Before You Go:

Make A Wish-List of Sessions

Take a few minutes and list what you want to get out of the conference. Match sessions to your goals, keeping in mind the 80/20 rule. Choose topics that reflect where you are for 80 percent, and go for topics that are slightly ahead of where you are for the other 20. This way you won’t be overwhelmed with information you can’t use right away.

Then look at which sessions are recorded and which have a workshop component. Prioritize the ones with a workshop. 

Also make a list of backup options in case a session isn’t what you anticipated.

Research Dining Options

Break times are typically short so have an idea what your meal options are ahead of time. Research restaurants near the hotel, dining options at the hotel, and if the hotel offers boxed lunches during the conference.

Pack Like a Conference Guru

Here are items not typically on a packing list, but you’ll be glad to have with you:

• Refillable water bottle
• Snacks (energy bars/trail mix/fruit)
• Instant coffee packets
• Sweater or light jacket
• Clothespin or hair clip
• Moisturizes such as lotion and chapstick
• Lavender spray

I’ll explain more about how these items come in later.

During the Conference:

Schedule Downtime

Your brain can only process so much in one day.

I have gone into conferences thinking in order to get my money’s worth I need to attend every single session. But only half the conference is presentations. A conference guru knows the other half is connections. Leaving room for a chance conversation with an agent over coffee, practicing your pitch at happy hour with other attendees, or striking up a new friendship in the chat is an equally valuable part of the experience.

Be Flexible

Not everything will go to plan, so pack some patience and flexibility. At the end of a conference in Pasadena, I was notified that the ride-share driver was in an accident and no one else would be dispatched. The valet asked if I’d like to share a cab with another person who had the same situation. It turned out to be one of the presenters. On the hour-long drive we compared notes. He gave me the skinny on other conferences and said this was the best. At the airport, he paid for my half of the fare. It was the most memorable moment of the conference.

Have Alternate Meal Plans

Strategize how and when you eat during the conference. I am a slow eater. Networking during a meal under a time limit is stressful for me. Connecting over coffee or cocktails is a better option so I seek out those opportunities. Another strategy is to eat smaller meals or graze throughout the day.

Be prepared for contingencies too. The conference resort had a full coffee bar and instant oatmeal cups the first day. They were closed the next two. People were scrambling to find coffee and breakfast. Keep an energy bar with you in case breakfast doesn’t work out, or for snacks throughout the day. 

Bonus Conference Guru Hack: Leave the trail mix in the room. Raisins and seeds tend to leap from your hand to the floor!. 

Take Your Sweater or Light Jacket With You to Sessions

The rooms are often chilly and the cold air blowing on bare arms affects your lung meridian. Your body closes up when cold. If you are feeling cold for prolonged periods of time, go outside for a few minutes to warm up. Or you can run your hands under warm water to reset your thermostat. 

Also, remember to breathe! We forget to take a breath when we are focusing on a presentation. 

Stay Hydrated

The constant air conditioning at a conference center dehydrates your body. When you are dehydrated your concentration drops and you feel fatigued. 

Remember that refillable water bottle you packed? Keep it filled and sip throughout the day. You will be more likely to drink water when it is with you than if you have to crab-walk across your row to get water during a session.

Get Outside

Spend some break time outdoors. Take a short walk or sit in the courtyard. If you are at a lengthy conference, go outside first thing in the morning and stay outside for 10 minutes. This helps your circadian rhythm adjust when you have been inside without access to daylight.

Take a Mini-Stretch Break

Stretching gets out the knots and boosts oxygen circulation. These stretches for wrists, shoulders, and back can be done sitting in your chair or back in your room in under 5 minutes:

• Rotate wrists four times one direction, then four times the other direction
• Wiggle your toes. Think of your toes as the roots of your tree and your brain as the crown. Wiggling your toes (roots) wakes up your brain (crown).
• Roll your shoulders four times forward, then four times backward. Bounce your shoulders a few times.
• In a chair, place your feet on the floor, hands on your knees. Arch your back like a cat, breathing in. Straighten your spine, breathing out. Repeat two more times.
• In a chair, slowly walk your fingers down to your calves. Gently pull on your calves, stretching your lower back. Stay there for a few breaths, then slowly walk your fingers back up to your thighs. Straighten your spine one vertebrae at a time, then roll back your shoulders.

