And I'm back from the NC Writers' Conference! It was held in Greensboro, NC, on April 30 (today, in other words.)
Most of the sessions were for memoir, poetry, or publishing with regional (small) publishers. There was a lot of advice for aspiring poets looking to publish their work, and the exhibit hall had several small publishers advertising, as well as several poetry magazines. There was an open-mike reading at the end of the conference, and the key-note speakers were poets, who talked about how they'd gotten to be well-known and published. After lunch, there was an author reading, where the workshop readers got to read excerpts from their stories/poems. I especially enjoyed Ed Schubert's short story, a very humorous science fiction piece. There was also a chance to sign up to take the workshop readers to lunch.
On the other hand, lunch would have probably been more impressive, had it not been in the university cafeteria, and had the cafeteria realized there was a conference and thus had more stocked than the Chick-fil-a.
I would have gotten much more out of the conference, in fact, had I been a poet or a memoir writer. However, Edward Schubert's seminar in the morning was quite helpful, a small panel for marketing science fiction. And Angela Harwood's afternoon seminar on marketing yourself was useful. Although the small press for which she works only publishes one fiction novel a year (everything else is nonfiction), she made a point to try to address to fiction writers as well. I also took home some very pertinent ideas for e-marketing myself.
Point in fact: Blogs. She suggests that blog posts should be frequent, and short. Frequent posts keep your blog high on the list. Short blogs are more likely to be read. Harwood suggested 3-4 sentences at a time; she made the point that a blog shouldn't be a journal, but method for connecting with readers. Clearly, I need to update more: I'm thinking I may go to a 3-posts-a-week pattern. I might try for one long, informative post and two shorter tidbits. She also suggested that no more than 50% of either tweets or blog posts should be about your book - the rest is networking, drawing in a new audience and keeping your readers interested. All good advice.
Overall review: For a non-poet, a C. There were a limited number of seminars, and the options for fiction writers were minimal. Most of the focus was for small publishers or self-publishing, which isn't much help if you plan to write a novel and get a paycheck for it. Still, I did get some very helpful ideas, and I met a few people. I won't attend again until I have money to spare - I don't think I got quite enough out of it to pay for the cost of the conference ($165, and gas and food.) But, I did get something out of the conference, so I won't count it as a loss.
For a poet, an A. I'd recommend serious poets attend for the contacts and the publishing advice. If you're not planning to make money off writing, but can afford to do it only as a hobby, it's also worth attending. I found out about several small writing "boot camps," including one run by Orson Scott Card. They're very expensive, but include from one to six weeks of intensive writing seminar, including food and board. Would I go? No. I have neither the time nor the money.
If I could afford $600 (before hotel and travel), I would go to the RWA conference in New York. I can't. But StellarCon, RavenCon, and ConCarolinas are all within plausible distance and price, as is Moonlight and Magnolias. I can't help but think about the contacts I could make at a conference dedicated to my genre! Time for me to go digging for conference information... after a nap, that is. u.u-zzzzzz
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Ugly Confessions
Okay, confession time: I'm getting behind on writing.
Wait, what? Ms. 3000-word-a-day is behind? What's going on?
Yes, it's true: lately, the days I've been writing, I've been averaging no more than 1000 words... and most days don't get that! Since I finished my first novel, I've been in a lag as I picked up two part-time jobs to pay the bills, edited the first, began looking for agents (still no success), and tried to start on my second. The biggest problem is not time, because my jobs still leave me my mornings free. The problem is endurance and plot - two things I'm lacking.
At first, I was so unsatisfied with the plot of my second novel that I couldn't bring myself to write. So I rewrote it. And rewrote it again. Then, by the time I was happy with my story, my writing muscles had gotten out of shape - I'm getting tired after 1000 words. I've said before that writing is an endurance sport, and since I've stopped, my mind is getting flabby.
Solution? Discipline. No, I'm probably not going to get back to 3,000, at least not right away. But I have to keep pushing myself, and no more excuses to put off what I should be doing first: writing! I'll try for a week at 1-1.5k, and then push upward from there. Wish me luck!
