What did I do last weekend?

What a weekend! I'm so sad the Pikes Peak Writers Conference is over, but I don't think I could have continued at that pace for one more day. I'm still recovering.

Workshops
The workshops I attended (between my volunteer responsibilities) were fantastic. Among them:

• Hooking your readers in one paragraph--or less, with historical novelist David Liss. Liss covered famous and not-so-famous first lines and paragraphs, analyzing what makes them entice the reader, and which ones (surprisingly) don't do the job well.
• Creating Dazzling Worlds, with YA author Laura Resau. Though I'd never heard of Resau, I was really impressed with her writing exercises to help bring freshness and dimension to both storyworlds and characters. Her excerpts from her books made me want to go read them.
• How to avoid the sophomore slump, with Barry Eisler. He explained techniques to make your second novel as good as, or better than the first.
• Ghostwriting Panel. This one was interesting, with three authors talking about their experiences both working for book packagers (and ghostwriting for some seriously famous people), and using your writing skills to barter for services. Something to think about.
• The Neuroscience of Writing, with DeAnna Knippling. Such a fascinating workshop, helping writers understand exactly why they should avoid cliches, among many other topics.
• Plot, structure, and pushing your characters, with agent Hannah Bowman. A seriously helpful and interactive workshop, with a plot diagram you've never seen before--but it makes so much sense!

Pitches & Critiques
I pitched both formally and informally--one of the best things about going to a conference!

• Pat Van Wie, editor at Bell Bridge Books. Though Belle Bridge hasn't published YA historical fantasy, Pat was willing to take a look at my manuscript and see what she thought.
• Barry Goldblatt, agent with Goldblatt Literary. Though Barry has represented both fairy tale retellings (Shannon Hale) and YA historical fantasy (his wife, Libba Bray), he felt that the market wouldn't support more books in the fairy tale genre.
• Hannah Bowman, agent with Liza Dawson Associates. I caught her in the hall and asked her opinion, and she disagreed with Goldblatt's assessment. She recently sold a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and the publisher is marketing it specifically as a fairy tale. She'd like to see my pages.
• Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, with Larsen Pomada Literary Agents. I spoke to her while driving her to the airport. Like Bowman, she feels there is still room for well-told fairy tales. She'd like pages, too. And while I was talking to Pam, I had author and actress Amber Benson (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) in the back seat. Such a crazy weekend!

Meals
Meals at conferences are a great way to network with other attendees, and spend time with faculty in a more relaxed setting.

• Lunch with SourceBooks editor Deb Werksman was so much fun. Though she edits romance exclusively, she was so kind to genuinely engage the three male sci-fi writers who happened to sit at the table. I also had a great time going along on her Colorado tour and yarn shopping.
• Nicole Resciniti, agent with The Seymour Agency, is so well-read and smart. I think I'll definitely query her.
• Dinner with author Libba Bray was amazingly fun, as was her keynote speech the next night. She could easily make a living as a stand-up comic. And she was kind enough to sit down with my daughter and her friend and work through their story worlds.

•  Barry Eisler (who went from traditional publishing to indie) gave a keynote that shared the different sides of publishing. Some industry professionals did not take it well. If you want to know more, read the recap on Joe Konrath's blog.

 All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. I can't say enough about how much fun it is to volunteer at a conference. Have you ever volunteered at a conference?

Free Publishing Teleseminar: get your questions anwered by three professionals

 You've heard their names before. I've blogged about them. Former publishing CEO Michael Hyatt. Uber-agent Chip MacGregor. Up-and-coming agent Amanda Leudeke.

Next Wednesday, April 10th, at 8pm Eastern Time, writers everywhere have an opportunity to participate in a free teleseminar with all three. It's called the Get Published Teleseminar.

The seminar is one hour long, and will answer many publishing questions, including questions on platform (which Michael Hyatt wrote a book about). Even if you can't make the meeting, sign up, and you'll receive an MP3 link replay after it's done.

When you register, you have the chance to ask any question you want--great if there's a few things you really want addressed.

If a writing conference isn't in your future, make sure to take advantage of workshops like these.

What is the publishing question you'd most like the answer to?

It's Time for WriteOnCon: a free online writing conference

It's that time again. A conference for those of us who don't have tons of money, tons of time, or who live so far out that flying to a writing conference is out of the question. WriteOnCon is back. On August 14th and 15th, writers will engage through thirty-five workshops, forums, keynotes, and live events.

