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Several years ago I attended the SCBWI summer conference and one of the wonderful people I met was Rachel Marks. Super talented as both a writer and an artist, she had an incredible joy for life, due in part to being a cancer survivor. Rachel was rooming with Paige Britt and both of them had […]

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I’m at a writer’s conference this weekend, and at first, I was disappointed that several of my good friends wouldn't be attending this year. But then I thought, that’s okay. I won’t play it safe. You see, when I don’t know many people at an event, I’m sort of a different person.

It’s funny but true. I stand a little taller, I smile a bit more. I can’t be lazy, falling back on the old reliables. When I look around and don’t recognize anyone, I have to put my best foot forward. I want to make a favorable first impression, so walking into a room full of strangers definitely keeps me on my toes.

Now, maybe you’re wondering why I bother. After all, we go to writer’s conferences to learn writing stuff, right? Isn't it enough to find a chair and take copious notes at the workshops? Maybe pay extra-close attention if you've paid for a manuscript critique?

Well, yes, there’s that purpose to the conference. But a writer’s conference is also a wonderful opportunity to make a few connections. If you play it safe, you’ll never meet anyone. So you have to take the risk, and give yourself a push.

Of course, us writers are notoriously reserved. If we liked the whole social scene, we probably wouldn't be hunkered down in our cubbyholes, writing. So. How to pack a push?

Come prepared to put yourself out there. Bring business cards to share. Sit at the table where no one seems to know anyone. Polish up your elevator pitch. You may not meet many agents to pitch, but every time you meet someone new, you have a chance to fine-tune that pitch, and that’s incredibly beneficial. Because if you’re having difficulty figuring out what your novel is really about, explaining it to strangers, and getting their reactions, can be very illuminating.

Don’t forget to ask people what they’re writing. Writers may not always be the most social creatures, but I've never met one who didn't like talking about the work. And don’t be surprised if you meet a couple true kindred spirits.

Once, I overheard a writer discussing zombies. As it happens, zombies are one of my favorite topics. So we had a lively chat (Yes, I know. That was bad.). She’s a gifted novelist, and a generous writing friend—and I've bought several of her books since that conference.

The thing is, you may meet a couple editors or agents at a conference, and that’s swell. Maybe you’ll meet up in social media, and maybe some day, somehow, that connection will pay off. Meanwhile, the struggling writers you meet, the folks who live in your area and who are on that same publishing journey as you, might become your new best friends. Friends who’ll support you along the way, just like you’ll support them.

It all starts with that moment when you decide to take a risk—and say hello.


~Cathy C. Hall

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Curious as to what an online conference is? Well, go check out the explanation page for NextGenWriter’s Conference. Registration is open and attendance is filling up. Hope to see you there!

 

 

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I'm at Dragoncon this weekend! And the best part is that my oldest daughter, Erin, my Tuesday movie date, came with me! Another author who lives here in Florida, Marsha Moore, suggested we go while sitting in a writer's convention last year. And all year we've been preparing to go. For the past several weeks I've been working on a couple of costumes to wear since everyone Larps. I came up with ones that I thought suited the stories I write. Continue reading →

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Curious as to what an online conference is? Well, go check out the explanation page for NextGenWriter’s Conference. Registration is open and attendance is filling up. Hope to see you there!

 

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Here it is folks. THE exciting announcement. August 2-3, 2011 marks the dates of the first ever FREE online writers conference for the next generation. NextGen Writer’s Conference will highlight amazing presentations from fantastic writers, awesome editors, and too-cool agents. Visit the site for more information. Our NextGenWriters link will be on my sidebar anytime you need it and as presenters are added to the lineup I’ll post them here. Registration isn’t open yet, but you can bookmark the site and mark your calendars. See you there!

BTW NextGenWriters coordinators include the highly talented Caleb Breakey and Stephanie Morrill! With talent like that, this is sure to be memorable.

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Are you a children’s or YA writer, illustrator, or performer? Do you want to be? If you’re in Toronto, check out Packaging Your Imagination, the annual writing conference that CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) puts on. This year it lands on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Victoria College (U of T). The entire day of workshops plus lunch is $150 CAN–a deal!

The presenters this year include:

Sharon Jennings: Help! What Am I Doing Wrong?

Liz Macleod: The Facts About the Facts

Patricia Storms: Toon in and Digital Out: Cartoons and computers to create cool art for kids!

Barbara Berson: Channelling Your Inner Teen: Publishing YA

Paul Kropp: Writing for Kids Who Don’t Wanna Read Nothin’

Debbie Rogosin: Less is More: Make Your Picture Book Stories Stronger

Jirina Marton: Invitations to Turn the Page: Illustrating Books

Arthur Slade: Steampunked! Adding Fantasy, History, and Science Fiction to your Writing

Liam O’Donnell: Getting Graphic: Writing Comics for Kids When You Can’t Draw a Straight Line

Andrea Wayne Von Königslöw: Flush with Humour: Writing Funny Stories

Martha Newbigging: How Imagination Illustrates Reality

Norah McClintock: Demystifying YA Mysteries: Your Questions Answered

Marthe Jocelyn
Kenote Speaker
Prophecies, Lies and Pearls of Wisdom

For more details, check out the conference on the CANSCAIP website, where you can also print out a brochure and registration form.