What do you do, when you find yourself slacking? How long does it take for you to get yourself back shape?
Wait, what? Ms. 3000-word-a-day is behind? What's going on?
Yes, it's true: lately, the days I've been writing, I've been averaging no more than 1000 words... and most days don't get that! Since I finished my first novel, I've been in a lag as I picked up two part-time jobs to pay the bills, edited the first, began looking for agents (still no success), and tried to start on my second. The biggest problem is not time, because my jobs still leave me my mornings free. The problem is endurance and plot - two things I'm lacking.
At first, I was so unsatisfied with the plot of my second novel that I couldn't bring myself to write. So I rewrote it. And rewrote it again. Then, by the time I was happy with my story, my writing muscles had gotten out of shape - I'm getting tired after 1000 words. I've said before that writing is an endurance sport, and since I've stopped, my mind is getting flabby.
Solution? Discipline. No, I'm probably not going to get back to 3,000, at least not right away. But I have to keep pushing myself, and no more excuses to put off what I should be doing first: writing! I'll try for a week at 1-1.5k, and then push upward from there. Wish me luck!
What do you do, when you find yourself slacking? How long does it take for you to get yourself back shape?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Suggested Links
Just a compilation of suggested links, which I'll add to as time goes on:
http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/ BookEnds Literary Agency Blog - the writer had a lot of very helpful articles on everything from writing queries to what to expect when you're publishing.
http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ QueryShark - if you're working on writing your query, READ THIS. It made all the difference for me. While she's harsh, the author is good, and being able to see her feedback on other people's work means you won't have to swallow the same kind of feedback on your own. Assuming, that is, you follow her advice.
http://www.rwa.org/ Romance Writers of America - Join, and you'll have access to their lists of romance agents, articles, writing contests, local chapters, and much more. Great networking tool, and if you intend to be a professional writer, you should join a professional writing association.
http://www.heartofcarolina.org/ Heart of Carolina Romance Writers - The local chapter of the RWA for me. Actually sitting down with published writers and talking to them? I can't stress enough how much that helped me. Really. I learned as much during a tea and dinner as I learned in three weeks of research, and most of it was entirely informal. Of course, if you're not a romance writer, you oughtn't join, but I'd suggest finding the equivalent of your genre. Not in North Carolina? The chapter does make exceptions for writers who live in states without a local chapter. Of course, I'd probably suggest going for the closest state and asking them if you can join. That way, you'll have a chance of being able to attend in person a little more often (theoretically, anyway. I know - it's hard making the time to go to meetings! But try. Trust me on this.)
http://www.ncwriters.org/ NC Writers - Where will you find your genre-equivalent of HCRW? Check here (or your state's writing network). What's the benefit of writing conferences? Getting to meet an agent in person, talking to other writers, general networking, and taking seminars that will prepare you for the next step.
http://virginiakantra.com/Links.html Virginia Kantra's website - she's been highly recommended to me by all of the members of HCRW as having excellent articles about writing, and those that I've read so far have been helpful.
http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/ BookEnds Literary Agency Blog - the writer had a lot of very helpful articles on everything from writing queries to what to expect when you're publishing.
http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ QueryShark - if you're working on writing your query, READ THIS. It made all the difference for me. While she's harsh, the author is good, and being able to see her feedback on other people's work means you won't have to swallow the same kind of feedback on your own. Assuming, that is, you follow her advice.
http://www.rwa.org/ Romance Writers of America - Join, and you'll have access to their lists of romance agents, articles, writing contests, local chapters, and much more. Great networking tool, and if you intend to be a professional writer, you should join a professional writing association.
http://www.heartofcarolina.org/ Heart of Carolina Romance Writers - The local chapter of the RWA for me. Actually sitting down with published writers and talking to them? I can't stress enough how much that helped me. Really. I learned as much during a tea and dinner as I learned in three weeks of research, and most of it was entirely informal. Of course, if you're not a romance writer, you oughtn't join, but I'd suggest finding the equivalent of your genre. Not in North Carolina? The chapter does make exceptions for writers who live in states without a local chapter. Of course, I'd probably suggest going for the closest state and asking them if you can join. That way, you'll have a chance of being able to attend in person a little more often (theoretically, anyway. I know - it's hard making the time to go to meetings! But try. Trust me on this.)