One of the coolest things WriteOnCon is doing this year is called Ninja Agents. In this forum, you can post your writing sample or query letter, and one of thirteen agents will stop in from time to time and post comments. It's possible to get agent requests from this forum. Even if you attended an in-person conference, you'd be hard-pressed to pitch to that many agents.

 Who are the Ninja Agents? Here's a list (links are to those highlighted on Agent Friday posts):

Natalie Fischer, with Bradford Literary
Michelle Andelman, with Regal Literary
Kathleen Ortiz, with Nancy Coffey Literary
Ammi-Joan Paquette, with Erin Murphy Literary
Jessica Sinsheimer, with Sarah Jane Freymann
Roseanne Wells, with Marianne Strong Literary
Joanna Volpe, with Nancy Coffey Literary
Weronika Janczuk, with Lynn C. Franklin
Suzie Townsend, with FinePrint Literary
Carlie Webber, with the Jane Rotrosen Agency
Alyssa Eisner Henkin, with Trident Media
Marietta Zacker, with Nancy Gallt Literary

Kat Salazar, with Larsen Pomada Literary Agents

 Some of the workshops and sessions planned this year are:

* How to Get Started With Social Media: DON’T Do All The Things!

* Choosing the Right Critique Partners

* Hooks and Killer First Lines

* Picture Book Query Critiques 

* What is Voice, and How do I Get it?

* World-building in Science Fiction and Fantasy

* Plotting with 3×5 cards

* Building Characters into Real People

* He Said, She Said, Creating sexual tension through dialog

* Differences between YA and MG and the challenges of writing both

* The Inside Scoop: Get Your Query Noticed

~and there's lots more.

Want to join in? Here are the basics:

Click here for the super-quick registration.

Check out the amazing faculty here and here.

Do you think you'll attend? I've already got several workshops marked down. And if your schedule won't allow you to participate live, just check the forums when you can. Everything will still be there.

Writing Conference Recap

Well. I'm home from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference. Four full days of workshops, learning, and volunteering has left me a little on the tired side. But I wanted to give you an idea of how wonderful conferences can be. I'll be writing some future posts about the amazing things I've learned. Here are a few highlights from each day.

Thursday was spent in an eight-hour workshop with agent Donald Maass. He taught from material that will be included in his forthcoming book Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling in Modern Fiction. Each of us wrote as fast as we could, trying to record both his questions to consider for our stories, and making notes for changes to our manuscripts. Suffice it to say, I'll be buying the book.

I ducked out of the end of the workshop to make a trip to the airport, where I picked up agent Amanda Luedecke and Berkeley editor Leis Pederson. I had fun taking them on a quick tour of the beautiful Garden of the Gods, and then to dinner afterwards.

Friday started off bright and early with two amazing workshops by fantasy author Carol Berg, who gave great tips for revising a manuscript. After lunch with Titan editor Steve Saffel, it was on to a workshop where Amanda Luedecke listened to our first pages and offered fantastic feedback. I attended an agent panel consisting of Luedecke, Rachelle Gardner, Paige Wheeler, Taylor Martindale, Evan Gregory, Weronicka Janczuk, and Kristin Nelson. I learned so much from the Q&A. Following that, I volunteered in the Green Room, where faculty take a break between sessions.

Dinner on Friday was really interesting. It was a costume party, and my daughter and I had forgotten to bring our outfits. We'd heard that non-participants might be forced to dress in togas, so Katie bought us each something to wear. For me, she selected a little tutu, which I wore over my clothes. Not too embarrassing, I thought, until I sat down next to Donald Maass! Yes, I ate dinner with him while wearing a tutu. We had a wonderful time, conversing about the sad Pulitzer news, and he was so gracious to offer Katie an opportunity to apply for an internship at his agency.

Saturday was pitch day for me. I was thrilled to have Kristin Nelson's first pitch of the day, partly so she wouldn't be tired, and I wouldn't have to be nervous the whole day. The pitches are on the seventh floor, and (wouldn't you know?) every elevator stopped working at the exact moment I needed to use them. I ran up all seven flights (using up some of my nervous energy in the process) and was still panting when I began my pitch. Somehow, regardless of my likely wild-eyed expression, she said send it.

