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I'm so happy to introduce one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming 2013 Springmingle, .
Carmen Agra Deedy
Children's book author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy was born in Havana, Cuba, came to live in the United States as a child, and grew up in Decatur, Georgia. She has won more than a dozen awards for her work, including the 2001 Christopher Award and the 2001 Jane Addams Peace Association Honor Book Award .
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1. Carmen, tell us a little about yourself. What made you decide to become a writer?
It wasn’t, in the strictest sense, a decision; I’d be more apt to call it a glorious moment of self-delusion. It lasted just long enough for me to cheerfully stamp, address, and post a manuscript to a regional publisher.
Watching the envelope irretrievably disappear through the Post Office slot, I instantly succumbed to the clammy hands, dry mouth, and heart palpitations that are the plague of presumptuous young writers. What had I done? And why did I do it?
Well, I did it because I had written a little story for my daughters and they thought it might make a fun picture book (pause for eye roll). Had I known how ridiculous the odds were, it’s unlikely I’d have ever submitted my story. To this day I bless Susan Thurman, then editor at Peachtree Publishers, for championing the sweet, but painfully unpolished, manuscript that would become Agatha’s Feather Bed.
2. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received as a writer?
During a recent visit to an elementary school in South Carolina, a parent told me she did not care for Martina the Beautiful Cockroach. You expect (and even welcome) this kind of candid remark from children. Adults, however, are generally subtler when registering disapproval.
“Do you, um, hate cockroaches in general?” I asked.
“Nope,” she said, “Just this one.”
Oh, boy.
Then she presented me with a tattered copy of the offending book and explained, “This is my kid’s favorite book. I’ve had to read it every night for the past five months. I can’t even cheat and skip a page because she’s memorized all the words. You know I hate you, right?”
“Ah,” I said, blushing, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said.
3. Where, and when, do you write? What are your writing rituals?
Travel and family life make it difficult for me to adhere to a strict writing regimen. I write when I can and where I can. Sometimes it’s in my studio, but often it’s in an airport terminal (when my flight has been delayed, yet again).
When I can wrangle a substantial stretch of time to write, which usually means gong away for a few days––that’s when I get real work down.
My rituals during that time?
Well, I write. Then I sleep. Then I edit. Then I snack. Then I write some more. This is followed by another nap. Then I write. Then I eat. Then I do a little research. After which I might go for a walk. More snacking, followed by more writing. Then I sleep.
Thus ends Day One.
If I’m lucky, I’ll have four or five days of this.
I love this schedule, Carmen!
4. Do you like to read adult fiction? What have you read recently that you enjoyed?
I’m going back and rereading some favorite books. I recently reread Nicholas Basbanes’ wonderful book on libraries, Patience and Fortitude (part of trilogy, and a must-read for book and library lovers). I’m now rereading Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy. The man is a storytelling genius and master of the heart-shattering phrase.
5. What is your favorite work of fiction, adult or children's, and why?
A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, simply because it’s the best book of it’s kind in the world. It’s very nearly the perfect story.
6. Do you have a favorite among the books that you have written? Tell us about it.
I can’t say I do. In any event, having a favorite book is akin to having a favorite child, isn’t it? If you had one, you could never tell.
7. What can you tell us about your story-telling performances? Can we find any of your live performances on the Web? Can you tell us a little about your favorite story?
Only that I love hearing a good story more than almost any other enjoyment I can think of. If I ever tell a good story, it’s because I want others to feel the wonder I’ve experienced repeatedly throughout my life as I’ve met, and listened to, great storytellers.
Well, my NEW favorite story is part of a collection of stories I’ve been telling children for several years now, titled Dill and Corky.
They are loosely based on my own blissfully feral childhood, a childhood that was shared with my best friend, Dill. The latest story, still on the assembly line, is about Dill’s Uncle Stubby, a marginally literate WWII vet who solemnly officiated at a snake funeral. You asked.
This sounds like a delightful story! I look forward to reading this one!
8. Did your parents tell you stories when you were a child?
Both my parents told us stories, but my father is a prolific storyteller with a gift for timing and an uncanny understanding of human nature.
9. What about illustrations for your book? Have you chosen any of your illustrators, or does the publisher do this? Do you have any favorite illustrations that you'd like to tell us about?
I’ve certainly asked to work with certain illustrators, but it’s ultimately in the hands of the publisher to acquiesce or deny such a request. Chocolate helps.
10. What is the most important thing you feel you can accomplish with your writing?
I would love to one day write a story that a child found so irresistible that he or she (despite the dangers of parental discovery and possible confiscation of said contraband) read this book under the covers with a flashlight.
That would pretty much be the End All for me.
11. We are all looking forward to your Keynote Speaker address at SCBWI Springmingle. Can you tell us about your experience with SCBWI?