Unwind Before Sleep

Minimize screen time to cut down on the blue light that signals your brain it is daytime. Spray your pillow with lavender spray to soothe your nervous system. Fully close the curtains to keep out any light. If there is a gap, use a clothespin or hair clip to close the gap. 

After the Conference:

After you’ve made notes on action items and sent follow-up emails, it’s time to unwind. Taking in days’ worth of information and talking with crowds of people is taxing on the nerves, especially if you’re an introvert.

Take a Relaxing Bath 

Soaking in an Epsom salt bath will calm your nervous system. Use ¼ to ½ cup salts in a warm, not hot, bath and soak for 20 minutes. (Please consult the directions on the Epsom salt packaging for health advisories.) Add a few drops of lavender essential oil if you would like.

Eat Simply

For the next couple of days, eat simply. Your mind has taken in a lot so your digestive system will want a vacation. Go easy on heavy meals. Sometimes eating smaller meals more often helps, too.

Do Something Else While Processing

To process everything you’ve learned, go for a walk, sketch, or work on a jigsaw puzzle. This frees up your brain to sort information.

After you’ve relaxed and recharged, you will be ready to go!

Now you can be a conference guru too!

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter.

The post Be A Conference Guru appeared first on DIY MFA.

Eligibility

The short answer is that anyone can join. SCBWI has several tiers of membership, structured around where a person is in their career. There are options for students and “associate members” who are unpublished and “have a general enthusiasm for the field.” “Full Membership” is for those who have their work produced or published, and PAL (Published & Listed) status is for those whose work has been through the editorial process with a traditional publisher. PAL status grants a member access to resources specific to their needs. 

Great things about SCBWI

Networking

SCBWI has regional chapters across the United States and around the world. Each chapter maintains a sub-site on scbwi.org where they post about their members and local events. Many have free mailing lists and host events that are open to non-members as well, so if you’re considering joining make sure to check out your local chapter’s page! 

For those who can’t make it to in-person meetings SCBWI has a thriving online forum where members from all over the world discuss, share, and make connections. Portions of the forums are private to members only, so you will need an active membership to access them, but there are also public areas. Make sure you follow the rules for registration and being a responsible member of the community. 

And don’t forget the conferences! SCBWI holds massive national annual conferences in winter and summer, one in New York and one in Los Angeles, and many regions host their own conferences as well. There are lots of benefits of attending a writing conference, including growing your network, learning from experts, and the opportunity to get professional eyes on your work. Attending a conference is an additional expense, but members get a discount. 

Support & Recognition

Part of membership includes access to information like The Book, where useful overviews and insights into how the industry works has been compiled for new members. SCBWI also sends out a quarterly newsletter to all members with information about changes in the field, interviews with members, and craft discussions. These can be invaluable resources, especially if you’re just starting out. 

Members are also eligible for marketing and promotional opportunities through SCBWI like the online Illustrator Gallery (featuring a different illustrator each month), Recommended Reading List (which is distributed to independent bookstores, libraries, and at conferences), and the Speakers Bureau listing (where teachers and librarians look for speakers to hire for events). 

There are over 50 awards and grants available to member writers and illustrators, from the Emerging Voices award for new writers, to conference scholarships, to Work-in-Progress Grants, and awards for exemplary published books. Winning one of these competitive opportunities is a mark of distinction. 

SCBWI is also invested in advocating for its members. Like other professional writing organizations it keeps tabs on things like industry trends and legal regulations that impact writers and illustrators. You can keep apprised via the newsletter and forums, and should something require collective action SCBWI can facilitate organization. 

Professionalism

Being a member connotes that you take your writing seriously as a career. It can be a nice point in your favor to list your membership on your website or query letter, though it’s unlikely to be a deciding factor. No one is going to give you a book deal based solely on the professional organization you’re part of. But it is a subtle clue that you are involved in the industry and invested in growing your career.

If you do join, make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities to learn and make connections. You’re paying for a service, so don’t let those newsletters sit unread! Log on to the forum, go to a regional chapter meeting, and soak it all up. You may even find yourself volunteering!

Reasons you might not want to join

It’s not free

SCBWI is a professional organization and it takes money to run their programs, so there is an annual fee (currently $95 to start and $80 to renew). The student rate is lower (currently $65 to start and $55 to renew). If your country is designated a UN Developing Nation your annual membership and renewal rate will be lower (currently $50 to start and $50 to renew). Not all, but some, local events may carry an additional fee (discounted for members), and the conferences are not inexpensive.

