent article from the Romance Writers of America National Organization laid this out quite well explaining all the planning effort invovled in one of these events from finding a hotel to accomodate the Con and the attendees at the most reasonable price possible without detracting from the Con itself, to making the cost of the Con such that the right talent is attracted as headliners and agents and publishers so that the attendees get what they want out of the Con. In other words it ain't as easy at it looks.
The questions that each attendee has to ask him/herself of attending any Con are as follows:
- what will attending this particular Con provide for him/her such a face-to-face meetings with agents, editors, publishers, & librarians (LIM has that)
- meeting top notch writers for both readers and writers (LIM has that)
- networking with other readers/writers as well as the agents, editors, publishers and librarians (LIM has that)
- having a bunch of fun socializing with all of the above (LIM has that)
- and so much more.
So, join us at Love is Murder in 2009 and become part of the coolest crime scene that happens every winter in the Chicago area!
For more information go to www.LoveisMurder.net.
See ya there!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
EARLY BIRD PRICE TIL NOV. 30 - SPRING FLING SIGNUP By Morgan Mandel
ACME AUTHORS LINK AUTHORS, Morgan Mandel & DL Larson,
will sign at Barnes & Noble, 590 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, Thursday,
Nov. 29, 2007, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Stop by and say hello!
If you're a romance reader or writer, Chicago Spring Fling is a must conference. I've posted information from the coordinators about how to get in on this great event. Note the early bird deadline for discounted pricing is fast approaching.
Not only does Spring Fling feature big name authors, like Debbie Macomber, Eloisa James and Christie Ridgway, but also featured are editors and agents from major houses taking pitches and offering tips. (Some of our Acme Authors Link members will also be present, myself included)
Two sites of interest on the conference are: http://www.chicagospringfling.com and
http://www.chicagonorth rwa.org.
** Permission to Forward **
2008 SPRING FLING WRITERS' CONFERENCE - EARLY REGISTRATION CLOSES NOV. 30th
April 25-26, 2008
Deerfield, IL
The Chicago-North Romance Writers of America is pleased to announce the
line-up of headlining speakers, editors and agents for the 2008 Spring Fling
Writers' Conference:
FEATURED SPEAKERS
New York Times best-selling author: Debbie Macomber
USA Today best-selling authors: Eloisa James & Christie Ridgway
EDITORS
Tessa Woodward (Avon Publishing)
Victoria Curran (Harlequin)
Editor TBD (Grand Central Publishing)
AGENTS
Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management)
Kristen Nelson (The Nelson Agency)
Elaine Spencer (The Knight Agency)
Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
WORKSHOPS ON CRAFT AND BUSINESS PRESENTED BY PUBLISHED AUTHORS:
Marcia Anderson, Sherrill Bodine, Laurie Brown, Sara Daniels, Blythe Gifford, Margot Justes, Maureen Lang, Lindsay Longford, Myrna MacKenzie, Morgan Mandel, Allie Pleiter, Martha Powers, Patricia Rosemoor, Jen Stevenson, Margaret Watson, Pat White
EARLY BIRD RWA MEMBER REGISTRATION RATE OF $139 ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH
RATE INCREASES TO $159 DECEMBER 1ST
For more information about Spring Fling 2008 and to register, please visit: www.chicagospringfling.com
For more information about Chicago-North Romance Writers of America, please
visit: www.chicagonorthrwa.org
Questions? Contact us at: conference@chicagon orthrwa.org
I hope to see some of you over there!
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel
will sign at Barnes & Noble, 590 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, Thursday,
Nov. 29, 2007, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Stop by and say hello!
If you're a romance reader or writer, Chicago Spring Fling is a must conference. I've posted information from the coordinators about how to get in on this great event. Note the early bird deadline for discounted pricing is fast approaching.
Not only does Spring Fling feature big name authors, like Debbie Macomber, Eloisa James and Christie Ridgway, but also featured are editors and agents from major houses taking pitches and offering tips. (Some of our Acme Authors Link members will also be present, myself included)
Two sites of interest on the conference are: http://www.chicagospringfling.com and
http://www.chicagonorth rwa.org.