In other Saturday news, I learned about author branding, how to use screenplay techniques to make fiction better, and how to create memorable heroes, villains, & sidekicks. For lunch, I sat with SmashWords founder Mark Coker. Donald Maass gave the keynote speech, which was so inspiring, I'll have to do a separate post. Then it was off to take Legend author Marie Lu to the airport (and grill her about her experiences as a much-touted debut author). I came back to the hotel to help decorate the ballroom for the dinner that night.

Saturday night was the awards dinner, where I received my certificate for placing in the Pikes Peak Writers Contest. The speaker that night was thriller writer Robert Crais (to whom I had committed a major faux pas, but he was gracious and only ribbed me about it the rest of the weekend). Mystery writer Jeffery Deaver tapped me on the shoulder to ask my daughter and I to solve a friendly argument he was having with someone. When I asked him how the conference was going, he mentioned he'd found a few minutes between sessions to write a few thousand words on his WIP. That's called being a writer.

Sunday came, and though weariness was setting in, I was so glad I didn't sleep in. Agent Weronika Janczuk gave a fantastic workshop on compactness in queries and first chapters. I'm using her tips already. Then I listened to urban fantasy author Karen Duvall speak about creating the best turning points and reversals in your plotting. I skipped the last session to help out in the ballroom again (like Katie and I had been doing before each meal). For the closing lunch, we sat with Carol Berg, who related to us her amazing story of starting writing at age 40 and becoming the prolific author she is. Romance author Susan Wiggs gave the final keynote. I especially loved this quote:

The only guaranteed way to fail is to quit.

Besides all the things you learn, writing conferences are an amazing way to be surrounded by people with the same passion as you, to get to know some of your literary heroes, and make great new friends. Of course, I'm partial to this one (Writer's Digest listed it as on of the top ten in the country), but any conference will do these things for you. Could I meet you there next year?

More on what to bring to a writing conference

Here's a round up of posts on being ready for your next writing conference. I'm a the Pikes Peak Writing Conference right now, so these are the things on my mind! I'll try to take good notes so I can share what I've learned.

Always Prepared: What to bring to a writing conference, Part 1  What I bring.

Always Prepared: What to Bring to a Writing Conference, Part 2 What other writers suggest.

Meeting Virtual Friends for Real The fun of meeting up with your online friends.

When an Agent Asks for Your Manuscript  Stop and think before you send.

Pinkies Up: Writing Conference Etiquette Manners matter.  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Writing Conference Preparation

Tomorrow's the big day. The first day of the Pikes Peak Writer's Conference. Thankfully, I'm home today, and have a little time to get everything ready. I thought it might be a good idea to record what I do, so I won't forget something next time. And, it might give readers some additional thoughts on being ready for a conference.

Clothing. I live close enough to the conference so I can commute back and forth every day. If I were flying in, of course I'd have to pack ahead of time. But even though I don't have to do that, I'll at least decide what I'm wearing so I won't have to stress over what's ironed or not early in the morning. The biggest things will be comfortable shoes and layered clothing. Hotel conference rooms can range from icy to steamy, and it helps to be prepared.

Most conferences promote attendees wearing "business casual" attire. For the day I pitch to agent Kristin Nelson (Saturday morning), I'll go more for a business outfit. Thursday evening, after I pick up Amanda Luedecke and Leis Pederson at the airport, I'll take them to dinner, but I'll just stick with what I wore to the Donald Maass workshop all day.

Stuff. What I'll leave home: my laptop (it's heavy to lug around, and most conference rooms don't have easily accessible outlets--or they're already in use), and my manuscript (agents an editors do not want a hard copy, and it identifies you as a novice).

What I'll bring: business cards (always stick a few in the pocket of your nametag for easy access), copies of my manuscript's first page (for a workshop), and a master list of where I'm going when. I'm volunteering in a lot of different capacities, so I need to know where to be. I'll also bring printed workshop handouts. The PPW sends them electronically ahead of time to save paper.

Homefront. With a competent husband and four kids aged 15-20, my family will survive without me for the four days of the conference (and my oldest daughter will be there with me). But to help them out, I've planned out some easy meals for them to tackle while I'm gone.

I'll also get my blog post for Friday scheduled, so I'll have one less thing to tackle. And I'll try to spend some time today practicing my pitch so it will roll off my tongue even if I'm nervous.