http://www.ncwriters.org/ NC Writers - Where will you find your genre-equivalent of HCRW? Check here (or your state's writing network). What's the benefit of writing conferences? Getting to meet an agent in person, talking to other writers, general networking, and taking seminars that will prepare you for the next step.
http://virginiakantra.com/Links.html Virginia Kantra's website - she's been highly recommended to me by all of the members of HCRW as having excellent articles about writing, and those that I've read so far have been helpful.
Query: Again?
I've hacked.
I've slashed.
I've trashed and started from scratch.
I've irritated my friends, annoyed my best editors, read QueryShark (http://queryshark.blogspot.com/), read the BookEnds Blog (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/), looked up author advice, trashed again and then dug through the trash for bits I wanted to save after all, only to throw them right back in there.
And I've come up with Query Version (mumble-point-oh).
This version is much tighter, more gripping, and shorter. It's still more than 250 words (the query rule of thumb,) but not much more. Also note that I have my title in all-caps (POSEIDON'S DAUGHTER); that's standard form for queries.
I also worked on showing, not telling, my characters' personalities. That's important: telling is passive, and showing is active. I don't need a lot of background; I just want the agent to read the letter. So I cut out most of the plot, offered my two main characters, the love connection, and their biggest problems. Do I say that Lygos hates politics and doesn't want to stop being a general? No, I say
I also don't specifically say that POSEIDON'S DAUGHTER is a time-travel romance. But do I have to spell it out? No, you catch on immediately with the questions that also indicate Carol's confusion, and her exasperation/disgust with having to deal with a dead body minus her typical tools. That's showing. EDIT 10/3/11: I've been advised (by the professionals!) to clearly state the time-travel up front, because many agents who do paranormal have preferences for or against specific subgenres such as time-travel. Since time-travel is not a central theme, I'm call it "a fantasy romance with elements of time-travel."
Will this query work any better than my last versions? I don't know for certain, but I think it has a much better chance! If you're working on writing your own query, I highly suggest hitting up queryshark and reading through the advice and feedback they've put together for writers. It takes a lot of reading, but it's worth it. As for me... Cross your fingers and wish me luck?
And on a random note - finally got around to fixing the "mysterious sinking island" loophole. Poor Aegadon. One day you're a mile-wide island ten miles off shore; the next, you're one fourth the size and 95% closer. Either way, you get sunk. Splash!
I've slashed.
I've trashed and started from scratch.
I've irritated my friends, annoyed my best editors, read QueryShark (http://queryshark.blogspot.com/), read the BookEnds Blog (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/), looked up author advice, trashed again and then dug through the trash for bits I wanted to save after all, only to throw them right back in there.
And I've come up with Query Version (mumble-point-oh).
This version is much tighter, more gripping, and shorter. It's still more than 250 words (the query rule of thumb,) but not much more. Also note that I have my title in all-caps (POSEIDON'S DAUGHTER); that's standard form for queries.
I also worked on showing, not telling, my characters' personalities. That's important: telling is passive, and showing is active. I don't need a lot of background; I just want the agent to read the letter. So I cut out most of the plot, offered my two main characters, the love connection, and their biggest problems. Do I say that Lygos hates politics and doesn't want to stop being a general? No, I say
"he’ll have to join a new Council, taking up the most disgusting profession he can imagine: politics."Same idea, but here you get into his head and find yourself saying the word like it's profanity. And that tells you just how much he hates it, without having to say "Lygos hates politics."
I also don't specifically say that POSEIDON'S DAUGHTER is a time-travel romance. But do I have to spell it out? No, you catch on immediately with the questions that also indicate Carol's confusion, and her exasperation/disgust with having to deal with a dead body minus her typical tools. That's showing. EDIT 10/3/11: I've been advised (by the professionals!) to clearly state the time-travel up front, because many agents who do paranormal have preferences for or against specific subgenres such as time-travel. Since time-travel is not a central theme, I'm call it "a fantasy romance with elements of time-travel."