Each writer/illustrator will have to weigh the potential benefits against the cost. There is no requirement to be a member in order to publish children’s books. 

Your local chapter may not be very active

Regional chapters are run by local members, and each chapter may be more or less active depending on who is in the region. You may hear of members who rave about their chapter, but the next chapter over may be largely dormant. If you want an active region, be prepared to get involved and help make it happen. 

Similar support may be available elsewhere

There are lots of ways to find community and support for your writing, and SCBWI is just one of many. If SCBWI doesn’t work for you, don’t give up! Keep looking for local and online writing groups that can provide the sort of camaraderie and resources you need. 

If you’re considering joining, check out their free options (forums, local mailing lists), and consider attending a local in-person event or two to get to know your regional community. Whether or not you choose to join SCBWI it’s great to know they’re available as a resource.

Bronwen Fleetwood writes fiction for young adults, and nonfiction for writers. Bronwen studied creative writing at Eugene Lang,The New School for Liberal Arts, has acted as leader of the Princeton Writing Group, and as a Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month. Bronwen currently lives on the Whale Coast of South Africa, between the mountains, the sea, and a lake. You can connect with her at bronwenfleetwood.com.

The post What is SCBWI and Should You Join? appeared first on DIY MFA.

I recently went to the Romance Writers of America (RWA) 2017 National Conference and, in truth, I was really nervous about going. Social situations drain me and leave me pining for alone time with my laptop. I say wrong and awkward things at inopportune moments. I get strange looks frequently and spend hours afterward berating myself for saying something stupid.

Being social zaps energy from me and I don’t like it.

But I’m not the only one. I find comfort in reminding myself, even the most prominent editors and the most successful writers, would rather be at home working than having to “network.”

Here’s some basic things even I managed to figure out while “networking.”

1) Observe the situation. Read the room.

In any given social situation at a conference, some people will be standing or sitting in a closed off way. They’re having a private meeting and are not to be disturbed. Some people will have recently met or are there specifically to meet new people. They’ll be sitting or standing with a more open posture toward the room. Those are the people you can walk up to.

Also, observe the people as individuals. Sometimes, though not always, it’s possible to tell based on what they’re wearing and how they’re conversing, who the publishing professionals are in a room versus who the authors are. Authors who are friends will be in a different formation from a group of editors or an agent speaking to their clients. Notice these things.

2) Introduce yourself with something you have in common.

Everyone knows it’s hard to cold walk up to someone and say hi. Even the most famous, influential people know and respect how difficult that is. They were once newbies too. Make the situation as socially normal as possible.

Start with something general like, “how is your conference going?” or a compliment about something the person is wearing. (Most people think hard about what they wear to a conference, and there is almost always a story behind any given article of clothing or piece of jewelry.)

Talk about something normal. Do NOT under any circumstances jump right into, “I write this, and you should buy my book.” Wait for the invitation and permission to do so.

3) Make friends

That’s what we need the most in this industry: friends. Whether the person is someone you need to help your career now or will be in the future or just someone who is available in the moment, you never know when that person as a friend could come in handy. You never know when you’ll connect with someone in a personal way. Honestly, that’s what I love, when you meet someone and everything just clicks. You bond over something in an unexpected way and *spark* – you’re fast friends.

4) Wait for permission to start the sale

If you’re at a mixer specifically meant to pitch your book, you can jump into this more quickly, but generally, knowing when to talk about your writing takes a lot of patience. Waiting and looking for the opportune moment takes a lot of self-talk, including keeping your cool. Create the social connection first, then wait for the invitation before talking about your work.

5) Listen!

So often people go up to an important writer or pub professional and just start talking and talking. I know some people do this when they’re nervous, but try not to. Instead, ask questions. You’re there to LEARN from the people who’ve been in the writing business longer than you. Again, start with general social questions and gradually get into more specifics of writing and publishing if the conversation evolves that way.

6) Remember the contact

Exchanging business cards is great, but my favorite thing, since we always have our phones in hand, is to pull up my Twitter app and follow the person. Inevitably, business cards get lost or confused in the bag. Best to just follow right away. Then you can’t lose track of them. It’s also a potentially good topic of conversation when you get a glimpse at the person’s bio, “oh, you do ____?”