Volunteer. If you want to get to know people better and support a great cause, offer your services to the conference you plan to attend. No matter if you're a computer geek or a social butterfly, there's a way for you to use your talents.
~I'll be helping in the following areas:
~driving agents, editors, and authors to and from the airport
~decorating tables for the different meals
~setting up the bookstore
~monitoring the "Green Room", where speakers can take a break
~breaking down and cleaning up when everything is done
Sometime soon I'll do a post listing even more ways to help out at a writing conference.

What are some ways you prepare for a conference? I'll have more on this in Friday's post.

Agent Friday: Amanda Luedecke

I haven't done an Agent Friday post in a while, mostly because I ran out of blogging agents. I was looking into Amanda Luedecke, a new agent with MacGregor Literary, since she'll be attending the Pikes Peak Writer's Conference next week, and I found she does have quite a few articles online. 

Luedecke represents literary fiction, YA, romance, women’s fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk, African American fiction, middle grade fiction, nonfiction, and Christian non-fiction/fiction.

Here's a sampling of some of her posts:

Does an MFA matter?  Should you spend the money and time?

10 marks of a new writer Are you guilty of any of these? 

How to format your manuscript for submission and Kindle upload

How to attract an agent with your YA project Four tips to remember.

For inspirational writers: Breaking into Christian YA and The Current Status of Christian YA

Social Media

Luedecke's surprising thoughts on authors using Twitter: who's doing well and who's missing the mark. Also check out How to Write a Great Tweet and Why Authors Should Be On Twitter.

GoodReads: How to promote your book on GoodReads and 5 steps to build book hype on GoodReads.

Marketing:

How to host a successful book giveaway

10 steps to growing a public speaking platform

Platform:

How big should a writer's platform be?

Growing a platform is like dominoes.

Success with writing articles to build your platform.

Blogging:

Blogging as a fiction author

7 Ways to Grow Your Blog Readership

5 Rules of Blogging Well

And here's an interview on Chiseled in Rock, where Luedecke talks about the trends she's seeing in publishing, and what may be the next big thing.

How important is social media in your writing life?

Getting ready to pitch your book? Check this out first.

In my email this morning was a confirmation that in two weeks I'll be pitching my book to agent Kristin Nelson. Besides polishing my manuscript, I'll be practicing my pitch. So I went back to this post on Pitch University for some pointers. Maybe you're preparing to pitch, too. Check out what they have to offer.

I'm surprised I hadn't come across Pitch University in my internet browsing. What a wealth of information! Even if you're not ready to pitch right now, you're probably ready to learn. And the folks at Pitch University have worked incredibly hard to provide you the tools you need.

The amount of articles, videos, and audios is amazing. Start at the home page, and scroll down to New to Pitch U? You'll want to do some browsing on the site to get familiar with all they offer.

Begun by Diane Holmes, Pitch University is a safe and comfortable place for writers--no matter how hesitant or shy--to learn to verbalize their story. Holmes grew up in a family of salesmen, and even majored in marketing, but she confesses, "I suck at pitching." Makes you feel better, huh?

One of the events at Pitch University is a monthly "PitchFest". The organizers host an agent or editor who is currently looking for books. Participants are encouraged to pitch to the professional, via query letter, audio, or video.

Among the many offerings at Pitch University are:

The Pitch U Blog

The Pitch U Writers Manifesto (which will ease your mind)

What if I'm totally nervous?

The first of 27 lessons on pitching.

Even more pitching education.

Columns on pitching from the experts.

The free Monthly Pitch newsletter (signing up gets you the free bonus "10 Reasons You Suck at Pitching Your Book")

Free radio podcasts on "Your Book is Your Hook".

Do you feel comfortable with your pitch? Have you pitched in the past? How did it go?

How would you like to have dinner with Donald Maass?

Making writing contacts is a big part of the publishing process. Attending workshops and conferences can put writers in range of coveted agents, editors, and authors. But here's an opportunity for anyone to sit down for dinner with one of four publishing stars.

Dinner with the Stars is a fundraising event connected to the wonderful Pikes Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Guests do not have to attend the conference to have a shot at one of the coveted seats.

Here's how it works. Bidders submit bids on one of eight seats at a banquet table with either agent Donald Maass, mystery author Robert Crais, romance author Susan Wiggs, or crime writer Jeffrey Deaver. Bids start at $50, which covers the gourmet dinner. The two highest bidders at each table sit on either side of the honored guest.

The date for the event is April 19th at 6:30pm. Each guest receives a gift from the VIP (like a signed book), and a photo with the VIP. Guests also enjoy priority placement for the book signing following the dinner. Bidding opened only a few days ago, and there are plenty of slots left. Check out the bidding action at the Dinner with the Stars page.