Will this query work any better than my last versions? I don't know for certain, but I think it has a much better chance! If you're working on writing your own query, I highly suggest hitting up queryshark and reading through the advice and feedback they've put together for writers. It takes a lot of reading, but it's worth it. As for me... Cross your fingers and wish me luck?
And on a random note - finally got around to fixing the "mysterious sinking island" loophole. Poor Aegadon. One day you're a mile-wide island ten miles off shore; the next, you're one fourth the size and 95% closer. Either way, you get sunk. Splash!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Reinventing the Query-Wheel
Yesterday, I went to the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers' meeting. It ran from 1-3, and involved a published novelist and college instructor giving a presentation about editing your own novel. I learned a couple of things - for me, most notably, 'find your favorite phrase, then SEARCH AND DESTROY!' In other words, find out the one phrase you like too much and have a tendency to throw in several times, then go through and get rid of all but one occurence in the entire novel. Ouch! That's going to be hard. But I know I play favorites to a couple of phrases, so it's advice I'll heed.
We ended right at three, and then the REAL meeting began: going out to tea with the members of the group, and later dinner with whomever was left. In this informal setting, I got a chance to talk with several published authors, as well as quite a few unpublished authors in the same writing boat as me (finished manuscript, no publication as of yet.) I have to say, I learned more from the four hours following the meeting than from the lecture, and it was a very good lecture.
Amongst the conversation, I discovered one invaluable piece of information: I need to rewrite my query letter. You see, I've made one, small, fundamental mistake: I forgot my audience. In my original letter, I've sold an interesting world and a pair of interesting characters. There's nothing wrong with that; if I were publishing a science fiction or a fantasy book, I'd be set. But I'm writing a romance novel. I need to sell, first and foremost, the romance.
You know the cliche. I'm starting over; I'm beginning again; I'm throwing it out and doing a Lady McBeth in my mind: "Out, out, damn letter!" It's time to rewrite based on what my potential agents are looking for, and never mind how much I love my world. If an agent doesn't see a worthwhile romance in the query, she'll never get lost in my setting or blown away by my steamy love scenes, because she'll never read the book!
This may take a while, because the query is, understandably, the hardest part of the novel to write. But I'll get back to you when I've figured it out. Meanwhile, if you're a writer trying to find a agent, I suggest you take a good look at your query, too. What genre is your novel? Does your letter address, first and foremost, the selling point your genre revolves around? "No agent is going to sign something that won't make them money," a quote from Katharine Ashe, and an agent with a pile of letters is going to skip anything that doesn't address the selling point of the target genre. Time for me, at least, to rewrite!
We ended right at three, and then the REAL meeting began: going out to tea with the members of the group, and later dinner with whomever was left. In this informal setting, I got a chance to talk with several published authors, as well as quite a few unpublished authors in the same writing boat as me (finished manuscript, no publication as of yet.) I have to say, I learned more from the four hours following the meeting than from the lecture, and it was a very good lecture.
Amongst the conversation, I discovered one invaluable piece of information: I need to rewrite my query letter. You see, I've made one, small, fundamental mistake: I forgot my audience. In my original letter, I've sold an interesting world and a pair of interesting characters. There's nothing wrong with that; if I were publishing a science fiction or a fantasy book, I'd be set. But I'm writing a romance novel. I need to sell, first and foremost, the romance.
You know the cliche. I'm starting over; I'm beginning again; I'm throwing it out and doing a Lady McBeth in my mind: "Out, out, damn letter!" It's time to rewrite based on what my potential agents are looking for, and never mind how much I love my world. If an agent doesn't see a worthwhile romance in the query, she'll never get lost in my setting or blown away by my steamy love scenes, because she'll never read the book!
This may take a while, because the query is, understandably, the hardest part of the novel to write. But I'll get back to you when I've figured it out. Meanwhile, if you're a writer trying to find a agent, I suggest you take a good look at your query, too. What genre is your novel? Does your letter address, first and foremost, the selling point your genre revolves around? "No agent is going to sign something that won't make them money," a quote from Katharine Ashe, and an agent with a pile of letters is going to skip anything that doesn't address the selling point of the target genre. Time for me, at least, to rewrite!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Rejection!
