Tag: conferences

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Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap For February, Part One

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Let Me Entertain You with Larry J Leech II

While we long to use our words and stories to help the reader deepen or develop their relationship with God, readers like to be entertained. They want something that will make them chuckle, or smile, or experience a full-on belly laugh. But using humor can be risky. The wrong joke at the wrong time or a misinterpreted comment can frustrate, or even disgust, a reader. You certainly don’t want either of those to happen.

Watch the January 30th Replay

Larry J. Leech II, editor-in-chief and acquisitions editor at Bold Vision Books, shares five tricks for adding humor to your writing. Larry has spent more than 40 years working with words. After a 23-year journalism career, Larry moved into freelance writing and editing in 20004. He has ghostwritten 30 books and edited more than 400 manuscripts. His freelance clients have won more than 70 awards in the last eight years.

Novel Marketing Conference Recap with Johnnie Alexander and M.N. Stroh

Writers Chat cohosts Johnnie and Melissa (M.N.) are joined by surprise guest Kathy Brasby to talk about their experiences at the recent Novel Marketing Conference, hosted by podcaster extraordinaire Thomas Umstattd Jr., in Austin, Texas. This first annual conference focused on marketing for both fiction and nonfiction authors. One of the key benefits to was the opportunity to network with a terrific group of talented authors and industry professionals.

Watch the February 6th replay

Putting Romance in Every Genre with Daniel Kaplan

In this episode of Writers Chat, AutoCrit coach and workshop creator, Daniel Kaplan, leads the discussion of exploring the delicate art of blending heartfelt romance with complex storylines. How do you ensure that your love interest is more than a mere object of affection and avoid the pitfalls of contrived relationships that can derail your story? Daniel discusses strategies to sidestep these common errors, creating romance that amplifies your narrative’s impact, enriches character development, and captivates your audience from start to finish.

Watch the February 13th replay

Creator of 24 writing workshops and multiple courses for AutoCrit, Daniel Kaplan is passionate about dynamic education presentations and coaching authors. With over a decade of experience, his mission is to demystify intricate artistic concepts and make them accessible to everyone.

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133

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Kids Lit

Exploding Inboxes

Kids Lit

My e-mail is suddenly full of opportunities! Live face-to-face conferences are happening all over the country, sponsored by different groups. Gone are the days of ZOOM screens full of attendees with no way to stand out from the crowd. Real-time in-person is back. So are opportunities to pitch and impress the agent/editor of your choice. 

The best way I have found to be memorable AFTER the suitcases are unpacked is a One Sheet. More detailed (and personalized) than a business card without the poundage of a full proposal, One Sheets help an agent or editor recall a conversation about a particular book, project idea, or author when decisions are being made back at the office. Hand them out at socials, appointments, or at dinner.

Elements of a One Sheet for a book:

Book info

Twitter-length pitch

Mini Marketing

Bitty Bio

Contact for author/agent

Think of it as an elevator pitch on paper!

Book Pitch One Sheet

The beauty of this one piece of paper (leave the back blank so the editor/agent can take notes) is that it can easily be tweaked if you know a particular editor/agent will be attending. Mention publisher interests or manuscript wish lists, Twitter requests, or your social media following.

Elements of a One Sheet for an author:

Recent publishing

Relevant awards

Bitty Bio

Areas of expertise/interest

Contact for author/agent

Think of it as a meet and greet on paper!

Author Intro One Sheet

Best wishes as you offer yourself to the publishing world – one sheet at a time!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Happy 1-year birthday to How to Dress a Dinosaur, also a recent winner of Feathered Quill and Pen Craft awards.

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The Intentional Writer

Are You Intentional About Growing Your Writing Craft?

The intentional writer

Writers of all levels know the importance of continuing to learn new skills, refine writing skills, and challenge themselves. How intentional are you about growing your writing craft?

Would it help to set yourself some goals in the area of developing your writing craft? Here are seven areas where you can become more intentional about growing as a writer.

Three ways to learn your writing craft

Training – workshops, webinars, and classes. One of the best ways to learn writing craft is by listening to experts teach on specific aspects. This is one of the many benefits of attending writing conferences or belonging to a writers group that features monthly speakers. These events offer a variety of subjects for writers of all levels.  However, you can also find a good writing instruction on the internet, including free webinars. Many online instructors offer free webinars to attract students to their paid offerings, but we can benefit from their free content without guilt.

How intentional are you about learning? Do you have any upcoming workshops or conferences in your schedule?

How-to instruction – Blogs, books, and podcasts. There is no shortage of worthwhile how-to advice to help you improve your writing skills. In fact, you are reading this post right now. Good for you! How intentional are you about learning new skills? Do you browse writing sites on a whim, or is it part of your regular weekly schedule? When was the last time you picked up a book on writing with the intent to learn something new?

DIY – Active participation. The best way to take full advantage of either of the above options is to do the homework. This could mean working through exercises, if any are given. Or it could means going back to your work-in-progress and immediately applying something you learned in the workshop, blog post, or book chapter. Using what you’ve learned, rather than just reading or listening, will help cement those new skills or concepts into your brain.

Four ways to hone your writing craft

Feedback. Getting critiques of our writing is critical for writers of any level. We don’t know what we’re doing well and what we need to work on without feedback. We should be seeking input from a variety of sources, from fellow writers at our local writers’ group, to Beta readers, to professionals. Many conferences offer an option for fifteen-minute appointments with writing professionals. Come prepared with a printout of your first chapter and these short sessions are a prime way to get professional feedback without paying extra.

Look for good examples. One you’ve learned a concept; you can look for it out in the wild. Train yourself to pay attention to techniques, structure, and other good writing skills as you read, and when you watch TV or movies. Can you identify the key plot components, such as inciting action or midpoint twist? (A TV show can be a great way to observe the structure behind a story, because the show must move through the whole three-act structure in a short time.) It’s also helpful to keep a file or journal for collecting writing snippets that really hit you, such as great descriptions or pithy dialogue. These can inspire your own great writing.

Experimentation. You may prefer writing romances, but it’s good to stretch yourself and try a different style of writing from time to time. Perhaps try a brief sci-fi or mystery story, or write a poem or two. It doesn’t matter how good these pieces are, because the goal is to stretch your thinking and creativity muscles, not to create anything worth sharing with the public.

In a similar vein, experiment with how you write. Try various techniques, such as writing with music, or talking our your scenes out loud before writing them. You won’t know for sure until you’ve tried a new technique a few times whether it might enhance your writing.

Teach others. Teaching others what you know is a tried-and-true way to help others while also helping yourself. Teaching skills or concepts to others helps you master them and/or understand them on a deeper level yourself. You don’t need to be a best-selling author to teach writing skills. Whatever you’ve learned and found helpful will be helpful to others, too. So, never be afraid to share what you’ve learned with others who want to hear it.

I hope these ideas will spur you on to grow in your ability and knowledge as a writer. Which one of them will you take action in today?

Lisa E Betz

An engineer-turned-mystery-writer, Lisa E. Betz infuses her novels with authentic characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her debut novel, Death and a Crocodile, won several awards, including Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021). Her second mystery, Fountains and Secrets, released in January, 2022.

Lisa combines her love of research with her quirky imagination to bring the world of the early church to life. She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries. Lisa directs church dramas, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes. Visit her at lisaebetz.com or her Facebook page, LisaEBetzWriter.

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

Conferences over, Now What?

lighter look at a writer's life

I’ve been to two writers conferences (one in-person, one virtual) in the last few weeks, and, boy, is my brain tired.

The in-person conference was literally a breath of fresh air, as I emerged from the quarantine/lockdown cocoon into my true form as a social butterfly. It was great seeing so many friends in one place and catching up after a long two years away. Oh yeah, there were classes and appointments as well, which were all valuable.

I didn’t get to participate in all of the sessions of the online conference due to some different concerns, but what I did get to hear was extremely helpful. I got practical tips for continuing my writing journey and inspiration for what lies ahead.

Now comes the FUN part: the conference follow-ups. I’m SO excited and SO ambitious about the work ahead. I believe I have mentioned before that sarcasm is my love language . . . along with chocolate, but that’s another blog post.