So if you're in the Colorado area (or can get there), you've got a guaranteed way to meet four amazing people. Would you do it if you could?

Guest Post: Marketing: Beginning With The End in Mind, by Randy Ingermanson

Today's guest post details the journey to publication from the end to the beginning. Randy Ingermanson has a way of explaining things so they stick with you. If you haven't signed up for his free monthly newsletter, click the link at the bottom of the post. It's worth your time.

Marketing: Beginning With The End in Mind, by Randy Ingermanson

In Stephen Covey's classic book, THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, he recommends that you "begin with the end in mind."

He's talking about living your life in a way that you'll be proud of it when you die. The "end" he has in mind here is death.

But beginning with the end in mind makes sense, no matter what path you're taking, and the path we writers care about is the road to publication.

The "end" of that path is the happy day when an editor calls you to say, "We voted today and we've decided to offer you a contract on your book."

That's a good end to a long, long path. Getting published by a traditional, royalty-paying publisher is validation for your work. (You may also consider it validation for you, but it's really just validation for the novel you wrote.)

It's important to know the "end" you're trying to reach, because then it's not hard to work backward from that "end."

Let's do that now. Let's work backward several steps.

What comes before you get the contract?

That's easy. The last thing that happens before your editor calls to offer you a contract is that the publishing committee meets and your editor pitches your book to them and they vote on it.

What happens before the committee meets?

That's also easy. The editor reads your manuscript (and probably also your proposal) and decides that this is a manuscript she wants to champion.

What happens before your editor reads your manuscript and proposal?

There are two normal ways to get a manuscript in front of an editor. Either you or your agent sends the editor the manuscript. It doesn't matter who sends the manuscript. The only thing that matters is that the editor recognizes the name of the sender.

If your agent sends the manuscript, the editor accepts it because she knows your agent. If you send the manuscript, the editor accepts it because she knows you.

If the editor doesn't know either of you, then she doesn't even look at your manuscript. She's too busy dealing with professionals to be bothered with amateurs.

And how in the world would the editor know you? What has to happen in order for the editor to know you?

That's extremely simple. The editor will only know you if you have met her. The usual way that happens is that you meet her at a writing conference and pitch her your story and she says, "Wow! Sounds interesting. Send me your manuscript and/or your proposal."

If meeting an editor at a writing conference sounds scary, you might think that it's better to just get an agent and let him do it. OK, fine. Let's say your agent sends the editor the manuscript.

What happens before the agent sends the editor your manuscript?

Again, very easy. Your agent first has to offer to represent you and you have to accept that offer of representation.

Why does an agent offer to represent you? What has to happen first?

That's also easy. You send that agent a copy of your manuscript and/or proposal, and he recognizes your name on the cover, reads it, and decides that you are a
talent worth spending time on.

Uh-oh. How would the agent recognize your name?

The agent will only recognize your name if he's met you. The usual way that happens is at a writing conference. You make an appointment and pitch your
story to the agent, and he says, "Wow! Sounds interesting. Send me your manuscript and/or your proposal."

You may be wondering why you have to meet people in person. Can't you just mail in your manuscript? Or e-mail it? Are agents and editors too snooty to read their mail or their e-mail?

No, they're not snooty. They're busy. They're overwhelmed with the zillions of other writers sending in stuff by mail and e-mail. Your mail or e-mail is lost in the flood. Unless they know you.

A writing conference is your best chance to capture the undivided attention of an editor or agent – for fifteen minutes. You make an appointment. You've got a
quarter of an hour to show what you've got. No interruptions. Nobody else.

Sure that's scary. Sure that's hard. So was getting your driver's license. So was getting your first kiss.

Lots of things are scary and hard, and you do them because the rewards are worth the risk. Life is about doing the scary and hard things you need to do to get what you want.

If you want to meet an editor or agent and have a more-than-fair shot at making an impression, then a writing conference is an excellent place to do it. In my 20+ years as a writer, I haven't seen a better way to make that connection.

About once a year, I write a column in this e-zine about the enormous benefits of going to writing conferences. I believe in conferences.

I sold my first book (and my second, and my third) on my own, without an agent, as a direct result of the contacts I made at writing conferences. I met my first agent (and my second and my third) at conferences. Most of my published novelist friends did the same.