Well, it's official. I must be a real writer now. Why?
Because I've just received my first two rejection letters! Wahoo!
Wait, you're surprised I'm excited? Shouldn't I be upset, or crying, or something? Pssh. Every writer starts out being rejected. It's the first step on the road to success. Me, I think I'm going to frame my first rejection letter and hang it on my wall somewhere...
Since I've only sent out brief queries, and haven't had full manuscript requests yet in response to my queries, I haven't gotten any kinds of specific feedback. And, I'll admit it: I've been lazy. Instead of sending out queries on a weekly basis, I've been editing my first novel, planning and beginning writing on my second, applying for a second part-time job, and working a first part-time job. See? Pure laziness: If I don't get my query letters sent out, no one will ever publish my book! Priorities, girl, priorities! It takes (on average, based on the majority of agents I've sent letters to) about 4-6 weeks to hear back for an e-mail query. Having sent my first queries out in mid-February, I'm doing pretty well to have already heard back from two!
What does a query letter look like?
Okay, so, I haven't had a successful query letter result yet. But here are some important elements:
Important things to note about my query: I've included my word count, my membership to Romance Writers of America, that I have no previously published works, and why I chose this literary agent/ Each letter is a little different, because I personalize to each agent. I have been very picky in whom I send the queries to, because there's no point in sending it to someone who isn't interested in what I've written. Yes, that's right: I research each agent before sending the query. Oh, and I have the title of the book, too. Don't forget that! I also have a brief plot synopsis designed to catch the reader's interest, and I spelled the agent's name correctly.
What does a rejection letter look like?
All personal information removed to protect the literary agents, here's what I got back:
Thank you so much for querying us with your project. Unfortunately, we did not feel it was the right fit for our agency. Thanks for thinking of (Agency name) and we wish you nothing but the best in your writing career.
Sincerely,
(Agent)
And my second rejection:
Dear Juturna,
Thanks so much for letting me take a look at your material, which I read with great interest. Unfortunately, the project you describe does not suit my list at this time. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in finding an agent and publisher for your work, and I thank you, once again, for letting me consider your work.
Sincerely,
(Agent)
I have to say, the latter was a very, very nice rejection. Kudos to this agent for incredible people skills!
Writing Your Own Query
Pretty much any agency you visit will have somewhere on their website what they want in a query letter, and there's hundreds of different sites online about how to write a query. Here's two links to get you started:
http://www.traceylyons.com/queryletter.html
http://www.carolynjewel.com/craft/querysamples.php
Rejection isn't something to be feared. It's as much a part of writing as making an outline, and probably just as essential. Remember, literary agents get thousands of queries, so every unsolicited query is like buying a lottery ticket - even when you know your book is just what your agent would like. Here's a glance at the other side of the ticket, through the eyes of a literary agent talking about writing rejection letters:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/dec/03/publishers-rejection-letters
Have you ever sought an agent? How many letters did you get before getting accepted? I'll make sure to include a final count when I finally do get published. For me, the biggest challenge is not to get discouraged. So instead of looking at rejection as a critique of my self-worth, I consider it a necessary part of the writing process, and a chance to improve on my weak points as a writer. Most of all, I always keep thinking, "When I get published..." I don't give myself if's, or any kind of subjunctive clauses. This isn't a wish or a possibility; it is something which will happen, and I just have to keep working at it until it does. When it comes to rejection, it's all about stubborning yourself through.
Fortunately, I'm pretty good at stubborn.
Because I've just received my first two rejection letters! Wahoo!
Wait, you're surprised I'm excited? Shouldn't I be upset, or crying, or something? Pssh. Every writer starts out being rejected. It's the first step on the road to success. Me, I think I'm going to frame my first rejection letter and hang it on my wall somewhere...
