What could be better than sitting at home and going to a writers’ conference–for free?
Check out WriteOnCon. A plethora of agents, editors and authors share their wisdom as well as answer questions and give advice on queries. And all you have to do is head on over and sign up on their website (did I mention it’s FREE?). And if you missed anything, it’s all posted so you can go back and read/watch vlogs.
I don’t know how I didn’t see this before in the two and a half years I’ve had this blog, but I’ve never put up a contact page with my email 😛 It’s thanks to agent Rachelle Gardner’s post about making sure you put your contact info out there, especially if you’re out there networking (or attempting to network) within the publishing industry. You just never know when an agent might want to contact YOU because of something interesting they read on your blog. (I’ve actually had this happen to me once before, about a year ago, but I wasn’t ready to submit anything to them yet).
Anyway, go and check your blog/website and make sure that email addy is somewhere visible! 🙂
With my freelance job and the extra money I’m earning with that, I’ve decided to save up some of it to join RWA (Romance Writers of America, for those of you who don’t know :)). While most of my writing can really be just classified as “novel with strong romantic elements” since my stories aren’t generally focused on the love story between the two characters, I think joining this nationally recognized organization will really help me network more. The romance genre has a wide variety of subgenres, like inspirational romance and young adult. Many of my writer friends are already a part of this organization too, and I’ve discovered there’s a local chapter in Cincinnati that I could join if I wanted to as well.
Plus, I’d really like to try and enter the Golden Heart this year, although I’m going to have to really put myself in gear if I want to consider it as the deadline is normally sometime in mid-November–and that’s only three months from now. I may not make it this year, but I will try. 🙂
I’ve been lazy the last few days in updating the blog 😛
Anyway, the conference on Saturday was good. I met a few writers from all over Ohio and one that traveled from Iowa. It’s interesting to see what everyone’s writing. I think I was the only one who wrote historical, but that seems to be the case most of the time.
I liked the sessions I went to, although a few were a little disappointing. The magazine writing one was done in about 45 minutes, when each session was scheduled for an hour and 15 minute time slots. Oh well! The info she did give was helpful, if I ever decide to try and pursue that path.
The session about creating dynamic characters was very inspiring. The speaker was an author as well as an actor, so he really knew how to capture everyone’s attention. He said that he likes to create his characters by pacing through the house and acting each of their roles out; he even likes to act them out in front of family and friends. I think that’s a good idea, although I don’t think I could act in front of people. 😛 I know that I’ve often rehearsed scenes by talking to myself and “acting” as said character while I’m in the car (other drivers must think I’m insane) or in the shower, so I can definitely relate to that.
Another session, though a little on the odd side, had a few helpful tips on how to jumpstart the creative process. The speaker was a psychologist, so a lot of what she was saying was a little too “shrink”-ish for me, but she did have some good points. She said that writers, and artists in general, often think the creative process is something that should be done entirely alone and independent from others; many will think they are weak if they need help or support. She said that in reality, writers and artists need support and encouragement from others, those she calls “mirrors” (people who reflect us and appreciate what we do), “idols” (those who inspire you) and “twins” (people who are in the same area we are and are facing the same struggles). Though it wasn’t anything completely new, she did have good points: many writers do think that we have to face our projects on our own but having support through the process is crucial and would probably help many writers and artists get out of the creative “slump” they are in.
There was also an agent and publisher Q&A session. I found that many of the questions that were asked by other writers, I already knew the answers to, thanks to reading all the agent blogs I do (as well as various other blogs by writers). It was funny because when someone would ask a question, I’d answer it in my head and it would be pretty similar to what one of the agents said 😛 Still, it’s always nice to hear it again: repetition helps me to remember for when the time comes for me to submit.
Anyway, I am going to try and go next year. I do wish I went to some of the other sessions they had, like creating compelling villains. But what I went to was worth the money and networking with others and seeing everyone’s passion for the craft was really inspiring.
Tales from the Writing Front 