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C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 - 07:41 pm: |   |
Well folks... time to get down and dirty and trade some wisdom and/or experiences.
I've been writing now over 16 years and have never been to a writer's conference. I have one coming up in 3 short weeks, and I am determined to be ready.
I am a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers group, but have yet to meet with them, as things have turned out, and chances don't look that great that I will by conference time.
At the Colorado Gold Conference, Michelle Brummer of the Donald Maass agency will be present, and I have an appointment with her. She is their Sci-Fi / Fantasy rep  I jumped at that chance.
So... I'm looking for tips (scrounging?) and would love to hear if anyone has been to conferences, had experiences, or have tips to pass along for me. I'm pretty sure I represent well in person, and I think my writing is at least as good as some of the stuff I've read in my genre of fantasy, but I don't want to misstep at the conference.
I've been reading a bit about these things, and there's a lot of talk of round-table readings of manuscripts, pitches, and the overwhelmingly nerve-wracking "hook".
And here I am with no idea of what I'm about to walk into.
So, heed the call... Come join this discussion and share with me and with everyone who visits the forum. We need this topic to be filled with good ideas so that we can all benefit... (Honest, I'm not just being selfish cuz I need to know hehehe).
I know most of us are "newbies" to the publishing world... but we've all been researching and learning about it... so let's pool what we know.
I promise to write up a piece here on my experience at the conference, but until then, I'm the one looking for the information hehehe.
CEW |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 - 10:06 pm: | |
C. E.:
I attend at least one (preferably three) writers conferences yearly and I am membership chair to the SCWW writers group in SC., so, my experiences are many....just do not follow the habits I need to break.
All of you know I am a gregarious, opinionated person. At writers conferences, for reasons unknown, I am fairly shy -- full of self doubt. Do not walk in my shoes, in that respect.
One experience I will share:
I attended a writers conference in 1997, submitting a screenplay in the competition. When received, the director of the conference phoned me telling me that my screenplay was 'not in proper format.' I was livid, and expressed how angry I was at him. Now you know, I am somewhat outspoken! After a verbal discussion, we decided to submit the screenplay to the facilitator who would critique screenplays. My reply -- Please do. He will see that it IS in the proper format.
When I attended the conference and introduced myself, all eyes were upon me. At first, I felt tempted to crawl into the floor and hide, still fearful with self doubt. I read something in everyone's eyes that I should not have; however, the director's voice echoed inside my brain, recalling our heated discussion. I was under the impression that he had shared my hot temper with others.
Nevertheless, much to my surprise, at the awards banquet, I was dumbfounded when my name was called for first place in screewriting! I walked to the podium with tears pouring down my face. And, when William Nolan, a respected infamous screenwriter, gave me my award, he whispered that I should always believe in myself and never doubt what others think.
I remember his words and will struggle to repeat them this year when I attend my writers conference in October.
The moral to this story:
Believe in yourself. Don't allow the self doubt to echo in your mind.
Take lots of notes. When you arrive home, transcribe those notes to share later.
Introduce yourself to everyone. Mingle. Flirt and schmooze. Schmoozing is something I need to work on!
If someone likes your work, inquire to see if they can recommend a place to send it.
Take business cards with you, and distribute to everyone you can.
Perhaps I will approach my conference with these tips this year. I must not allow the self doubt to make me a shy wallflower again.
Gosh, now all of you know my life story. Sorry! |
C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 08:22 pm: | |
Well, given all the events and what kind of feels like extraordinary bad luck (though I know it is not) all of the New York agents and editors will not be at what would otherwise be a rather large Conference starting tomorrow. Still, I have never been to one, and intend to do everything I can to make what the conference offers work for me.
It sounds awful selfish to say this week in particular, but I'm still just as determined as ever and am starting to look forward to the event at hand. I still intend to post a newsletter about the conference somewhere on the site afterward, and hope that others whom have never been to a conference may benefit from what I learn and tell with my newbie-perspective of it.
Mostly I'm looking forward to be immersed in something I truly love, rather than being forced to work at the day-job through all of this - perhaps have some time to relax a bit as well.
I truly hope that all of you are able to do what you love this week-end, and move forward a bit. We are all very caught up in what's happening, because it's there and it's huge. We do need to continue with our lives. This is not something that we'll ever be able to put past us, and it's too big to absorb right now, but getting back into our lives is important too.
Anyhow, I'm one to talk... I have very little nerves left at this point, which is all the more reason that I intend to make the best of 1) sleeping in a bit tomorrow, and 2) enjoying myself at the conference.
CEW |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 08:34 pm: | |
CEW,
I wish you much success at this conference you are going to. Even though none of the agents will be there, you can still get good reviews from others who are and pass them along to those that you may or would have been able to see. I hope for you much success. And have a great time also. You deserve it.
BTW, when you get back, my book is listed at BooksAMillion (it's a start) so that made my day good.....
Claudia |
Nancy M. Segovia
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 09:09 pm: | |
C.E., I hope your conferences will be for you at the very least relaxing
and at the very best rewarding.
I have hated every conference I have attended. At my first
one, I called my best friend within two hours of arriving
whining and literally crying about how miserable I was,
how I didn't fit in, and how if I hadn't car-pooled
with a stranger, I would have already been on the road
back home. But, I have always been a rather odd-duck.
And I really hope your experience is a lot of fun, relaxing
and rewarding.
Smiles and blessings,
Nancy Marie |
C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:04 pm: | |
You know... the folks that are regulars here at the forum... you guys are really the best. I just thought I'd put that out there and say thank you - for everything and for being who you are.
By the way, I will probably have my laptop with me, and so may post - though week-ends are very slow at the forum, I always check in (I'm an addict hehehe)
CEW |
C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2001 - 06:36 am: | |
Good morning everyone.
Well it's been a busy time for me lately. It's been almost a month since I attended the Colorado Gold writer's conference, just days after the tragedies in New York and in DC. I've been working hard at work, and coming home each night to work on writing as well.
I thought I'd write and say that I still intend to put up a 'newsletter' or some kind of editorial piece about the conference, but for now I want to stress to those of you that have never been to one, it is a valuable experience.
I've also begun, for the first time in sixteen years of writing, to participate in a critique group. All of the excellent criticism and global viewpoint of the group aside... just hearing my work read aloud has been so helpful in pointing out weaknesses in my writing. I've never read my own work aloud, despite hearing that it can be helpful, but hearing someone else read it has really made the good bits come alive, and the bad bits stick me like a thorn.
I still check the board a few times a day to see if there is new material here, but I haven't been posting much lately. I just wanted to let you all know that it's because I'm still on a writing binge hehehe. I had taken a rather long hiaitus following my move out here and my divorce and such, and the conference was like getting a new battery installed, and all of that backed up material now has an open avenue again to come roiling out. So, basically, I just want to say that largely due to the conference and its seminars, I'm excited about writing again.
Well, I should get ready for work, I hope to hear from you all, and wish you all the best.
CEW |
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