No need to belabor this point. Either you're ready to go to a conference and make some connections, or you aren't. If you are, then what are you waiting for? The year is early. Make it happen.

If you aren't, then now might be a good time for me to mention that writing conferences are a great way to learn more about the craft of writing fiction.

I joined my first critique group as a result of going to my first conference. I met my first writing buddy at another conference. I first heard the phrase "you're going to get published soon" from a novelist at a conference.

I don't usually make a sales pitch for my products in this column, but I will now, because it would be wrong not to mention it.

I've got an e-book available, the WRITER'S CONFERENCE SURVIVAL GUIDE, that tells you all about how to pick the right conference for you and how to get the most out of it.

You can find out all about the WRITER'S CONFERENCE SURVIVAL GUIDE here:
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com/links/wcsg.php

If the "end" you have in mind is to get published with a traditional, royalty-paying publisher, then a writing conference is very likely to be one of the last steps you take before you reach that "end."

Nothing happens unless you take action. Go to it.

This article is reprinted by permission of the author.

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the Snowflake Guy," publishes the free monthly Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 30,000 readers. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.

Where are you on Ingermanson's list? 

Get Yourself to a Writing Conference

Great news today. I opened an email that let me know I received a scholarship to the amazing Pikes Peak Writer's Conference. And the cherry on top? My daughter won a scholarship as well.

There's nothing better than a writing conference. To be surrounded by people who understand your passion. People who want to talk plot, synopsis, and marketing.

And there's nothing like attending a conference with one of your favorite people.

This will be Katie's first conference. Though she's a creative writing major, she's never had a chance to go to one. She'll get to hear speakers like Donald Maass, Kristin Nelson, and Rachelle Gardner. 

If you've never attended a conference, there's no reason to wait. Even if you're not finished with your novel, it's a great way to learn more about the craft of writing and soak up motivation to keep going. If money is an option, here are a couple of ways to make it happen.

Search for Scholarships. Most conferences offer them. Check the websites of those near you. Your best bet is to find a local conference where you can drive back and forth, saving you airfare and hotel fees. And remember, regional conferences are a significant savings, and can be just as incredible as the expensive national conferences. Most of us are starving writers. It's ok to admit it.

Pitch In. A writing conference is a huge undertaking, and it can't happen without a lot of help. Contact the conference staff to see where your skills can be put to work, or what they can teach you to do. You'll make fantastic friends, and usually you'll get a nice discount on the conference as a thank you.

Visit Virtually. If your location or budget make an in-person conference an impossibility, plan to attend an online conference. Two free ones are Muse Online and WriteOnCon, but there are others available, too.

What would it take to get you to a writing conference this year?

One More Chance for a Free Writing Conference: The Muse Online Conference

You may have missed some of the recent online writing conferences I've posted about. Well, you've got one more opportunity, and it starts next week. From October 3rd through the 9th, writers of every genre and in any country can enjoy the same perks that would normally cost big bucks.

The Muse Online Writers Conference has been going on for several years, and each year it gets bigger and better. You'll find all kinds of workshops to attend, plus pitch sessions with publishers and agents.

Check out some of the workshops offered:

How to Correct, Trim, and Enhance Your Manuscript
Submission Etiquette 101 
Making a Pitch
How to Submit
Mind Mapping your way to deeper characters
The Myth In Mythology. Use it to sell your breakout novel
Why do You Write? 
Keeping Track of Your World: How to Create a Story Bible       
Perfecting The Pitch Synopsis   
Conceptualization of the Afterlife 
Serious about Series?   Considerations for Building a Multi-Volume Fantasy Series 
Uncharted Territory: Creating a Fantasy World 
Creating Villains Your Readers Will Love to Hate 
What Every Beginner Needs to Know About Writing  
Writing Through Thick and Thin    
Look Who's Talking: The Controversy of Dialog Tags  
Craftsmanship and the Hidden Truths of Being Alive    
Marketing Off The Grid 
Survival 101: When Edits Become Rewrites  
Beta Readers: the good, the bad, and the just plain mean   
Plotting the Teen/Tween Romance One Day Workshop
First Paragraphs with Nancy Bell
A Poor Man's Guide to Shoestring Marketing

Construct Your Social Media Platform

Crafting the Perfect Query

Creating and Building Your Author/Writer Online Presence

Developing a Unique Voice

Developing Contacts to Promote Your Book

Flash Fiction: What is it? How do I write it? Why should I bother? 