** Permission to Forward **
2008 SPRING FLING WRITERS' CONFERENCE - EARLY REGISTRATION CLOSES NOV. 30th
April 25-26, 2008
Deerfield, IL
The Chicago-North Romance Writers of America is pleased to announce the
line-up of headlining speakers, editors and agents for the 2008 Spring Fling
Writers' Conference:
FEATURED SPEAKERS
New York Times best-selling author: Debbie Macomber
USA Today best-selling authors: Eloisa James & Christie Ridgway
EDITORS
Tessa Woodward (Avon Publishing)
Victoria Curran (Harlequin)
Editor TBD (Grand Central Publishing)
AGENTS
Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management)
Kristen Nelson (The Nelson Agency)
Elaine Spencer (The Knight Agency)
Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
WORKSHOPS ON CRAFT AND BUSINESS PRESENTED BY PUBLISHED AUTHORS:
Marcia Anderson, Sherrill Bodine, Laurie Brown, Sara Daniels, Blythe Gifford, Margot Justes, Maureen Lang, Lindsay Longford, Myrna MacKenzie, Morgan Mandel, Allie Pleiter, Martha Powers, Patricia Rosemoor, Jen Stevenson, Margaret Watson, Pat White
EARLY BIRD RWA MEMBER REGISTRATION RATE OF $139 ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH
RATE INCREASES TO $159 DECEMBER 1ST
For more information about Spring Fling 2008 and to register, please visit: www.chicagospringfling.com
For more information about Chicago-North Romance Writers of America, please
visit: www.chicagonorthrwa.org
Questions? Contact us at: conference@chicagon orthrwa.org
I hope to see some of you over there!
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Ah - the Internet - a Wonderful Thing!
One of the things I do for Todd is search the Internet periodically to see what's being said about his books - both fiction and non-fiction. I stumbled on a link to an entry back in 2003 by Piers Anthony about a workshop of Todd's that Piers attended. We were all attending the 2003 EPIC and Piers was the guest author/speaker and he was incredible. The fact that he included favorable comments about Todd in his blog still makes me smile. Piers Anthony was a best seller in the 70's and beyond, and I remember while studying at UCLA during that time how wildly popular he was as an author with all the students. It seemed like everyone was reading his books.
Well, here's what he said about Todd's workshop back in 2003:
"Next I attended Todd Stone's "Talk Like a Man" program, because I do a fair amount of female viewpoint narrative and want to be sharp on the distinctions between male and female expression. Todd used slides with printed paragraphs. He said that dialogue is a challenge, and said it is not recorded speech but forged speech; counterfeit rather than real. Had he lost his marbles? No, he was right on. Translation: he agreed with my observation over the decades. Real speech is fraught with "uh" and similar interjections, it backtracks, it sidetracks, it fouls up with wrong words and awkwardnesses. It would be boring as hell in narrative writing. So we clean it up for fiction, make it sharp, on-target in a way natural speech seldom is. And what do you know, that makes it seem realistic. Art imitates life, becomes more real than life. So if you want your character to talk like a man, you fake it. And before you females expire of the giggles, remember that female dialogue is similarly faked.
It was a good presentation, and I have more notes on it, but I'll skim on. I think I summarized the essence of the difference between male and female writing, which is akin to the distinctions in their dialogue, years ago: a woman takes the reader by the hand and leads him to view her wonders. A man picks the reader up by collar and crotch and hurls him into the action. Both techniques have their points. At the end Todd gave the audience a spot assignment: write a piece about two lovers who quarrel and make up, showing their different approaches. Then exchange it with your neighbor for comparison. I was sitting next to Katharine, a long-time correspondent and novelist in her own right, so we exchanged. And you know, we both found it hellish to write that on short notice. When we did, we discovered it was essentially the same thing, except that I was still foundering for a suitable lead-in to my text, while she had figured one out that would do for either of our pieces. "Andrea said, pirouetting: 'Do I look all right?' Andy, not looking up: 'You look fine.'" That of course precipitated mischief, which was the point of the exercise; she wanted to be noticed and appreciated; he wasn't doing it. Just like a man."