Thank you! And I’m looking forward to being with so many talented writers and illustrators––––one of the greatest benefits to a SCBWI membership!
Years ago, I saw you at an International Reading Association Conference in Atlanta. It's interesting to hear about how you write. A friend of mine loved buying Agatha's Feather Bed at the IRA Conference. My friend and I both taught reading together in Fulton County.
June 2012 marked my fourth time speaking at the Clarksville Writers Conference in Tennessee. Organized by Pat Winn, this event is always attended by great people who are ridiculously great to talk to. I debuted two new speeches — “Your Publishing Options Today” as well as “Create Your Writer Platform,” the latter of which was based off my book coming out in fall 2012. I’ve included some pictures below from the event (all images provided by Bill Larson and Clarksville Online). If you have a chance to go in 2013, I highly recommend it!
Teaching on publishing options today.
The "whiteboard point" is a trusted move for instructors everywhere.
Other authors signing books at the (famously loved and revered) banquet.
I Will Speak At These Great Writing Events in 2012:
With each passing year, the prevalence of self publishing topics at writing conferences continues to grow. The 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference held true to that trend. By my count, one-sixth of the seminars centered around the topic of self-publishing.
The anticipated industry evolution is no longer coming; it’s here. Data provided by leading experts speaking at the conference like Mike Coker, founder of Smashwords, is clear: 2011 saw explosive growth in ebook sales and 2012 is forecasted as another record breaking year. So when I saw a seminar about the transition from traditional publishing to self publishing on the conference agenda, I arranged my schedule accordingly. Evidently, so did many others; the venue was standing room only. A sign of the times. Read more
After the great success Writer’s Digest has had organizing its event in New York City, we are very excited to be expanding to the West Coast as of 2012. Writer’s Digest Conference West is a new event in Los Angeles set for October 19-21, 2012. All the good stuff you have come to expect from a WD conference will be here — sessions, agents, bootcamps, the Pitch Slam, and more.
DETAILS
Join us at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa in Los Angeles, CA, October 19 – 21, 2012, for all of the informative sessions you’ve come to love from WD Conference, now on the West Coast. Register now and start making your travel plans today. If you register before July 19, 2012, you can get an early bird discount.
This is the first year for a West Coast WD Conference, and we’re excited to bring you the very best sessions, speakers and publishing advice, set against inspiring views of Los Angeles. Get real-world advice on getting published in today’s ever-changing market, with a focus on sharpening your writing skills, polishing your pitch and selling your work.
THE PITCH SLAM
Be sure to attend the Pitch Slam, a fast-paced, three-hour event with agents who are actively looking for new writers to represent. We’re adding new agents every day and expect to have at least 20 in attendance.
GET THIS: To date, at least 8 writers who have attended past WD events have told us they signed with agents they pitched at the Pitch Slam. If that isn’t enough reason to come, I do not know what is. The Pitch Slam unquestionably works. Start on the conference website and click on “Success Stories” on the right side.
Who’s Speaking?
Learn from the best at this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference West. Get helpful insights from bestselling authors and award-winning writers like James Scott Bell, Steven James, Elizabeth Sims and many others, plus well-known industry experts.
Featured Sessions
Ask the Agent Panel
Friday, October 19 · 5:10 – 6:30 pm
This is a Q&A session for you to ask literary agents practically any publishing question. Find out what they really think about query letters, live pitches, self-publishing and more.
Crafting the Perfect Pitch
Friday, October 19 · 6:40 – 7:30 pm
Attending the Pitch Slam? This is a can’t-miss session. Get insights on how to perfectly prep your pitch (and your work) and learn how to get comfortable and stay confident so you can make a great first impression.
A Self-Publishing Author’s Guide to Contracts with Dana Newman
Sunday, October 21 · 10:00 – 10:50 am
Thinking about going it alone? This session is critical for authors who are looking for success in the self-publishing world. Learn details about the basics and the fine points of literary agency agreements, collaboration agreements and much more.
I am very excited to instruct at the 2012 Crested Butte Writers Conference. It’s held in the beautiful town of Crested Butte, CO, from June 22-24, 2012. The event is described as “a small conference designed to be friendly and cozy with the caliber of a large conference.”
DETAILS
This event is held from June 22-24, 2012 — nestled in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado. It’s an intimate event in a beautiful location.
1. Hannah Bowman joined Liza Dawson Associates in 2011. She specializes in commercial fiction, especially science fiction and fantasy, women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, romance, and young adult. Hannah is also interested in nonfiction, particularly in the areas of mathematics, science, and religion.
2. Lisa Gallagher is a literary agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in New York. She is actively seeking new clients both in fiction and nonfiction, who are great storytellers, delivering both narrative urgency and dramatic tension, combined with multifaceted characters and a transporting sense of place.