Do not do this if it’s a more well-known person who you should already be following on Twitter. If it’s a famous author, it’s okay afterward to pull a fan moment and tweet sweetly, “OMG I just met ___!” Most authors love being fanned over, as long as you’re not crazy about it. If it’s someone it’s not appropriate to fan over, a simple tweet of “it was nice to meet you today” the evening after your conversation is totally cool.

7) Be brave

Networking is a muscle. I found at the conference after a few days, it got easier. By day four, I was saying hello to people without a second thought. The important ones, like editors, agents and reviewers, are wary of being introduced to strangers. They get accosted a lot by people shoving their work in their faces. They’re dying for just normal social interaction, or they wouldn’t be out and walking about. A lot of these people will leave their name tags off on purpose to keep away the worst social attacks.

Motto: keep it normal!

It’s helpful to find your style. The way you feel comfortable approaching people won’t be the same as mine. But the only way to discover your own style is to just jump in and do it! Everyone gets nervous, just remember you’re not the only one.

Robin Lovett is a romance writer whose first series of dark romances releases through St. Martin’s Press Swerve summer 2017. Her next series will be sci-fi erotic romance through Entangled Publishing. She loves to chat on Twitter @LovettRomance and every Sunday evening you can find her with other romance writers at #RWChat. She is represented by Rachel Brooks of BookEnds Literary Agency.

The post Seven Networking Tips For (and from) a Socially Awkward Writer appeared first on DIY MFA.

In today’s episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2017 where I have assembled a panel of five, that’s right five, debut authors. Not only are all these fabulous authors debuts, they are also all women and represent different sub-genres in the broad category of thriller.

I am so excited to be speaking with Jennifer Soosar, Christina Kovac, Lili Wright, Shelia Sobel, and Alexia Gordon, and sharing our panel discussion on the show!

Listen in as we discuss the publishing process and life of a debut author. Plus, you can take away some nuggets of wisdom for your own debut experience.

In this episode Jennifer, Christina, Lili, Sheila, Alexia, and I discuss:

• What sub-genre they each tackle in the broad scope of the thriller genre.
• What the best and worst parts of being a debut author are.
• How to use writing conferences to your best advantage to network and find your publisher.
• How to navigate both the expected and unexpected hurdles of first time publication.
• How to tackle marketing and self-promotion as a debut.

Plus, the #1 tip for writers from each of these talented ladies.

About the ThrillerFest Debut Authors

Jennifer Soosar watched too much ‘America’s Most Wanted’ growing up and has been writing about shady characters ever since. She was born and raised in Toronto and has a degree in Anthropology. Her short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.
She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime. To connect with Jennifer check out her website at www.JenniferSoosar.com

Christina Kovac managed Washington, DC, newsrooms and produced crime and political stories in the District.  Her career as a television journalist began with Fox 5’s Ten O’Clock News, followed by the ABC affiliate in Washington.  For the last nine years, she was employed at NBC News, where she worked for Tim Russert and provided news covered for Meet the Press, the Today show, Nightly News, and others.  Christina lives with her family outside of Washington, DC.  The Cutaway is her debut novel. To connect with Christina check out her website at www.christinakovac.com

Lili Wright is the author of the Mexican thriller Dancing with the Tiger, which was nominated for a 2017 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, is a semi-finalist for the VCU Cabell First Novel Award, and has been optioned for a feature film by The Mark Gordon Company. Wright’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, and dozens of other publications. Her first book was the Learning to Float, a women’s road book. She teaches English at DePauw University. Wright lived in San Miguel de Allende for a year and spent another year in Oaxaca. You can check out her books, comic essays, and Mexican mask collection at www.liliwright.com.

Sheila Sobel as a Senior Auditor for Warner Bros., oversaw production costs for films including “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the “Matrix” trilogy, and “The Dark Knight.” After working on 70+ Independent and Studio movies, Sheila stepped away from the film business to complete her first YA novel. Sheila is a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW), Sisters in Crime (SinC), Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Children’s Book Writers-LA (CBW-LA), and Women in Film (WIF). She was nominated for UCLA’s 2016 Allegra Johnson Prize in Novel Writing and is nominated for Killer Nashville’s 2017 Silver Falchion Award in Young Adult Fiction. When not writing, Sheila volunteers her time walking dogs rescued by the Amanda Foundation from local shelters. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. To connect with Sheila check out her website at https://www.sheilasobel.com/