Freelance Writing: It's a Business, Stupid!

From the Inside Out: Discovering Your Characters

HOOK an Editor with Your FIRST Page

How to Build a Great Book Review

Note: this is only a partial list--I didn't have room for them all. Check out the rest on the workshop page.

 

There's lots more information on the conference blog. And if you need to feel sure the conference is worth your time, check out these testimonials. I'll be there--how about you?

Three Fiction Powerhouses Answer Deep Writing Questions

They're called 'storymasters'. Agent and author Donald Maass, along with authors James Scott Bell and Chris Vogler. Together, these men comprise decades of experience as writers and writing teachers. 

Donald Maass is the author of The Fire in Fiction, Writing the Breakout Novel, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, The Breakout Novelist, and The Career Novelist. 

James Scott Bell, besides numerous novels, has written Plot and Structure, Revision and Self-Editing, and Writing Fiction for All You're Worth.

Christopher Vogler is the author of The Writer's Journey,  Memo from the Story Department, and Myth and the Movies, among others.

These amazing instructors will teach a three and a half day workshop called Storymasters in Houston, Texas on Novemeber 3-6, 2011. To give you a taste of what they offer, they answer the following questions. Each of them have some fascinating answers.

Q: There are lots of dark protagonists around lately.  Is this a fashion or an archetype?  What makes them popular?  What makes them work?

Q: Is there really any such thing as plot, or is that just an easy label for something else? 

Q: In constructing character arcs, what’s the most important consideration?

Q: Beginner story mistakes are obvious, but even pros have weaknesses.  What’s their most frequent shortcoming?

Q: You three Story Masters each teach universal principles but also singular techniques.  What dimension of storytelling is most important to you?   

To find out what they say, go to the Writer's Digest article. And for a fun read, check out Bell's new novel, Pay Me in Flesh, about a female zombie lawyer. It'll make you laugh.

My favorite points: Bell's discussion of 'layers of character', Maass' explanation of how authors wimp out with their plot, and Vogler's explanation of why some professional writers overthink and overwrite. How about you?

WriteOnCon Recap, Day 3

Last day, I promise. Again, the WriteOnCon organizers and presenters have outdone themselves. Check out what happened on Thursday:

Ask A Bookbuyer by bookbuyers Faith Hochhalter and Brandi Stewart

Visual Storytelling by illustrator Eric Wright

How/When I Know A Manuscript Is Right For Me by editor Annette Pollert

10 Traits of an Author by author Amy Dominy

Moments That Matter by author Matt Myklusch

Writing A Great Query by literary agent Jim McCarthy

Respect by author Kiersten White

Live 250-word Pitch Event with literary agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin

Successful Marketing/Promo/School Visits by author Jon S. Lewis

Pacing by author Tara Hudson

Live chat with literary agents Marietta Zacker, Joan Paquette, and Michael Bourret

Revision by author Carrie Ryan

An Editor’s Perspective on What Authors Should and Should Not Talk About Online by editor Liesa Abrams

Traditional vs. Self-Publishing Live Chat with literary agent Sara Megibow

Dialogue by literary agent Tina Wexler

Live YA Query Letter Event with literary agent Roseanne Wells

Class of 2K12 Vlog

Answers to Questions by literary agent Steven Malk

The Reading Room  TOP 5 

Panel of Professionals (Natalie Fischer, Anica Rissi, Kathleen Ortiz) 

Andrea Brown Lit Chat (Jen Rofe, Kelly Sonnack, Jennifer Laughran, Caryn Wiseman) 

 Now you've got the weekend to catch up! Hopefully I will, too.

WriteOnCon Recap, Day 2

The nice thing about an online conference is that when life gets in the way, you don't have to miss out. My day was busy, but wonderful, ending with a campfire sing-a-long with my kids and their friends. But I didn't get to sit around in my pjs like Tuesday.

Not to worry! I can catch up between appointments today, and also try to keep up with the new workshops. Here's a rundown of what you may have missed yesterday--like me:

The Debut Year by Author Lindsey Leavitt

Illustration 101 by JH Everett and the Studio 5 Illustrators

 You’re Already Invited: Connecting to the Lit Community Online

 I DON’T CARE THAT HE’S HOT: Building Believable Romance

The Shakeover Makeover ? Shake Your PB Till It Shines!