3. Mary Kole (Andrea Brown Literary) is considering food books, food memoirs, cookbooks, adult literary fiction, and, for the children’s market, young adult and middle grade fiction and truly exceptional picture books from authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators.She prefers upmarket premises with literary spark and commercial appeal. Her favorite genres are character-driven fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, thriller, horror, adventure, humor, contemporary/realistic, romance and mystery.
4. Ken Sherman is the President of Ken Sherman and Associates, a Los Angeles-based literary agency. An agent for more than twenty years, Ken represents screen, television and book writers, and also sells film and television rights to books as well as life rights.
OTHER CONFERENCE ELEMENTS
Sandy Contest finalists share their experiences on a panel at the awards luncheon
Genre-Specific Informal Get-Together
Readings at Elevation Hotel lobby – “We gather one evening to kick off our shoes, sip a drink, while sitting back and enjoying short readings from our Sandy Finalists and local poets and talented writers.”
Advanced Read and Critique Masters Add-on Class – Thursday afternoon critique opportunity with attending agents and editors as well as other class participants
Plenty of free time to network and explore the area while making new writing friends
I just returned from the (brand new) Books-in-Progress Writers Conference at the Carnegie Literacy Center in Lexington, KY. This was the third time I have been fortunate enough to present at the center (it’s not far from my home in Cincinnati), and it was a great experience. The Carnegie Center seems to be an incredible resource of writers and artists in the area. When you walk in the doors, the first two things you notice is 1) the beauty and ambiance of the building, and 2) that they encourage you to take a free book every time you stop by!
Me instructing the Lexington crowd on how to get published. Photo credit to the Carnegie Literacy Center.
I gave three speeches — one on pitching, one on platform, and one on how to get published. The platform speech was relatively new (adopted from my book, Create Your Writer Platform) and seemed to go well.
Following the three speeches and some tasty lunch at a sandwich place down the block, I sat down with agents Sorche Fairbank (my OWN agent, as a matter of fact) and Janet Reid of FinePrint Literary to do some “Conference Idol” where we had a manuscript’s first page read to us and we gave thoughts.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I cannot say enough good things about the Carnegie Center. This is definitely a great place for Kentucky to have.
——————
I Will Speak At These Great Writing Events in 2012:
If you live anywhere near Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky, come
out to meet me for my speech on "Everything You Need to Know About Agents," as
well as "Query Letters." It all goes down at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 5, 2011,
at the Florence Branch of the Boone County Library, located at 7425 US 42, Florence,
KY. The speech lasts an hour and a half, and Q&A is welcome and encouraged. You
can formally register here.
Website description: "Get a thorough crash course in finding a literary agent
from Chuck Sambuchino, editor of Guide to Literary Agents and author of How
to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack. After quickly going over what an agent is and
what agents do for writers, learn resources for finding agents, how to ID the best
agents for you, as well as the most important things to do and not to do when dealing
with representatives. Q&A with the speaker encouraged, so bring your questions."
I am not sure if the event is free or not, but I have to assume it is. Register
here. Sign-ups are required and it seems like the maximum number of spots remaining
is 25 as of right now. You can register by phone at 859-342-2665.
I Will Be Speaking At These
Great Writing Events in 2011:
Knowing that in a seven short days I will leave Boston behind
and return to Florida’s sticky heat, I breathe in and enjoy the cool morning air.
In through my nose, out through my mouth. I have to soak it up while I can. This is
my thought as I sit in the orientation of my first Solstice Writers’ Conference. I
also feel oddly unencumbered, as if I have forgotten something. I didn’t have to wake
anyone this morning, didn’t have to start a load of laundry or field breakfast requests.
Instead, I rolled out of my lumpy dormitory bed—my home for the next week—and ate
eggs and sausages prepared for me in the campus cafeteria. I sit back, flanked by
two friends that I met at an earlier writers’ conference, and wait for the conference
director to address the group.
Lori is excited to give away a free copy of her novel
to a random commenter. Comment within one week; winners must live in Canada/US to
receive the print book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you've won before.
Guest column by Lori Roy, author
of Bent Road
(March 2011, Dutton), a novel set in the 60s with
elements of midwestern gothic and noir. The book
was called "a remarkably assured debut novel" by
author Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), while Publishers
Weekly gave it a starred review and called it "an
outstanding debut ... sure to make several 2011
must-read lists." See Lori's website here.