Alexia Gordon has been a writer since childhood, and continued writing through college but put her literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Her medical career established, she returned to writing fiction. Alexia completed SMU’s Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas. Henery Press published her first novel, Murder in G Major, book one of the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, in September 2016. Book two, Death in D Minor, premiers July 2017. Alexia is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Writers’ League of Texas, and she listens to classical music, drinks whiskey, and blogs at www.missdemeanors.com To connect with Alexia check out her website at https://alexiagordon.net/

About the Books

These are all such wonderful books and we hope you’ll help support these fabulous debut authors. If you decide to check out one (or all!) of these, we hope you’ll do so via the Amazon affiliate links below. This means that with every purchase purchase DIY MFA makes a small commission at no cost to you. It’s a great way to support these debut authors and DIY MFA at the same time. Thank you for being awesome!

Parent Teacher Association by Jennifer Soosar

Fresh out of a mental hospital, Lizanne Demeter is thrilled to get a second chance at her career when she’s hired to teach third grade in the backwater town of Splinter Wood, Pennsylvania.
But hopes for a peaceful new life are ruined when Naomi Seabrook, a demanding ‘helicopter parent’, pushes Lizanne to the brink.

While struggling to maintain control of her classroom, Lizanne begins to unravel the secret behind Naomi’s hell-bent agenda. As deadly clues emerge, Lizanne suspects Naomi is guilty of more than just overindulging her child.

With her life teetering on chaos, Lizanne risks everything to expose the shocking truth. But first, she must race against her own spiraling sanity to prove herself a more dedicated teacher than anyone dared imagine—the kind who makes ALL the difference.

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac

It began with someone else’s story. In the beginning, a woman went out to meet a man, and on her long walk, she disappeared . . .

When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.

Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.

Dancing with the Tiger by Lili Wright

It begins when a meth-addicted grave robber unearths the death mask of Montezuma, setting off a violent struggle for its possession. There is the drug lord who employs him, who would kill for that mask. There is the expat American collector, sinister and possibly mad. There is the greatly respected curator, who for a fee will provide provenances for his country’s looted artifacts, and his long-suffering housekeeper, a deeply religious lesbian in a culture of machismo, who despises her patron. And there is the looter himself, who has stolen the mask and is now running for his life.

Above all, there is Anna Ramsey, an American with a history of bad choices, who has hidden behind a mask all her adult life. A deeply wounded woman, Anna knows that masks protect and conceal. Anna is a heroine for our times, as she searches for the courage to remove her mask and show her true face.

Color Blind by Sheila Sobel

April was an infant when her teenage mother abandoned her and disappeared. With the sudden death of her father, seventeen year old April is devastated and feeling abandoned once more. With nobody left to take her in except her mother’s sister, a woman she has never met, April has no choice but to move to New Orleans, a city that she has never been to. After a cryptic conversation with her Aunt Kate about family secrets and lies, April is more lost than ever before.

It’s Miles, a handsome tour guide, who brings April into the heart of the Big Easy. When his cemetery tour takes her to the tomb of Marie Laveau, April senses a spine tingling connection with the infamous 19th century Voodoo Queen.

When a mysterious Voodoo shop owner suggests she can help April find peace amid the chaos, April must decide—is the woman crazy, or is the haunted city of New Orleans a place where the impossible comes true?

The Gethsemane Brown Mysteries by Alexia Gordon

Murder in G Major

Stranded in Ireland after losing both a gig and her luggage, African-American classical musician Gethsemane Brown hopes to win her way back to the States by accepting a challenge: turn rowdy school boys into a champion orchestra. She’s offered lodging in a beautiful cliffside cottage once owned by her favorite composer. The catch? The composer’s ghost. He can’t rest in peace until he’s cleared of false charges of murder-suicide. Desperate after a quarter-century, he begs Gethsemane for help. A growing friendship with the charming ghost spurs Gethsemane to investigate. Her snooping provokes a long-dormant killer and she soon finds herself on the wrong sort of top ten hit list. Will Gethsemane uncover the truth as she races to prevent a murderous encore or will she star in her own farewell performance?