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By Cindy R. Williams

I'm stressing and obsessing about my trip from Phoenix to Provo, Utah, for the upcoming LDStorymakers conference. Anywhere I go I tend to bring tons of stuff with me and have to set up house. At Church, my bag is heavy enough that I lean to the side and walk with a limp, almost Quasimoto style. When I attend a writing class I arrive at least five minutes before the other students to set up my space. When I play chauffer for my kids, I can't seem to just slip on my shoes, grab my purse and keys and off we go. No, I always forget something and have to run back into the house several times. As I write this I'm beginning to see that maybe I have a Hoarder and/or Over Planner Syndrome. Maybe I've taken "Be Prepared" too seriously. Those of you who know me well, I see you nodding your heads. STOP IT!

So back to the upcoming trip to the writers conference. Here's my simplified plan, and I really mean simplified.

1. Make arrangements for my children, and husband to survive. Make sure there's plenty for them to eat and clean clothes to wear while I'm away. Maybe I'll make a list of things they could get done if they really wanted to while I am gone. Maybe not. I can paint the scenario that although I'll be the one partying and swinging on the Marriott's chandeliers, they too will want to party and have a mini-vacation from "Sergeant Nag." By the way, Mom, when did I take over your title?

2. Leave the house spick and span. Ummm . . . a mute point since the house is likely to be in major disarray when I get home anyway. Sigh.

3. Make sure all is ready for Primary, since my flight won't get me back in time. As a humble and tired President, I miss and worry about my favorite little people. Get my Visiting Teaching done so I won't harbor a ton of guilt. I already harbor a semi-truck load of guilt about far too many things.

4. Pack: This means I must bother to shop for a few new things to wear, and I detest shopping. I would rather be home writing any day. But, alas, my fashionable "Mommy Look" consisting of sweats and t-shirts isn't going to cut it. I want to dress at least business casual. I'll actually settle for presentable. Should I take two pairs of slippers just in case the hotel toilet clogs and floods soaking my sllippers. Hey, it's happened before, and I want to be ready and prepared.

5. Remember to bring my cell phone charger. Even though I hate cell phones, I want to call my family. Plus one of them might break a leg or some other appendage while I'm gone, and need my comfort. If you know my family, you know that this isn't much of a stretch for my dare devil offsrping. A few quick examples: one son broke both arms on the same day, but at two different times while snowboarding. My missionary son torqued his finger almost off when trying to jump over another friend while being pulled behind our boat on tubes. Several pins and a zillion stitches later, they saved the finger. Then he broke his collar bone two months before his mission while standing on a garbage can lid and sliding down a snowy hill, in Utah. Since that wasn't enough excitement before his mission, he broke his foot five days to departure to the MTC while playing Church basketball. Truth is better than fiction. No, never mind. Truth is much worse than fiction. So good luck to my sweet husband while I'm gone.

6. Plan and pack and re-pack all my stuff. Then do it again. I'm not like my husband and sons who can come home from work or school on Friday and within five minutes are packed and out the door for a Scout Camp.

7.

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If the UN can have a goodwill ambassador, then why not children's literature? In a super-cool move, The Library of Congress has appointed Children's Author Jon Scieszka as the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. He doesn't have the status of Children's Laureate, a title which is used in the UK. But he will spend the next two years stumping for reading. The LC have made a great choice. His off-beat sense of humor, and his dedication to keep boys reading in particular(check out his Guys Read site) works in his favor. Scieszka understands that an emphasis needs to be placed on reading as much as on books. Not every kid wants to read War and Peace (Yes! I was the exception!) But most kids want to have fun. Scieszka wants to connect kids with fun things to read. All the power to him.

Some Scieszka faves:

Cowboy and Octopus (a NJFK Book of the Week)
The Time Warp Trio series (a great choice for kids looking to move away from Captain Underpants)
Seen Art?
The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

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Recent Children's Publishing News (just in case you haven't seen it)...

• Christy Ottaviano Books. Joining the likes of Richard Jackson, Wendy Lamb, Megan Tingley and others, Henry Holt's Christy Ottaviano has been promoted to editorial director of her own eponymous imprint, Christy Ottaviano Books, publishing "literary and commercial picture books and fiction for all ages. Books that encourage imagination and free-thinking, foster a sense of family and community, target the feelings of children, and speak directly to children’s interests as they explore various milestones. Books that are reassuring as well as those that challenge readers--intriguing books for inquisitive kids."

• Jon Scieszka's new post. Children's book author (and funniest author I've ever seen in person) Jon Scieszka has been named the U.S.'s first national ambassador for young people's literature by the librarian of Congress, James Billington. He'll act as "an evangelist for reading." This is a deserving post for Scieszka--check out his Guys Read site, a web-based literacy program to help boys find stuff they'd like to read.
  

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I came across this gem while updating my Authors' Websites list. The site, called Guys Read, is moderated by Jon Scieszka. He needs to update it and add Cowboy and Octopus! There's a great list of recommended authors that write what guys want to read. Alright! Makes my job easier.

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