Writers’ conferences are a bit like wandering through a bar in a college town. What’s
your major? … the college bar. Which class are you in? … (novel, short story, nonfiction)
the conference. When do you graduate? … the college bar. Have you gone yet? … (meaning
has your work been critiqued in class yet?) the conference. Where are you from? …
the college bar. Where are you from?… the conference. And like in college, when attending
a conference, a participant has an assignment. Each writer must submit 25 pages that
will be read and critiqued by eleven or so classmates. For many attendees, this is
why they have boarded a plane, hired a babysitter, purchased new luggage. They have
hopes of finding a cure for their weary manuscript.
When a particular writer’s turn in class rolls around, she will sit quietly, barred
from speaking during the discussion. The other writers will flip through her manuscript
page by page and talk about and debate what is wrong with her work and what is right.
But mostly what is wrong, or maybe it just feels that way. When it is over, usually
lasts about 45 minutes, the writer takes a deep breath and says thank you for the
flogging. Another thing I’ve learned along the way—if this process doesn’t sting,
at least a little, it probably isn’t working. Later that night, while sipping wine
following the nightly readings, people will ask, have you gone yet? The writer will
say yes. How did it go? I learned a lot, the writer might say. And drink another glass
of Cabernet.
The conference director arrives at precisely 9:30. She begins by announcing a room
change and goes on to remind us that coffee cups are not to leave the cafeteria and
that the library will close early on Sunday. Lastly, she welcomes and introduces the
teachin
Add a Comment
I've attended the Clarksville
Writers Conference twice now, and it just such a great event that I had to
come a third time. This year's event is July 14-15, 2011, and there will be editors,
agents, and authors in attendance. If you live anywhere near Clarksville, keep reading
to learn more.
DETAILS
This conference, held every year at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, prides
itself on being affordable and inviting. Appointments to meet any attending literary
agents are free. There is always a mix of speakers -- from local authors who can speak
of their writing journey, to out-of-town editors and agents.
WHO WILL BE THERE
William R. Ferris, co-editor of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Encyclopedia
of Southern Culture, chairman emeritus of the National Endowment for the Humanities,
and author or editor of over ten books including Local Color and Images
of the South: Visits with Eudora Welty and Walker Evans
Blas Falconer, poet, creative writing teacher and author of The
Perfect Hour and A Question of Gravity and Light
Beth Ann Fennelly, award-winning poet, nonfiction writer and
author of Unmentionables, Tender Hooks and Open House
William Gay, Southern Gothic novelist, short story writer and
author of Twilight, Provinces of Night and The Long Home
Amy Greene, author of the novel Bloodroot and the forthcoming Long
Man
Gordon Warnock, literary agent with Sacramento-based Andrea
Hurst & Associates Literary Management
I just got back from the annual PennWriters
Conference, which was held this year outside of Pittsburgh. Great event with wonderful
people. And being born and raised in PA myself (mostly in Erie), it was nice to be
back in my home state.
I did a panel on small book publishers, a session on writing for magazines, met with
a lot of writers, and did a formal book signing. All in all, it was a lot of fun.
If you live in PA, seriously consider joining your area's PennWriters group and attending
this conference in 2012.
Below find a picture of the skyline that I took while riding the Duquesne Incline,
which is this big train cart that essentially slides up a mountain so you can see
the entire city. It was kind of scary to be on that rickety thing, but the view was
quite something.
I Will Be Speaking At These
Great Writing Events in 2011:
I'm very excited about my first year on the faculty at the Pacific
Northwest Writers Association Writers Conference. The 2011 conference is from
Aug. 4-7 in Seattle. This is a very large conference that brings in a ton of agents
and editors. If you live anywhere in the area, keep reading to learn more.
DETAILS
The 2011 PNWA Writers Conference is from Aug 4-7, at the Bellevue Hyatt. They expect
to have more than 500 people there.
WHO WILL BE THERE?
For starters, these agents below. See the Agent
Page on the PNWA website to see all the categories each agent represents.
LAUREN E. ABRAMO, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
LORETTA BARRETT, Loretta Barrett Books, Inc.
FOLADE BELL, Serendipity Literary Agency
AMY BOGGS, Donald Maass Literary Agency
REGINA BROOKS, Serendipity, LLC
AMY BURKHARDT, Kimberly Cameron & Associates
MINJU CHANG, BookStop Literary Agency
GINGER CLARK, Curtis Brown, LTD
VICKIE MOTTER, Andrea Hurst Literary Agency
KEN SHERMAN, Ken Sherman & Associates
CHERRY WEINER, Cherry Weiner Literary Agency
...and more.
Keynote: Steve Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of The Jefferson
Key, The Emperor’s Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian
Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, and The Templar Legacy. He has 12 million
books in print.
WHAT ELSE?
This year, there are more workshop choices than ever before, with the workshops divided
into the following categories: Storytelling, Road to Publication, and Marketing &
Publishing in the Digital Age. Note that the conference does not charge for any agent
or editor appointments. Sign ups are at the conference.
