Realm Makers 2020 Recap

by Ralene Burke @RaleneB

In light of the COVID-19 regulations, Realm Makers hosted their first virtual conference in July 2020. With the use of new technology, standout faculty, knowledgeable staff, and a fantastic schedule, Realm Makers presented a unique experience for speculative fiction writers. 

Achieve Your Writing Goals by Attending a Conference This Year

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

As we start a new year, I hope you have taken time to set some goals for your writing and figure out what you’d like to accomplish in 2017. When we assess our writing goals, we need to take a look at markets, article and book deadlines, and creative ways to sell books.

What’s So Great About Florida Christian Writers Conference

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

For the past four years, Mark Hancock (who serves as Director of FCWC alongside me) and I have worked hard to bring the best in Christian publishing to Florida Christian Writers Conference.

This coming year’s conference is no exception. And, this year we offer a few changes and surprises I’d like to share with you. Here are the first four.

Writing Conferences—Not Just for Pitching

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

I’ve just returned from the Florida Christian Writers Conference where I once again, learned many things.

One was the fact that new and seasoned writers have a misconception of the main reason for attending conferences. They think the most important reason is to pitch their work to agents and editors. While important, it’s not the main reason.

The most important reason to attend a conference is to network. I prefer to think of it as creating new, and nurturing established friendships. God considers relationships to be most important, especially the one with Him. He created us in His likeness, so building relationships with each other is the most important reason for everything.

Why, you may ask, is networking more important? Because we’re all human, and we prefer doing business with people we know and trust. That’s why focusing on friendships is most important. Ask any agent or editor, and they will tell you they give priority to writers they’ve met. Some won’t even consider submissions from writers they don’t know.

If we’ve established friendly relationships with agents and editors, they’ll be much more open to considering our work and helping us improve it. This, alone, is worth the price of admission. Having helped during the early stages, they look forward to seeing our results when it comes time to submit our work for their consideration.

There are many agents and editors whom I consider friends, and they have been very helpful with the progression of my novel. A novel I’ve only presented in concept, never formally. When they ask, I can’t yet tell them how it ends. But they’re all more than willing to help me with story, plot, and character ideas because they truly are interested in my success—and that of all writers. This is the result of my taking the time to befriend them. If my work is never accepted by them, I don’t care because they are my friends, and that’s more important to me.

Given the above, I think education is next in importance. As professional writers, it’s our responsibility to improve our craft as much as possible. Our readers expect a certain level of quality from us, and they anticipate improvement with each new offering. So we owe them the courtesy of becoming the best writers we can be. Yes, it’s hard, sometimes frustrating work, but the rewards are worth it.

If you just can’t get to a conference, I recommend using social media and blogs to develop relationships and hone your craft. This blog site is an excellent resource for connecting and learning. You connect by commenting or replying to them. And you learn from the posts. There are several other great writer, editor, and author sites that will serve your needs as well.

Whether you agree with me or not, or if you just have questions, please share your thoughts below. Let’s keep the conversation going.

TWEETABLES
#Writing conference, they're not just for pitching - via @BDBrady007 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Bruce Brady is an author, writer and playwright. His work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, www.ChristianDevotions.us, and on stage. Currently, Bruce is working on a Young Adult Novel about a boy who must deal with the death of his dad, being bullied, and helping his mom through her grief. His first five pages took third place in the ACFW South Carolina Chapter’s “First Five Pages” contest.

When he’s not writing, Bruce spends time learning from and helping other writers. He serves as Mentor of Word Weavers International’s Online Chapter, and as a member of Cross ‘N’ Pens, The Writer’s Plot, ACFW’s National and South Carolina Chapters.

“My dream is to entertain my readers and give them hope as they travel the rocky road of life.”

How to Become a Better Writer? Learn to Write Better!

It seems like three quarters of the advice we hear as writers has to do with marketing, sales and platform. The reasons for this are myriad, but the biggest is that most of us struggle in this area. It tends to be way outside our comfort zone. But all this focus on social networking can also lead us astray, in time management and priorities.

It’s critical that we recognize the need to grow in our craft…to learn to write better!

So how do we do that? One of the best ways is to attend writers conferences. But with all the choices out there, how do we choose the one that best fits our circumstances? I hope this blog post will help.

I have my favorites, of course! But just because they’re my favorites doesn’t mean they are the best choice for YOU. I’ve tried to break it all down and give you as unbiased an overview as I can.

The first thing you should consider is your experience level. You need to look at where you are with your writing, that will be the biggest factor in your decision. As you look at the categories realize that your experience may overlap.