Since I've only sent out brief queries, and haven't had full manuscript requests yet in response to my queries, I haven't gotten any kinds of specific feedback. And, I'll admit it: I've been lazy. Instead of sending out queries on a weekly basis, I've been editing my first novel, planning and beginning writing on my second, applying for a second part-time job, and working a first part-time job. See? Pure laziness: If I don't get my query letters sent out, no one will ever publish my book! Priorities, girl, priorities! It takes (on average, based on the majority of agents I've sent letters to) about 4-6 weeks to hear back for an e-mail query. Having sent my first queries out in mid-February, I'm doing pretty well to have already heard back from two!
What does a query letter look like?
Okay, so, I haven't had a successful query letter result yet. But here are some important elements:
- Correctly spell the agent's name. Use the agent's name, too, and not "Dear Agent"
- Immediately state your title, genre, word count, and that your novel is complete (don't query an incomplete manuscript if you're a fiction writer)
- Give a short blurb about your story. Include your plot hook (what makes your novel unique) and vivid, fast-paced, intriguing language. Don't leave your agent hanging with a question, even a rhetorical one. Every agent I've found discussing queries hate blurbs that end with a question.
- Include a short section with your creditials (if you have none, don't pad it.) Include ONLY information directly related to your ability to write, your past writing experience, and your experience as it relates to THIS manuscript. You may also mention why you chose this specific agent, and show that you did your research.
- Try to keep it under 250 words.
- Sign with your real name, not your pen name.
- Include your contact information.
What does a rejection letter look like?
All personal information removed to protect the literary agents, here's what I got back:
Thank you so much for querying us with your project. Unfortunately, we did not feel it was the right fit for our agency. Thanks for thinking of (Agency name) and we wish you nothing but the best in your writing career.
Sincerely,
(Agent)
And my second rejection:
Dear Juturna,
Thanks so much for letting me take a look at your material, which I read with great interest. Unfortunately, the project you describe does not suit my list at this time. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in finding an agent and publisher for your work, and I thank you, once again, for letting me consider your work.
Sincerely,
(Agent)
I have to say, the latter was a very, very nice rejection. Kudos to this agent for incredible people skills!
Writing Your Own Query
Pretty much any agency you visit will have somewhere on their website what they want in a query letter, and there's hundreds of different sites online about how to write a query. Here's two links to get you started:
http://www.traceylyons.com/queryletter.html
http://www.carolynjewel.com/craft/querysamples.php
Rejection isn't something to be feared. It's as much a part of writing as making an outline, and probably just as essential. Remember, literary agents get thousands of queries, so every unsolicited query is like buying a lottery ticket - even when you know your book is just what your agent would like. Here's a glance at the other side of the ticket, through the eyes of a literary agent talking about writing rejection letters:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/dec/03/publishers-rejection-letters
Have you ever sought an agent? How many letters did you get before getting accepted? I'll make sure to include a final count when I finally do get published. For me, the biggest challenge is not to get discouraged. So instead of looking at rejection as a critique of my self-worth, I consider it a necessary part of the writing process, and a chance to improve on my weak points as a writer. Most of all, I always keep thinking, "When I get published..." I don't give myself if's, or any kind of subjunctive clauses. This isn't a wish or a possibility; it is something which will happen, and I just have to keep working at it until it does. When it comes to rejection, it's all about stubborning yourself through.
Fortunately, I'm pretty good at stubborn.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
NC Writers' Events
For my fellow writers, events and links (in 2011):
ncwriters.org -> There is a conference in Greensboro, Saturday, April 30. Details on the site. Anybody want to carpool? It's a one-day event, leave Raleigh by 6:30am to make it to registration. We can crash at my place Friday night if you're interested.
Saturday, April 2, 6:30pm: Workshop (Writing2Publish) at bookstore by Whole Foods on Wade Ave. Take beltline exit 4 towards Cameron Village; it's just off the ramp to the left.
There's also a very large conference in the fall, late Oct or early Nov. Dates haven't been announced yet for this year, but it appears to be a huge event.
NCwriters also has links to several other NC writing associations of various kinds.