Novel Beginnings, How to Know Where To Start by Author Lisa Schroeder

How to Write A Synopsis

Irresistible Picture Book Characters

Middle Grade’s Got Heart

LIVE FORUM EVENT: Pitch + 100 words with literary agents Carlie Webber and Christina Hogrebe

Are You Ready to Query?

On Compactness

Live Q&A with author Sarah Rees Brennan

Character Development

Your Own Hero's Journey: Using Intuition to Balance Writing and Life: Advice from an Editor and Life Coach for Writers

Live Q&A with literary agent Jenny Bent

Submission Basics

How Do I Know That I Really Love It? 

Live YA Q&A chat with Holly Root and Barbara Poelle

Critique Groups 101 with the YA Muses

Marketing 101 for Children’s Book Authors

Live Panel of Industry Professionals: Kate Testerman, Martha Mihalick, Joanna Volpe, Jen Rofe, Diana Fox

Wednesday Night Recap Includes the Friday schedule.

I'm looking forward to checking out The Debut Year and Your Own Hero's Journey. How about you?

WriteOnCon highlights

Please don't think I'm obsessed with WriteOnCon or anything. It's just that I learned so much yesterday, I don't want anyone to miss out. Some workshops are written (like a blog post), others are video workshops (most only 6-10 minutes), and a few are live chats (which you can read through anytime--not just during the chat). There are also online forums to read on topics like agent questions, querying, and pitching.

Browse through these links to see what might interest you. And then, head over to WriteOnCon to take advantage of today's workshops. WriteOnCon ends tomorrow, but the links will stay up.

Your Novel Isn't Ready For Submission Because

A humorous look at the realities of writers' submissions.

Live Chat with Agent Suzie Townsend 

I learned she likes a query in the voice of the book's character over the author's voice. It gives her an idea of whether she'll like the MS. She recommends that writers, while querying, start the next book.

Platform: Live chat with Agent Sarah Megibow 

She prefers a live website before receiving a query--it's not an absolute, but a professional looking website will impress her. Headshot, bio, news page, what I write. A blog counts.

The Story Queen Talks Writing for Multiple Genres

Drawing From Memory

Myths and Misconceptions 

Two editors and an agent give a realistic view of the publishing process.

How to Write a Killer First Sentence

 I bookmarked this. Great information.

Pacing in Contemporary YA

I loved this video. Learned several new tips.

Setting Yourself Up

This workshop leads writers through the process of working on setting.

Don't Give Up

One of the most encouraging videos. For anyone who has ever considered throwing in the towel. This author had every reason to and didn't, and now she's a NY Times bestselling author.

Writing Magical Realism vs. Paranormal Fantasy

Author Collaboration

For anyone who's thinking about coauthoring a book.

Collective Blogging and Book Promotion

Live Panel with Agents and Editors

Which of these caught your eye? Will I see you at WriteOnCon today?

Monday-Write on con

One week from tomorrow, on August 16, the much-anticipated WriteOnCon begins (ending August 18th). If you haven't heard of it, it's a free online writing conference, with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a professional conference. Though started for children's authors, the information in this conference is valuable for authors of any genre.

Find links to last year's workshops on the What You Missed page. It's like attending the 2010 conference all at once.

And they've recently posted a list of their Ninja Agents. These are agents who have agreed to spend time in the WriteOnCon Forums. Writers post their query letters or a writing sample. The agents will offer feedback--and may even request partials based on what they read. Queries and samples can be posted as early as Monday, August 15. Who could pass up professional feedback on their writing? For all the details, visit the Ninja Agents page.

To see a complete faculty list of authors and agents, check here. And to register for the three power-packed days of information, all the links are here.

Have you attended a conference this year? If not, this could be the one that works out for you.

Not One, But Two Free Online Writing Conferences

No matter where you live, or what your budget, or even your age will prevent you from attending a writing conference this summer.

WriteOnCon is a free online conference for writers of any age. While some of the focus is on writing for children, the main workshops and ideas apply to writers of any genre. The conference runs from Tuesday, August 16th to Thursday, August 18th, 2011, and will not cost you a penny. You can access the workshops and forums at any time, so it won't matter what time zone you're in.

WriteOnCon main site.

Frequently asked questions.

NextGen Online Writing Conference is specifically for young writers, age 20 and under. It also takes place in August, on August 2nd and 3rd, 2011. Registration is already open. You'll find lots of great workshops taught by professionals who want to encourage young writers.

NextGen main site.

Conference schedule.

Registration.

So, no excuses, right?