I always have good intentions: return those emails; write those new proposals; respond to those invitations to write blogs, articles, etc. But then life happens. There’s stuff to do for my day job; housework; people to help in my own backyard. Plus, all those games of Spider Solitaire and Word Crossy aren’t going to play themselves, you know.

In the past, I have been the King of Procrastination, but I am making progress. I have already made email contact for a prospective blog writing assignment (Shhhhh, don’t tell the A3 people!) and worked on two different proposals. I once heard that editors don’t hear back from over half of the people they meet at conferences, and I don’t want to be in that number. I want to be that one who makes contact and follows through, even if it means rejection. I won’t know until I try, right?

I’m setting aside tomorrow to finish those proposals and to make some more email contacts. Right after the Andy Griffith Show marathon.

Old habits die hard, people.

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Make Every Moment Count

Fifteen years ago a high school football standout was diagnosed with brain cancer his senior year. He approached me at the gym and shared how he was struggling. Since we went to the same church, he knew about me. I began sharing with him some of my struggles.

I’d learned a few hard truths during the difficult season of my recovery, including:

  • No one knows how much time they have left.
  • Things don’t always go as we hope or plan.
  • Every injury or story is different.
  • We all need help at some point in life.
  • Use your time wisely and make it count.

My struggles resonated with him because they were similar to his. We bonded over our passion for physical fitness. About two years after we met, I noticed he was no longer coming to the gym or attending church. His parents informed me his brain cancer had returned. It wasn’t long after that that he died—at the young age of 21.

His death reinforced the need for me to make every moment count.

Make It Count!

The first few days after my accident I could only get around in a wheelchair and I had to be pushed by someone else. Those are some of the hardest times in my life because I was dependent upon others. It taught me how to ask for help.

I had a severe learning curve with my new normal and while doctors understood what was going on physically, they didn’t understand how I felt mentally. It was a long road getting to where I wanted to be. We all have good days and bad days, but when you’re disabled the difference between those is drastic.

Each setback made me only appreciate the good days more. This is why I take advantage of every chance I get to walk, run, or bike. Because I know I can lose those abilities at any moment.

The writing life is just as fragile and unpredictable. There are days when we can turn out a thousand words and others when we can’t even stream together one sentence. By now most of you have learned the discipline of time management and how integral it is to the writing life.

When we get sidetracked in our writing or face a setback in publication, it takes up more than just time; it sucks the life out of our passion for the art. That’s why we must take every opportunity to grow, learn, and help others within the writing community.

As I write this I am recovering from an intense five-day writer’s conference that was amplified by the pandemic. Not only were there class times to meet, agents and publishers and writers to network with; in the back of my mind, there were health concerns. Still, I was able to pick up a few tools for my writing toolbox and learn a few other things.

  1. It’s good to be with others who understand the pressures of the writing path.
  2. You need a strong sense of humor to be secluded with people from all walks of life during a pandemic. This gives you a bigger perspective.
  3. We’re all at different stages in our writing careers.
  4. We need to hear the advice and stories of others within the community.
  5. We all know need encouragement.
  6. Writers need self-care (physically, mentally, and spiritually).
  7. Technology does what technology wants (both Apple and PCs).
  8. Mac users are not morning people and PC users start the day early.

I noticed the latter during the morning breakfast time. It was rare to see a Mac user up that early. My fellow PC users and I joked that the Mac users were up late trying to get things done. You never know when you can learn from each other.

One night after dinner I was talking to an acquaintance who is a Mac user about the publishing industry and my frustrations. She politely shared with me her views as an agent and encouraged me to think about it. Well, as in life—you never know.

You Never Know!

Last year, the mother of a 21-year-old soldier who sustained a brain injury in a training accident reached out to me on social media for some advice and encouragement about what her son was going through.

Over the course of 4 to 6 months, I learned about Luis’s family and injuries. While I wanted to tell the mother everything was going to be okay, I knew the truth that every brain injury is different and no one knows what will happen.

Unfortunately, this summer I learned the soldier had succumbed to his injuries leaving behind a young wife and a small child. I still keep up with his mother on social media and it breaks my heart to see her grieving. Time is indeed precious and during this pandemic, people need encouragement more.