I Will Be Speaking At These
Great Writing Events in 2011:
I just got back from a pair of writing events (and I'm sorry
I haven't blogged in forever). The first event was speaking at the Jackson
Hole Writers Conference in Jackson Hole, WY. I attended in 2009 and was excited
to return. Jackson is just such an amazingly beautiful place. Very much like Aspen
out west, it's got lots of little cute shops, but at the same time it's in the mountains
and you can get gored by buffalo if you wander out of town. (It's happened. No one's
seen Mr. Reynolds for weeks.)
If you are looking for a conference in a scenic location in 2012, I highly suggest
you check this event out. You get to turn in your work for multiple critiques from
authors/agents/editors.
Above: My Thursday keynote kickoffed
the event.
I rocked a vest to commemorate the occasion.
Following the Thursday speech, attendees
meet and mingle in the Arts Center. The event draws anywhere from 90-150 people.
On the road out of town, I saw me some
buffalo.
Last time I was here I saw elk, moose and a
bald eagle.
Above: Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Quite
a sight. I got to hike around Yellowstone and see all the hot springs, etc. Awesome. Totally worth it.
Above: Grand Teton National Park looking
spectacular in the summertime.
Above: My Friday night speech was a two-hour
marathon of info on agents. Here I am, wearing a black shirt, bathed in red light so people were scared of me.
I Will Be Speaking At These Great
Writing Events in 2011:
This past weekend, I was on the faculty of the Hampton Roads Writers Conference in Virginia Beach, VA. Sadly, it rained the whole time and I did not get to see the beach. Happily, the conference was fun and I met some really nice people. The hotel also had unlimited delicious cookies and I indulged in quite a few to say the least. (I may or may not weight 10 pounds more than when I arrived.) Read more
If you're considering a writing event this year, but are looking for just as much of an opportunity to sit down and write as you are to learn from presenters, then join me at the Homeric Writers' Retreat and Workshop from Aug. 2-8, 2012. It's held on the beautiful Greek isle of Ithaca -- a perfect place to soak in the sunshine and let the creative juices flow. And in addition to the amazing scenery to help you write, there are a few daily sessions as well as several personalized critiques (manuscript pages, query, synopsis, proposal) for all attendees, taught and given by publishing pros. Read more
I just got back from teaching at the 2010 Vegas
Valley Book Festival in Las Vegas. The festival was very nice, and it combined
events/signings aimed at adults with a ton of fun stuff for kids. I believe the festival
is happening again in 2011, so if you live the Vegas area, make sure to check it out.
A special thanks should be given to Jo Wilkins, Audrey, and the entire Henderson Writers
Guild, a Vegas-based writers group that puts on the Las
Vegas Writers Conference. The group chauffeured me around and attended my session
on "How to Land an Agent." Thanks, ladies.
I got no pictures of myself teaching
(or playing
piano for attendees) - shucks. But here is a quick
glance at the Children's Book Festival portion
of the event.
Above: Me finding my book at Urban Outfitters on the Vegas Strip. Very cool! They had about 30 of the book. That's the most copies I've seen at any one location anywhere. I happily told the cashier this was my book. To say she was most unimpressed is an understatement.
When I landed in Frankfurt, Germany, my birthplace as an Army-brat,
the same dreary weather greeted me that had left me in Boston, MA. However, when I
walked through the doors to the Frankfurt Book Fair, aka FBF, the overall feeling
was “contagious excitement.”
7,539 exhibitors from 111 countries with 3,000 events and 100 publishing companies
were busy assembling their booths. I compared it to the 2010 New York Book Exp America,
(aka BEA) I had attended in June. According to the BEA website, it had hosted 21,919
people in attendance and over 29,000 industry professionals. The
Frankfurt Book Fair looked ten times larger.
Guest column by Kathleen
O’Keefe-Kanavos, a two-time breast cancer survivor
who penned Surviving
Cancerland: The Psychic Aspects of Healing.
She is an inspirational speaker and a mentor for We Can—a women’s self-help group. Kathy contributes to Cape Women Online Magazine and many other publications/websites. She is currently working on her second book. See
her website here.
The Frankfurt Book Fair is described
as the biggest book and media fair in the world. It consisted of multiple interconnected
building filled with languages, flags, multilingual advertisements and the hustle
and bustle of fast deals. Its enormity stole my breath.
I quickly discovered that most books published by conventional publishing houses had
their own International Rights Agents working the deals. However, I was attending
with my self-published husband who was looking to delve into the international market.
Could this hurt his chances of getting published by a U.S. company? I e-mailed my
agent at the Scovil, Galen and Ghosh Literary Agency in New York, which has an International
Rights Agent. He e-mailed me back with some interesting insights.