Here's the link for the complete entry about the conference:
http://www.hipiers.com/03april.html
And here's the link for more info on the EPIC
http://www.epicauthors.com/
Well, here's what he said about Todd's workshop back in 2003:
"Next I attended Todd Stone's "Talk Like a Man" program, because I do a fair amount of female viewpoint narrative and want to be sharp on the distinctions between male and female expression. Todd used slides with printed paragraphs. He said that dialogue is a challenge, and said it is not recorded speech but forged speech; counterfeit rather than real. Had he lost his marbles? No, he was right on. Translation: he agreed with my observation over the decades. Real speech is fraught with "uh" and similar interjections, it backtracks, it sidetracks, it fouls up with wrong words and awkwardnesses. It would be boring as hell in narrative writing. So we clean it up for fiction, make it sharp, on-target in a way natural speech seldom is. And what do you know, that makes it seem realistic. Art imitates life, becomes more real than life. So if you want your character to talk like a man, you fake it. And before you females expire of the giggles, remember that female dialogue is similarly faked.
It was a good presentation, and I have more notes on it, but I'll skim on. I think I summarized the essence of the difference between male and female writing, which is akin to the distinctions in their dialogue, years ago: a woman takes the reader by the hand and leads him to view her wonders. A man picks the reader up by collar and crotch and hurls him into the action. Both techniques have their points. At the end Todd gave the audience a spot assignment: write a piece about two lovers who quarrel and make up, showing their different approaches. Then exchange it with your neighbor for comparison. I was sitting next to Katharine, a long-time correspondent and novelist in her own right, so we exchanged. And you know, we both found it hellish to write that on short notice. When we did, we discovered it was essentially the same thing, except that I was still foundering for a suitable lead-in to my text, while she had figured one out that would do for either of our pieces. "Andrea said, pirouetting: 'Do I look all right?' Andy, not looking up: 'You look fine.'" That of course precipitated mischief, which was the point of the exercise; she wanted to be noticed and appreciated; he wasn't doing it. Just like a man."
Here's the link for the complete entry about the conference:
http://www.hipiers.com/03april.html
And here's the link for more info on the EPIC
http://www.epicauthors.com/
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Fear of Flooding By Morgan Mandel
While the monsoon season is upon us, I can't help but think about the similarities between nature and the author game.
With the summer storms, come rising water. Owners of property near the Fox River and the DesPlaines River in Illinois are anxiously sandbagging, some already experiencing flooding.
Mosquitos are hatching. West Nile Virus is a possibility, to some an actuallity. Yet the rains continue, with brief respites. While some people hope, others' hopes are already dashed.
Similar occurrences take place in the author game. With each day, new promotional opportunies arise. There are countless ways to get ourselves and our books known. Which are the best? Which are a waste of time? How many are too many? Or is that possible?
Can we maintain our existing websites and blogs, attend conferences, booksignings, do everything else to get known and still lead a normal life or will we drown from all the pressure?
Writing is not for the faint of heart. It's a game of sink or swim, where the fastest and strongest survive.
The waters are rising. Are you a good swimmer?
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
www.myspace.com/morganmandel
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
With the summer storms, come rising water. Owners of property near the Fox River and the DesPlaines River in Illinois are anxiously sandbagging, some already experiencing flooding.
Mosquitos are hatching. West Nile Virus is a possibility, to some an actuallity. Yet the rains continue, with brief respites. While some people hope, others' hopes are already dashed.
Similar occurrences take place in the author game. With each day, new promotional opportunies arise. There are countless ways to get ourselves and our books known. Which are the best? Which are a waste of time? How many are too many? Or is that possible?
Can we maintain our existing websites and blogs, attend conferences, booksignings, do everything else to get known and still lead a normal life or will we drown from all the pressure?
Writing is not for the faint of heart. It's a game of sink or swim, where the fastest and strongest survive.
The waters are rising. Are you a good swimmer?
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
www.myspace.com/morganmandel
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
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