  • Social distancing means limiting physical contact.
  • Limiting the spread of the virus means less travel and interactions with others.
  • Depression preys on the lonely.
  • Lack of activity has severe effects on the body.
  • Even after nine months of this new normal, no one knows what lies ahead.
  • It doesn’t take much to encourage others.

A few weeks before the conference, I went on a mountain getaway. At the same time, a writing acquaintance was having a release party for her devotional. I decided to take a slight detour to support her and cheer her on. It didn’t take long before she returned the favor to me.

She is the agent I spoke with about publishing at the writing conference. She’s also a fellow columnist on this website, pandemic life should teach us all to make every moment count!

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

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The Intentional Writer

What to Do When the Conference Is Over

The intentional writer

A few days ago Annette’s Embrace the Wait column listed good strategies to prepare for a writers’ conference. Conferences are important investments in our writing career, so it makes sense to start well by preparing ahead of time.

It also makes sense to end well, which means thinking about what you do after the conference is over.

Here are seven post-conference strategies to get the most out of your investment

  1. Send thank yous. Send a brief email to every professional you met with, thanking them for their time and their advice. You may also send thank yous to conference hosts and anyone else that seems appropriate.
  2. Follow up on contacts. Dig out the business cards you collected and follow your new writing friends on social media. Even better, send them a brief personal message that will help them remember who you are. You never know which contacts will turn out to be important a few months or years from now.
  3. Follow through on submissions. Right away. Do not procrastinate. (In fact, having your query/proposal/sample chapters polished and formatted should be part of your pre-conference checklist so you are ready to take advantage of these opportunities.) Sending your promised materials promptly shows busy agents and editors that you are professional, disciplined, and prompt. It also puts you in the front of the line, when they can still remember who you are and why they wanted to see your work.
  4. Give yourself time to recover. Conferences can be exhausting, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, you may be pumped to go home and try all the wonderful things you learned, but be patient. Practice good self-care by allowing your writer self to recover for a day or two before starting a blog or completely revamping your website.
  5. Organize your notes. Go through all the materials you acquired during the conference. File course materials where you can find them for later reference. If you do not have a workable system for storing information so you can find it again, this is a good time to create one.
  6. Choose One Thing to implement right away.  Conferences can fill us with motivation and inspire us to try new and wonderful techniques, but attempting too much too soon usually leads to frustration and a lack of focus. You will be more successful if you select one or two practical strategies or ideas to implement. Choose ones that particularly resonated with you or that apply to exactly where you happen to be in your current project. Once you get that going, you can return to your notes and apply something else.
  7. Journal your thoughts. It may be helpful to spend some time pondering your experiences and journaling about them. Pay attention to what excited you the most, what struck fear into you, and what caused a pang of some other emotion. Think through the reasons for those emotions and ponder what to do if those emotions are holding you back. You may also find it helpful to list all the key takeaways you learned, or list the wonderful people you met and jot down a note or two about what you discussed with them. Whatever will help you put useful information into long-term memory.

May your next writers’ conference be the best one yet.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

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Embrace the Wait

Survival Tips for the Waiting Part of Writing Tip #13 – Be Conference Ready

Writer’s conference season is upon us. If you’re like me, this time of year gets your creative juices flowing and turns you into a bundle of excitement and nerves. This will be my fourth season to enjoy the bounty these wonderful gatherings bestow. Nope, the thrill still has not faded.  If you have never attended a writer’s conference, I would highly recommend you go to at least one. After you’ve shared several days with people who get your writerly heart, I promise you’ll be hooked.

Writer’s conferences provide some of the best opportunities for encouragement and motivation a writer can ever know—especially if that writer is in the middle of a long waiting season. These events offer networking opportunities with fellow writers, classes to help improve your craft, and face-to-face time with agents and editors who are usually difficult to access.

But before you venture out into conference land it’s important to be adequately prepared for the journey. Here are a few tips to jumpstart your conference success:

  1. Pray and ask God for guidance about which conference(s) to attend. He will place you right where He wants you. Plus, He’ll often prepare divine appointments where and when you’d least expect them.
  2. Once you’re registered, immediately research the conference website and take full advantage of signups for mentoring, intensives, VIP lunches, practicums etc. Many conferences offer special perks that have limited space and require advance registration. If you don’t scour the website, way in advance, you might miss out on some of these valuable opportunities.
  3. Enter the conference contest if they offer one. You’d be amazed at how a dose of competition can take your writing to the next level. It’s exhilarating to hear your name called from stage if you place, but even if you don’t the experience is guaranteed to kick your writing game up a notch.
  4. Research the faculty ahead of time. If you have writing that is ready to pitch, make sure to do your homework before you attend the conference. Find out which agents and editors will be attending. Spend a good amount of time online getting to know who they are and what they’re looking for. If you find a good fit for your work, be prepared to jump at every chance to meet with that faculty member at the conference. A little planning can go a long way.
  5. Pack your professional essentials. Be sure to take business cards, one sheets, paper and pen, clothing that shows you’re serious about the profession, and the confidence you need to sell your yourself and your work.
  6. Polish your work, practice your pitch, and prepare your heart. Prior to the conference dedicate some time to make sure that you’ll be taking your very best with you. Best work. Best pitch. Best you.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:12

Fun Fact or Helpful Resource: If you’d like more details about preparing a one sheet and pitching, here are some excellent resources:

One Page Sell Sheet
How to Prepare For Pitch Sessions at a Writing Conference

Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.

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Book Proposals

But My Writing’s Good…Why Can’t I Get An Agent?

I remember those days of whining to myself. “But it’s good. Everybody says so, especially all my friends and family.” Sigh … yes, I’ll admit it. I really took those familial critiques as having substantial meaning. And … they … did … not. And not because their opinions weren’t valuable, but because they do not know the market, no matter how many books they read. Or how well versed they think they are.

Most readers have a few authors that they have read for years, maybe even decades, and that makes them loyal readers, not professional reviewers. And once a reader is with an author that they like, they will accept however that author writes for the most part: good or bad, contemporary or old and stale, or anything in between.

Agents are always looking for fresh voices. New takes on old stories, new ways of expressing the same thing, because let’s face it, there aren’t that many new themes and/or ideas out there. So how do we sell it? A fresh voice that uses all of the new trends in writing, that steps outside the box for lack of a better expression, and who knows what the new readers are looking for.

How does a writer stay abreast of trends? How do they develop their voices? How can they get a chance to show off what they can do?

Let’s explore the answers to these questions:

  1. attend conferences and workshops
  2. attend conferences and workshops
  3. attend conferences and workshops

Did I really answer all of those questions the same way? You bet I did. Because at conferences you’ll find numerous agents, editors, web designers, other authors, those who can help you build platform, and so on. It’s an opportunity to network, learn in classroom settings, discuss trends in the industry at appointments, network with and possibly join a critique group, and to get feedback on your work. HONEST feedback from someone who doesn’t have your friendship to lose if they don’t like it.

IN A WORD: invaluable

While I occasionally find authors through my email, most of the clients that I pick up are from conferences. Why is that? Most folks who are willing to pay for a conference have done their homework, learned their craft, and worked hard to be able to get to a conference. It means time away from family, a chip at the finances, but it also means time spent with others who GET US. Other folks with voices in their heads that just have to get out. They are writers who have thick skin and can take it when their work is confronted. They can say, “Wow! I didn’t know that. That certainly isn’t what I learned in Advanced English class.” In other words, they are teachable writers willing to listen, to learn, and to apply.

So, why can’t I get an agent? I am probably not taking all of the above seriously. I am convinced that I already know everything. I don’t work with critique partners. Why bother? They don’t know any more than I already do. I can’t afford to attend a conference (you can’t afford NOT to). I have an MFA in creative writing, so why bother? I know it all, right?

Leaving old notions behind, being teachable, learning to build platform, writing the best novel you possibly can after learning all the ins and outs of the industry, and you WILL be on your way to connecting with an agent or editor for your work.

There are conferences available from $99-all the way to WOW! break the bank.

Do your best! Nothing comes free. It comes with hard work aimed at a teachable spirit!

You can do this … yes, you can!

Linda S. Glaz is an agent with Hartline Literary Agency, and also the author of eight novels and two novellas, so she “gets” writers. She represents authors in both the Christian and secular communities. She speaks at numerous conferences and workshops around the country each year. Married with three grown children and four grands, she lives in a small town where everyone is family.

Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

Three Things I Learned in Wimberley, TX

This past month I packed up my little bag, tucked my insecurity into the glove box and drove south to Wimberley, TX to participate in the Serious Writer Tour conference.

The sun shone, the chickens clucked and y’all, I’m here to tell you, it was a great day.

Carpets of Texas bluebells added beauty to my journey.

Here’s some of the conference highlights:

  1. Children’s writers are eight times more likely to be published in nonfiction. Wendy Lanier shared this fantastic statistic, plus a slew of information on the various types of nonfiction that are published (hint: it ain’t just biographies).

From trade to literary, commercial to persuasive, there’s plenty of flavors within the nonfiction realm to explore. Until this point, I hadn’t considered writing nonfiction. I think I (incorrectly) imagined the process being very similar to writing an encyclopedia. But I like researching. And in the middle grade arena, tapping this market first could help build your credibility.

  1. Contests. One of the many info nuggets dispensed by Michelle Medlock Adams was that contests matter. Why? Because agents and editors who are on the hunt often look specifically at – you guessed it – contest winners. And you can’t win if you don’t enter.
  1. Always be ready to pitch. I wasn’t expecting to have one-on-one time with acquisitions editor Rachel Lamonica Pellegrino from Little Lamb Books. But guess what? I got it. And when she asked what I was working on, friends, it wasn’t pretty. I messed up in every possible way.

After I stopped chewing on my feet, Ms. Pellegrino gracefully gave me constructive, actionable feedback. Even though it was ultimately a positive experience, I fumbled into an important life lesson. So let me serve as a cautionary tale: Do your prep work. Create a concise, thoughtful pitch. Rehearse it. Because you never know what kind of opportunities you’ll have. You want to put your best foot forward instead of shoving it firmly into your mouth.

BONUS ITEM:

  1. Get out of your comfort zone. If you’ve read along and thought “This is all well and good, but I could never go to anything like this. I’m ______,” allow me to gently and kindly take you by the shoulder and say “Yes you can.”  Not only can you, if you’re serious about writing, you should invest time and energy in learning new things about your craft.

At a writing workshop or conference, you’ll meet other writers. Confession: this intimidates me sometimes. But I remind myself that writers are my people. For every writer in the room, there’s a unique path that led them there. I don’t have to worry whether or not my path is like theirs. There’s room at the table for all of us.

What do you think? Are you planning to attend any conferences or workshops this year? Which ones?

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Listening to Writing Mentors

Writers who listen are writers who learn. If we’re so busy pitching our ideas and promoting our writing agenda, we’ll turn into writers without a clue. And likely, writers without a contract for publication.

Years ago, I was a nursing student and one of my classes was entitled “Therapeutic Conversation.”

The title sounded ridiculous but it was anything but that. It taught me how to really listen to what a patient says, as well as observe their body language and facial expressions. The class coached us in how to rephrase what the person said back to them to be certain we understood their meaning. It forced us to listen, rather than speak all the time.

The biggest thing I learned from that class was how much I talk. That was humbling. I like hearing what I have to say, it seems. But I quickly was educated in the importance of really listening to my patients so I could be a better caregiver of their needs.

I also realized that this can carry over into every area of my life to improve communication with family and friends. It can also carry over into communication with other writers and editors, publishers and agents.

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Often I hear other writers express concern for what they will say at writer’s conferences, especially if it’s there first conference. If they ask me for advice, I encourage them to keep their introductions simple, their words few and their ears OPEN.

It seems we live in a society of talkers. National news interviews and reality TV shows are flooded with talk—and plenty of it. People are talking over people, expressing their thoughts and ideas without a concern for what the other person is trying to say. It gets downright annoying and you come away thinking, did anything get resolved? Did anyone learn anything?

That’s how I perceive some writers I’ve observed who attend sessions with potential mentors—editors and more experienced writers. These fledgling writers talk much, listen little—and already have all the answers. Or so they think.

The way to a potential relationship with an editor or publisher is to listen and learn. Ask questions but hear the answers. In this world of chatter, it can be hard to focus. But for the serious writer seeking publication, wisdom is in the words of the more experienced. I’d encourage some therapeutic listening.

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