In general, selling the foreign rights to the book would not harm the possibility
of selling it to a U.S. publisher. In fact if it were to generate significant sales
in one or more countries abroad it would enhance the possibilities of being acquired
by a publisher in the the states.
However, there is one drawback. Some publishers like to protect their "investment"
by acquiring world rights to a book (and thereby sharing significantly in any revenue
generated abroad). If that possibility were removed, it likely would lessen a U.S.
publisher’s level of interest.
My husband had been in contact with his International Rights Agent from International
Rights Inc. in Austin, Texas, months before the FBF. While they scurried from meeting
to meeting, I took in the sights, sounds and information. By the end of the third
day, I had learned 6 important things about the Frankfurt Book Fair, especially for
self-published books:
1. Get an International Agent before you go to the FBF. It will be almost impossible
to find one there. Most agents in attendance already had clients and had done the
groundwork required to ensure success.Add a Comment
The Writer's Digest Conference is set for January 21-23,
2011 in New York City, and there will be more than 60 literary agents taking pitches
at our gigantic Agent Pitch Slam. The WD pitch slams are famous for featuring insane
numbers of agents. Check out the
conference website here and meet me in NYC!
Did you know: At our conference in 2008, we know of at least three (and there
could be plenty more) writers who found their representatives at the event. And what's
more: Two of those writers signed six-figure deals with publishers within the year,
through the help of their new agent. I think you get the point: WD conferences are
rare, large, and awesome -- and people are getting agents at our events.
Besides the pitch slam, there are days worth of instructive sessions taught by authors
and editors. All info is on the conference website. The big event, of course, is the
Slam. Here are the attending literary agents. To see what every agent wants in terms
of fiction and nonfiction, see
their full bios online here.
Editor's note: I am declaring November 2010 to be
"Agent Guest Column Month," and therefore, every weekday, I will be posting a guest
column by a literary agent. Day 16: Today's guest agent is Michelle Brower
of Folio Literary.
1. Go to get feedback on your work in a workshop or instructional setting.
Sometimes writers forget that the first and most important step in starting a writing
career is actually, you know, writing. If you're a genre or commercial writer, find
out how your work fits the field you're writing in, find out if anyone is bored, find
out the pages where your reader just couldn't put the manuscript down. If you're a
literary author, find a conference with a great group of faculty who can offer a nuanced
reading and challenge you to do better.
2. Go to meet other writers. I know most writers tend to write alone in some
cramped closet in a deep dark basement somewhere and rarely ever emerge to see the
sun, but a conference is a great place to meet others of your kind. You can share
writer's block stories, bounce ideas around, talk about the process. And when you
go home, thanks to the magic of the Internet, you just might have a ready-made critique
circle to share your work with.
3. Go to learn about the publishing process. Let's face it, sometimes publishing
can seem a little mysterious and unfathomable. At conferences, there's often a wide
range of publishing personae there: agents of all shapes and sizes, editors from major
houses, small publishers, magazine editors, etc. We almost always do some kind of
panel, and this is your chance to ask educated questions about how publishing works.
Ever wonder who decides what cover a book gets and why? How debut authors get blurbs?
How do books get into the front of the book store? Here's your chance.
4. Don't expect
to get a major book deal and be whisked directly from the conference to Hollywood
with a newly fat bank account. It's perfectly true that some people do sit down
with an editor or an agent at a conference and something good comes of it down the
line. But to be honest, it's really rare. The thing that helps the most? Having an
amazing book that you've worked on until it's perfect.
5. If you're pitching, have a book and be a writer. It's surprising to me how
many people pay for an individual pitch session, sit down, start telling me about
their unfinished novel, and get really disappointed when they find out they have to
complete it before it can be sold. All debut authors (with rare exceptions in certain
genres) have to have one full novel that we can sell on the basis of its merits. Nonfiction
books need complete book proposals. It sure would be great if you could sell an idea,
but you can't. Also, once a man sat down across from me and started telling me about
the novel he had "written" by dictating to his secretary. He had the verbatim transcripts,
and he was hoping I would "iron them out" for him. Needless to say, I did not have
a good impression of his writing abilities.
6. Don't be
a pushy pitcher. I've been pitched in the bathroom. On the treadmill. In an elevator.
While trying to eat. Once, in the airport when the conference was over. Now, agents
are at these conferences for a reason—we do want to hear what prospective authors
want to say, and in
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On Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, I will presenting at the Carnegie
Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, KY. From 10 a.m. to noon, I will
speak on "Everything You Need to Know About Getting an Agent" as well as "Query
Letters." I will also answer any questions that attendees have. If you're looking
for a literary agent and have questions, come out and see me!