Beginner

• Never submitted anything for publication
• Hasn’t told many people he writes
• Has submitted a couple of things, but nothing published

Advanced Beginner

• Has several rejection letters and a couple of acceptances
• Is a member of a local or online writing group
• Regularly reads articles or books about writing

Intermediate

• Has attended a writers event (either a workshop, conference or online class)
• Has an idea of where he wants to go with his writing
• Has been paid for his writing

Advanced

• Spends time each day working at the craft of writing and has an income derived from writing
• Has definite goals and aspirations for his writing

Once you know which group you fall into, it’s easier to evaluate each individual event. There are 2 reasons to attend a writers event.

1. To learn more about the craft of writing
2. To network with professionals within the writing world

Here’s a general breakdown of what is usually offered at each kind of event.

These events vary slightly, so the following information is generalized. You should read all brochures and websites carefully to know what to expect.

Large, National Writing Conference

Expect lots of classes for a wide variety of writers - from beginner to advanced.

Continuing Classes – these are classes that last for more than one class period and concentrate on one subject. Even though they are continuing, they rarely provide advanced information on a given subject.

Workshops – these are classes that give an introduction to a concept (like dialogue, plot or setting).

Breakouts or Panels – these are groups of professionals giving instruction on a given subject. The information here is usually very basic.

Appointments with Faculty – most large conferences include a private appointment with a member of the faculty. This is where you would pitch a book or article idea to an editor. It can also be valuable to let a seasoned author look at your writing and give one-on-one feedback.

Regional or Local Writing Conference

These tend to have more classes for the beginner and advanced beginner writer, although there are exceptions. Depending on the length of time, the conference will follow the same basic setup as a national conference.

Workshop or Seminar

Many of these are very specific in what they offer. They aren’t for a large number of writers and generally target the intermediate or advanced writer.

Online Classes

Again, they are very specific in what they offer and vary widely in who they cater to.

It’s never a good idea to write in a vacuum. I have always tried to attend one large conference a year to expose myself to the writing industry, both for networking and education. I also try to attend at least one focused workshop or seminar each year I and I try to keep my eyes open for online writing courses and take at least two a year.

Let me know what conferences and events you've attended and how they've helped your writing journey.

Honing Your Conference Pitch

Attending a writers conference can be a stressful undertaking—even for a seasoned writer. A lot of writers have gravitated toward our profession because we’re not comfortable with crowds, especially crowds of strangers.

That’s why I’m posting this series on writing conferences. It’s not to add to your stress—but to alleviate it. For me, when I know what to expect and am prepared, I’m less anxious. No one likes to feel like they're under the gun. I assume I’m not alone in this feeling.

So the first subject we’re going to tackle is the one that makes most writer’s stress levels spike off scale—pitching.

Over the years I’ve had people tell me they’re not worried about pitching—they’re just going to learn. Nice thought, but not based in reality. I hate to break it to you, but if you’re standing in line or sitting beside someone and they ask you what you’re writing, if you answer them, you’ve just delivered a pitch. I could post pages of stories from writers who wished they’d been prepared for this unassuming little scenario.

The idea behind a pitch is to get the person you’re talking with to ask for more.

Simple concept, harder to execute. So here are some of the do’s and don’ts of pitching.

Do

• Set up an intriguing scenario.
• Introduce your main character.
• Give a hint about their situation and goal.
• Tie in the disaster or obstacle to that goal.

Don’t

• Go over 2 sentences—try to keep it to one sentence.
• Answer all the questions the listener might have.
• Substitute cleverness for specifics.
• Give away the ending.

Now, here are some real life hooks or tag lines from popular movies. I’d love to read some of your favorites as well. 

• "She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees." —Erin Brokovich
• "To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman." —Silence of the Lambs
• "What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?" —Sleepless in Seattle 1993
• “A businessman falls in love with a hooker he hires to be his date for the weekend” —Pretty Woman
•  “When you can live forever, what do you live for?” —Twilight
•  “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.” —Jaws 2
•  “In space, no one can hear you scream.” —Alien 

Now it's your turn to chime in. Do you have any questions or is anyone brave enough to try their pitch out here?

And . . . Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Thursday Review—Is the Conference Expense Worth It?

I’ll be the first to admit attending a Writing Conference is expensive. But I’ll also immediately back that up with the assurance that it’s money well spent. In terms of networking, education and job leads it’s the best money I’ve invested in my career.

The trick to this kind of return on investment is choosing wisely. There are large conferences, mid-size ones and small ones. Each offers a specific benefit, as well as overlapping benefits. Here are some things to consider when making your decision.