Romance Writers:
www.rwa.org/: Romance Writers of America. For people looking to make a living off writing romance, or at least seriously considering publishing a romance book. Must-join to join the next link:
www.heartofcarolina.org: Romance writers of North Carolina. Next meeting: March 12, 1-3pm, Cameron Village Library. Jenna Black, Lisa Shearin, and Virginia Kantra are all members, FYI. ;) Meets 1/month.
There's a major Romance convention in NY June 28-July 1. Will juggle finances to see if I can go.
That's my latest information on the happenings for 2011. Since I present well in public, personally attending conferences and events will be beneficial to getting published. Although joining professional associations is expensive, as is attending conferences, for me it's a networking investment. I don't know personally anyone who has professionally published MY subgenre of writing (paranormal romance!), so it's up to me to make connections and get myself out there.
Fees I'll have to look at:
Romance Writers of America: $125
Heart of Carolina Writers: $25
NCwriters: $75
NCwriters April Conference: $99 (members), $150 (nonmembers)
Romance Conference: (unsure: must be a member to register. But will also have to pay for room for stay (4-day conference!) and purchase food.
NCwriters Fall Conference: Probably more than April, since it's more than one day! 0.0
Since my budget is already strained, it's going to be interesting to see what I can do. But I'll try!
Also, I found through these resources the following couple of articles:
http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/zindex.cfm?fuseaction=author&pageID=11
http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/zindex.cfm?fuseaction=author&pageID=13
A couple of useful links. I'm now considering marketing my second novel as a Sci-fi to scifi publishers. Why? Because if my series pans out well, I still won't be able to publish more than 2-3 books a year in from a single publisher. So, it makes sense to switch between two genres. Since my second book lends itself more to scifi (with a little romance) than to romance (with a little scifi), I think this is actually a good thing.
ncwriters.org -> There is a conference in Greensboro, Saturday, April 30. Details on the site. Anybody want to carpool? It's a one-day event, leave Raleigh by 6:30am to make it to registration. We can crash at my place Friday night if you're interested.
Saturday, April 2, 6:30pm: Workshop (Writing2Publish) at bookstore by Whole Foods on Wade Ave. Take beltline exit 4 towards Cameron Village; it's just off the ramp to the left.
There's also a very large conference in the fall, late Oct or early Nov. Dates haven't been announced yet for this year, but it appears to be a huge event.
NCwriters also has links to several other NC writing associations of various kinds.
Romance Writers:
www.rwa.org/: Romance Writers of America. For people looking to make a living off writing romance, or at least seriously considering publishing a romance book. Must-join to join the next link:
www.heartofcarolina.org: Romance writers of North Carolina. Next meeting: March 12, 1-3pm, Cameron Village Library. Jenna Black, Lisa Shearin, and Virginia Kantra are all members, FYI. ;) Meets 1/month.
There's a major Romance convention in NY June 28-July 1. Will juggle finances to see if I can go.
That's my latest information on the happenings for 2011. Since I present well in public, personally attending conferences and events will be beneficial to getting published. Although joining professional associations is expensive, as is attending conferences, for me it's a networking investment. I don't know personally anyone who has professionally published MY subgenre of writing (paranormal romance!), so it's up to me to make connections and get myself out there.
Fees I'll have to look at:
Romance Writers of America: $125
Heart of Carolina Writers: $25
NCwriters: $75
NCwriters April Conference: $99 (members), $150 (nonmembers)
Romance Conference: (unsure: must be a member to register. But will also have to pay for room for stay (4-day conference!) and purchase food.
NCwriters Fall Conference: Probably more than April, since it's more than one day! 0.0
Since my budget is already strained, it's going to be interesting to see what I can do. But I'll try!
Also, I found through these resources the following couple of articles:
http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/zindex.cfm?fuseaction=author&pageID=11
http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/zindex.cfm?fuseaction=author&pageID=13
A couple of useful links. I'm now considering marketing my second novel as a Sci-fi to scifi publishers. Why? Because if my series pans out well, I still won't be able to publish more than 2-3 books a year in from a single publisher. So, it makes sense to switch between two genres. Since my second book lends itself more to scifi (with a little romance) than to romance (with a little scifi), I think this is actually a good thing.
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