Death in D Minor

Gethsemane Brown, African-American musician and expatriate to an Irish village, solved a string of murders and got used to living with a snarky ghost. She can rest easy now. Right? Wrong. The ghost has disappeared, her landlord’s about to sell to a developer, and her brother-in-law is visiting. She scrambles to call her spectral roomie back from beyond and find a way to save the cottage from destruction. But real estate takes a backseat when her brother-in-law is accused of stealing a valuable antique. Gethsemane strikes a deal with the investigator to go undercover at a charity ball and snoop for evidence of a forgery/theft ring in exchange for her help. At the party, she accidentally conjures the ghost of an eighteenth-century sea captain, then ends up the prime suspect in the party host’s murder. She races to untangle a web of phony art and stolen antiques to exonerate herself, then the killer targets her. Will she bring a murderer to justice, or will her encore investigation become her swan song?

Link to Episode 157

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 157: The Debut Author’s Life – Interview Live from ThrillerFest 2017 appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I’m delighted to have literary agent Mark Gottlieb on the show.

Mark is an agent at Trident Media Group, where he has worked with the agency’s chairman. He is now working on building his own client list because he wants to help manage and grow authors’ careers using the amazing resources Trident has available.

In our interview, Mark and I discuss the topic that both excites and terrifies writers: The Pitch.  Mark gives us the inside scoop on how to work the Pitch Slam and what makes (or breaks) a an elevator pitch for your book.

In this episode Mark and I discuss:

• How to craft the perfect pitch and to use a Pitch Slam to your best advantage.
• The framework for a killer query letter, and how to craft a creative hook and strong pitch that will make agents want to read more.
• Why using comp titles can strengthen your pitch, and how to weave them together with your book’s details, with example pitches from Mark!
• How studying current titles in the marketplace can place your query a step above the crowd.

Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers.

About the Agent

Mark Gottlieb attended Emerson College and was President of its Publishing Club, establishing the Wilde Press. Mark’s first position at Trident Media Group, Publishers Marketplace’s #1-ranked literary agency, was in foreign rights, later he was executive assistant to Trident’s Chairman and ran the Audio Department. Now he is working with his own client list, helping to manage and grow authors’ careers with the unique resources available to Trident.

If you are interested in querying Mark head over to the agency website, read through the submission guidelines, and send him your query. Don’t forget to mention that you heard him speak on DIY MFA Radio!

Link to Episode 149

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 149: How to Pitch Your Book — Interview with Mark Gottlieb appeared first on DIY MFA.

5 Things I Learned at Hippocamp 2016

On the workshop side, I learned…

1) New Guidelines for Plotting My Novel

At the 3-hour “Self-Edit Like A Pro” workshop given by professional editor Allison Williams, I had that wonderful feeling of being in the right place at the right time. I’d just finished the first draft of my historical novel, and was doing the prep work to start draft 2. At this workshop, I felt like Williams handed me a whole bouquet of new options for prepping my book’s plot and structure. One of my biggest lightbulb moments was the distinction between the situation and the action. In historical fiction, the true-life events are the situation that the characters find themselves in, but the action is completely of my own creation.

A small but fun tip Allison mentioned was to use wordle.net to create a word cloud of your manuscript, so you can see which words you use most. The biggest ones should be evaluated on their importance, and you can do a search and replace to change or remove ones you use too often.

In the breakout sessions, I learned how to…

2) Write About the Same Topic Across Multiple Platforms

Workshop runner Lisa Romeo demonstrated how she was able to take her “root” subject (her father’s death), find a slice of the story that she hadn’t written about before, and give it an underlying theme that speaks to the overall human condition. She showed us how to “mine” our root material for new ideas and identify characters and story angles that we hadn’t previously used. It was easy to see how one could generate nearly a dozen personal essays or magazine articles using the same root source material.

3) Identify the Type of Creativity I am Best Suited For

Child actress-turned-writer Lisa Jakub (you may remember her from Mrs. Doubtfire or the original Independence Day) gave a workshop on how she finally figured out why acting wasn’t the right fit for her, even though she was extremely successful at it. Her message was an important one for me to hear, as I often get confused between the work that I can do, and the work I deep-down want to do.

From the panelists and speakers, I heard the message…

4) Tell the Truth. YOUR Truth

If you’re writing memoir or personal essay, don’t ask permission from people to tell the story. They didn’t ask your permission to do those things to you.