HOW TO SIGN UP
Attendees are encouraged to sign up in advance. If you click
on this webpage, you can register in advance. Scroll down the page until you see
the event for Feb. 26, 2011. Also, I believe you can call and sign up via telephone
easily (during work hours EST). The center's number is 859-254-4175.
WHAT WE'LL DISCUSS
In addition to answering any questions you may have about agents,
querying, and the publishing process, we will discuss the following:
The 3 major tasks of any agent
How to write a query letter
How to find agents and discover what they've sold
How to write a synopsis for fiction or memoir
How to put together a book proposal for nonfiction
Word count
How to prevent getting scammed
How to craft a pitch
And more
I hope to see you there! I taught at the Carnegie Center in 2010 and had a lot of
fun. I will bring a few door prizes to hand out to some lucky attendees.
I Will Be Speaking
At These Great Writing Events in 2010-2011:
I just got back from our 2011 Writer's Digest Conference in
New York City, Jan. 21-23, 2011. The conference took a lot of planning and involved
three days, dozens of speakers, more than 50 literary agents, more than 500 attendees,
as well as God knows how many hilarious lines from panelist Janet Reid.
(All photos below taken by WD managing editor Zachary
Petit.)
Above: Literary agent Donald Maass addresses the crowd
It was such a blast meeting so many cool writers, many of which I've met before. The
only problem with a conference like that is I'm always fixing something or finding
someone that I don't have proper time to sit down with everyone I want to see.
Above: The Agent Pitch Slam
Plenty of people were already talking about what they learned, so you can catch snippets
of conference sessions online. The best place to start is our official
WD live conference blog, which was run by the ladies over at First Novels Club.
Also, there was a lot of tweeting going on with our
official #wdc11 hashtag. Those tweets are definitely worth a look, as well.
Above: My book! You can see my
name real small in green
If you came to the conference, thank you so
much for attending. I hope you were helped in your writing journey. If you have feedback,
I'm certain there will be an avenue to reach us soon. People have been asking me if
this conference will happen again, and I don't know for sure, but Jan. 2012 seems
logical, especially since we beat our attendance goal with this event by 40%. Maybe
I'll see you next year!
I Will Be Speaking
At These Great Writing Events in 2010-2011:
The writing conference a
one-day event, jam-packed with stuff. It all goes down on Saturday, April 9, 2011,
at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV.
WHO WILL BE THERE?
I will be there giving a few speeches on getting published. Also, there will be three
great literary agents in attendance taking pitches from writers:
Attending agents from left to right:
Gordon Warnock of Andrea Hurst & Associates Verna Dreisbach of Dreisbach Literary Lindsey Clemons of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents
I've been to the Jackson
Hole Writers Conference before, and let me tell you: It is probably the most
beautiful location for any conference I've ever seen. The Grand Tetons, the cute little
shops, all the hiking trails. The location, combined with a great faculty of agents,
editors and authors, makes a compelling case as to why you should think about going
to the 2011 Conference.
If you were looking for a conference that doubles as a scenic vacation, this is as
good as it gets.
DETAILS
The conference is from June 23-26, 2011, in Jackson, WY, held at the Center for the
Arts.
Last time I was at the conference, my wife and
I went on a hot air balloon ride. Extraordinary.
WHO WILL BE THERE?
Agents:
Rebecca Strauss, McIntosh & Otis, Inc.
Amy Williams, McCormick & Williams.
Seth Fishman, The Gernert Company
Kirby Kim, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
There are also plenty of authors in attendance as well as editors
(including me!)
WHAT ELSE?
I know that a big part of this conference is the manuscript critiques. You have the
option to submit your work for critique, and get it seen by three different people,
getting three different opinions for on your writing. This, summed up in one word,
can be invaluable. See
all conference info here.
I Will Be Speaking At These
Great Writing Events in 2011:
I got the flu this past week and had to cancel my Feb. 26 presentation
at the Carnegie Center in Lexington. Luckily, the Carnegie staffers were kind enough
to reschedule it for Saturday, March 26, 2011. If you were planning on making
the February event, please come to the March event instead! All attendees get a free
WD bookazine!
On March 26, 2011, I will presenting at the Carnegie
Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, KY, from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
I will speak on "Everything You Need to Know About Getting an Agent" as well
as "Query Letters." I will also answer any questions that attendees have. If
you're looking for a literary agent and have questions, come out and see me!
HOW TO SIGN UP
Attendees are encouraged to sign up in advance. If you click
on this (updated) webpage, you can register in advance. Also, I believe you can
call and sign up via telephone easily (during work hours EST). The center's number
is 859-254-4175. There is a second class that Saturday, March 26 (starting at noon),
and those who attend both get a discount.