Networking/Job Leads
If your primary goal is networking/job leads a large conference is a good investment. These venues offer more opportunities to get to know industry professionals—writers, editors and agents. I recommend you choose one close, if possible. If that’s not an option, look at air fares and associated travel costs to determine your real dollar investment. Generally the conference fee will be augmented by room costs, meals and travel expenses.

There are lots of excellent conferences out there, but here is an incomplete list:

• ACFW Annual Conference
• Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
• Southwest Christian Writers Conference
• Write to Publish
• Christian Writers Guild
• Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference

Education
If learning your craft is your primary goal, a smaller venue may be the best choice for you. These smaller gatherings offer targeted education and more individual attention. There are literally hundreds of options in this category. The best way to sort through them all is to get personal recommendations. Find someone who has attended and get their opinion.

Here are some reoccurring seminars that you might want to consider:

• My Book Therapy
• The Masters Seminars
• CLASSeminars Writers Express

Online Options
If a conference is out of your budget, don’t despair. There are online options for networking and education. You may have to work a little harder to stay motivated (for the classes) and to get to know people, but it can be done. Here are some GREAT forums. These are well moderated and craft oriented, promising a professional place to play on the Internet.

• ACFW (membership is required, $50 first year, $40 there after)
• My Book Therapy Voices Forum (membership is free)
• The Christian Writers View 1 (Yahoo Group, for professiona writers, application required, no fee)
• The Christian Writers View 2 (Yahoo Group, for beginning & intermediate writers, no fee)

Now it’s your turn—what conferences or online groups have worked for you?
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Writing Conferences and Events

I don’t know about you, but my inbox is stuffed to overflowing with announcements regarding upcoming writing events. There are national conferences, regional conferences, local workshops and online courses. How is a writer to choose which ones will be most helpful and appropriate?

Last week I posted a tongue-in-cheek top ten of why to attend a conference. This week, let’s get serious and I’ll give some good guidelines to help with the decision.

The first thing you should consider is your experience level. You need to look at where you are with your writing, that will be the biggest factor in your decision. As you look at the categories realize that your experience may overlap.

Beginner

• Never submitted anything for publication
• Hasn’t told many people he writes
• Has submitted a couple of things, but nothing published

Advanced Beginner

• Has several rejection letters and a couple of acceptances
• Is a member of a local or online writing group
• Regularly reads articles or books about writing

Intermediate

• Has attended a writers event (either a workshop, conference or online class)
• Has an idea of where he wants to go with his writing
• Has been paid for his writing

Advanced

• Spends time each day working at the craft of writing and has an income derived from writing
• Has definite goals and aspirations for his writing

Once you know which group you fall into, it’s easier to evaluate each individual event. There are 2 reasons to attend a writers event.

1. To learn more about the craft of writing
2. To network with professionals within the writing world

Here’s a general breakdown of what is usually offered at each kind of event.

These events vary slightly, so the following information is generalized. You should read all brochures and websites carefully to know what to expect.

Large, National Writing Conference
Expect lots of classes for the beginner and advanced beginner writer.
Some conferences do have a few sessions aimed at the advanced writer.
Continuing Classes – these are classes that last for more than one class period and concentrate on one subject. Even though they are continuing, they rarely provide advanced information on a given subject.
Workshops – these are classes that give an introduction to a concept (like dialogue, plot or setting).
Breakouts or Panels – these are groups of professionals giving instruction on a given subject. The information here is usually very basic.
Appointments with Faculty – most large conferences include a private appointment with a member of the faculty. This is where you would pitch a book or article idea to an editor. It can also be valuable to let a seasoned author look at your writing and give one-on-one feedback.

Regional or Local Writing Conference
Again, lots of classes for the beginner and advanced beginner writer.
Depending on the length of time, the conference will follow the same basic setup as a national conference.

Workshop or Seminar
Many of these are very specific in what they offer. They aren’t for a large number of writers and generally target the intermediate or advanced writer.

Online Classes
Again, they are very specific in what they offer and vary widely in who they cater to.

It’s never a good idea to write in a vacuum. I have always tried to attend one large conference a year to expose myself to the writing industry, both for networking and education. I also try to attend at least one focused workshop or seminar each year I and I try to keep my eyes open for online writing courses and take at least two a year.

This past weekend I attended a fabulous workshop, The Master Seminars, by Chip MacGregor and Susan May Warren and I'll be reviewing it in my Thursday Reviews post.

Let me know what conferences and events you've attended and how they've helped your writing journey.

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie