My Experience at the Silken Sands Writers Conference Posted on March 23, 2010 by LJ I've just returned from the Silken Sands Writers Conference in Pensacola, Florida. The conference is held every other year (they alternate years with the Southern Magic Conference given by the Birmingham Chapter of Romance Writers of America). I had the most wonderful time at the conference and learned a great deal. Although the Gulf Coast Chapter Romance Writers of America is a close-knit group, everyone at the conference was very friendly and made me feel welcome. The conference was attended by heavy hitting industry professionals who made presentations and/or participated in agent/editor consultations. I pitched my romantic suspense novel and received no less than three requests to see it – two from top publishers and one from a top agent. The seminars at the conference were very informative and wonderfully presented. I learned the best way to create new worlds for science fiction and fantasy novels, how to self-edit my manuscripts so that they have the best chance of getting published, how to keep my muse happy, how to find time to write in my chaotic schedule, and so much more. I'll be able to use what I learned at the conference right away since I now have to timely whip my manuscripts into shape and send them off the agents and editors who have requested to see them. I also plan to write a fantasy novel for this year's National November Writing Month. The best part of the weekend though was the chance to network and get to know industry professionals and writers in various stages of their careers – from the not yet published to bestsellers. Talking with the other writers helped me to learn about resources that will take my writing to the next level and to make new friends. I will definitely be back in 2012. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Share this:ShareFacebookPocketLinkedInTumblrRedditPinterest
The Benefits of Attending a Writers Conference Posted on March 6, 2010 by LJ A couple of weeks ago, I attended the San Francisco Writers Conference. It was a great experience. I had been to the Maui Writers Conference several times before. I always came back from those trips refreshed and renewed and having learned a lot about the craft of writing. I didn't have high expectations for the San Francisco Writers Conference. I doubted that it would be able to compete with the wonderful experiences I had in Hawaii. Boy was I wrong. I don't know if its because I have now written three novels and I am at a different stage in my writing journey (the godforsaken land of editing), but I got so much out of the San Francisco Writers Conference that I came back fired up and with an action plan that I have already started to set in motion. I learned about the need to have a platform (an audience who would look forward to reading your work) and how to go about developing one. I learned how to best to pitch my work to agents and editors. I learned how to find the agents and editors who would be most receptive to the type of books I write. I even learned that my romance novel would be difficult to place because it is short (57,000 words) and that if I want it to have a greater chance of getting published, I need to expand it to at least 75,000 and preferably 90,000 words. I got very helpful feedback on the first few pages of my suspense novel – Dreams Deferred – from an independent editor and invitations from six well-known and respected agents to send them my manuscripts for consideration. Now if I could just finish editing the darn things and get them out the door . . . But that is a topic for another day. The point is, there are numerous benefits to attending a well run, well attended and very well put together writers conference – from the writing seminars to the ability to consult with independent editors to the ability to network with and pitch to top agents and editors, to the fellowship and inspiration one gets from mingling with other creative minds. I will definitely be back next year – not to find an agent, but to learn more from the seminars and to pitch my next book. Peace. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Share this:ShareFacebookPocketLinkedInTumblrRedditPinterest