WHAT WE'LL DISCUSS
In addition to answering any questions you may have about agents,
querying, and the publishing process, we will discuss the following:
The 3 major tasks of any agent
How to write a query letter
How to find agents and discover what they've sold
How to write a synopsis for fiction or memoir
How to put together a book proposal for nonfiction
Word count
How to prevent getting scammed
How to craft a pitch
And more
I hope to see you there! I taught at the Carnegie Center in 2010 and had a lot of
fun. I will bring a few door prizes to hand out to some lucky attendees.
I Will Be Speaking
At These Great Writing Events in 2010-2011:
Let's just cut right to the chase. The
Kentucky Writers Conference is FREE. You heard me: Free. It's a one-day free
event on Friday, April 15, 2011 -- the day before the (huge) Southern Kentucky Book
Fest.
DETAILS
The Kentucky Writers Conference is
a free one-day event held from 9 am to 3:30 pm, Friday, April 16, 2011, at Carroll
Knicely Conference Center, 654 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, KY.
WHO WILL BE THERE,AND CONFERENCE SESSIONS
Authors who will be participating in the Book Fest on Saturday, April 16 (including
me!) will give attendees at the Writers Conference the benefit of their wisdom on
Friday, April 15.
Free workshops on the following topics:
memoir writing
finding a literary agent
shaping scenes
writing a query letter
using humor in writing
Sessions run for 75 minutes. The conference is open to anyone
who would like to attend, including high school students, college students, teachers,
and the general public. No registration is required; however, if you are bringing
a class please let the organizer know. (The organizer is Kristie Lowry, 270-745-4502;
kristie.lowry@wku.edu.
Also, I will be presenting a special Saturday session as a conference speaker in the
middle of the book fest day. On Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm, I will present “How to
Get Published: Professional Writing Practices and What Editors Want” in the Carroll
Knicely Conference Center Auditorium. As with all conference sessions, this presentation
will be free.
Kentucky Writers Conference program booklets will be available at Barnes & Noble
and Warren County Library locations in March, and they can also be viewed through
the website at that time. For more information, please contact Kristie.
I Will Be Speaking At These
Great Writing Events in 2011:
Conferences can be great places to learn, but let’s face it,
when you’re unagented and have a completed manuscript, your main agenda may not be
the workshops. I’ve attended several conferences, both as a pre-published writer and
a published one. The truth is, my main goal has remained the same: Networking.
Denise is excited to give away a free copy of her
novel to a random commenter. Comment within one week; winners must live in Canada/US
to receive the print book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you've won before.
Denise Jaden's debut YA novel, Losing
Faith, was released in Sept. 10 from Simon Pulse. She is, or has been, everything from a professional Polynesian dancer and fitness competitor to a mushroom farmer and church secretary. Denise's writing has appeared in Mississippi Crow Magazine (Spring, 2008)
and
The Greensilk Journal. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada. See
her website here.
Don’t get me wrong, I love learning, and always come home from conferences with my
writing-tools arsenal filled a little fuller. But I met my editor at a conference,
and I can quite honestly say that she probably would not be my editor if I hadn’t.
You see, my editor was a senior editor when she made an offer on my book (she’s recently
been promoted to executive editor), and since my agent was the new girl on the block
at the time, she had targeted my manuscript mainly to either junior editors or editors
one of us had been in contact with. My agent likely would not have targeted a senior
editor at Simon Pulse if I had not had prior contact with her.
So I’m a big believer in networking at writing conferences. I’ve compiled a list of
helpful hints that may be useful at your next event.
Show up like you mean business. Get to the conference
early enough to get the lay of the land. Dress appropriately and memorably, so when
you meet someone in the morning, you won’t have to re-introduce yourself in the afternoon.
Meet as many people as possible. Whether you’re at lunch
or in a long line up waiting for a pitch appointment, there’s almost always someone
nearby to chat with. You never know who you will meet. I’ve met people in line who
I’ve stayed friends with online for years, people who are supporting me now that I
have a book coming out, people who have recommended me to their agents. I’ve met agents
at lunch and editors in the hallways. Be nice and friendly wherever you go, and you’ll
end up with a whole new list of friends and contacts and Tweeps that you’ll be thankful
for in the future.
Know the schedule ahead of time. Figure out which agents
and editors
Add a Comment
Years ago, I saw you at an International Reading Association Conference in Atlanta. It's interesting to hear about how you write. A friend of mine loved buying Agatha's Feather Bed at the IRA Conference. My friend and I both taught reading together in Fulton County.
Great interview.
Patricia and Susan, Thanks for stopping in!
What a wonderful interview. Can't wait to hear more at the conference.
Yeaaaaaa, Ramey!!! That was wonderful!
Great interview. Looking forward to hearing her keynote.
Thanks, Vicky! Glad you enjoyed the interview!
Hey, Nina! Glad you stopped by!
Allison, thanks! I think Carmen's great!