5) Diversity in Publishing is Our Responsibility

We can be better literary citizens through purchasing books by authors of different colors, sexes, origins and orientations; treating those books as mainstream instead of specialty “fringe” books; and demanding diversity in literary journals, workshops and small presses. Next time you pick up a literary magazine, look at the masthead. If you see a homogenous group, write a letter to the editor asking that they hire more diverse editors. Editors tend to gravitate toward writers who speak to their own experiences, so diversity in editing will lead to diversity of authors. The more voices we accept into the publishing world, the more we can all learn and grow from each other.

My favorite thing about this conference? Even though it was a creative nonfiction event, I felt like it covered all types of writing. The themes of the conference seemed to be “write better, work smarter, and focus your creativity,” lessons that could be applied to fiction, nonfiction and everything in between.

Leanne Sowul writes the column “Be Well, Write Well” for DIY MFA. Her historical novel, Waist: A Tale of the Triangle Fire, is currently out on submission. In the meantime, she is working on her next historical novel and blogs about writing, reading, work/life balance and self-improvement at Words From The Sowul. Connect with her at leannesowul(at)gmail(dot)com, or on Twitter @sowulwords.

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But it really is impossible to prepare for everything.

Luckily, most of the surprises at a writer’s conference are happy surprises! Here are 5 things that might surprise you about a writer’s conference.

1) People’s eyes don’t glaze over when you start to talk about your book.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been deep in a conversation with someone when all of the sudden they ask, “So what’s new with you?” You take a split second to rack your brain for an answer they will understand, but all you want to say is, “Today I decided to kill my main character’s love interest and I’m so excited!” So you do. You invite them into your writing world. But it doesn’t take long for most non-writers to glaze over, because they aren’t in the trenches. They don’t know that you’ve been seeing your characters walking down the streets in the real world and that you’re still on the fence about whether or not that means you’ve lost your mind.

If you need a break from that reaction, consider a writer’s conference. Hundreds of people gather at conferences to listen and support each other in the insanity that is a writing life.

2) You do not need caffeine the way you thought you would.

There’s a certain amount of energy that flows through the air at writer’s conferences and seeps in through your skin. Everywhere you look people are talking about writing, teaching about writing, or scribbling in their notebooks about writing. When your alarm goes off in the morning, it’s hard not to spring out of bed because there is information to be gained only a few steps away!

3) Competing for seats in a popular workshop can be a fight to the death.

As writers, we like to pretend we are introverted, calm, and reserved. But stereotypes crumble when a seat in the workshop you’ve had your eye on for months is on the line. You’ll be surprised how fast you have to move to get into every workshop on your list! But it can be done. You may just need to duck out of the previous workshop a few seconds early.

4) You thought you’d never be a crazed fan? Think again!

Think again. Real, live writers, publishers and agents buzz around writer’s conferences. You can actually meet them if you want to, and they actually talk back. It’s almost like they care about you, because they do. Even successful writers love the company of other writers. Agents and publishers need writers to make a living. We all need each other in this profession, so the trick is just to make sure you can choke out a greeting through all the awe when you meet them!

5) Denial of the outside world.

Probably the most surprising is the tendency to completely underestimate the to-do lists that come with life outside a writer’s conference. Within the walls of the conference, you start to believe that you’ll have the stamina and time you need to write for every second of the rest of your life. The trick is sustaining at least a little bit of that fairytale after you leave. It’s not a bad mentality. It keeps us motivated to achieve our writing goals. We just need to learn as much as we can at the writer’s conference, and dedicate ourselves to setting time aside to write, no matter how distracting our other responsibilities try to be!

Kayla MacNeille is a YA fiction and fantasy writer out of Hershey, Pennsylvania. She is fueled by teaching, staying active, being adventurous in the kitchen, and working on her current fantasy novel–especially when writing is coupled with a nice cup of hot chocolate and some snow. Follow her on Twitter , Instagram , and on her blog.

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Of course, with the conference just around the corner, my team and I have been getting some questions what a pitch actually is, why writers need one, and–most importantly–how to do it right. That’s where this post comes in.

In this #5onFri round-up, I thought I’d explain a little bit about the pitch session at #WICon2015 and how it will work. Then I’ll share a round-up of five DIY MFA articles that are all about pitching and how to craft your pitch. This way, whether you’re attending #WICon or you’re going to another conference that has a pitch session, you’ll have all the info you need to pitch your book and put your best foot forward.

5 Articles to Help you Pitch Your Book

From Zero to Pitch in 24 Hours

by: Kayla MacNeille

In this great recap of the pitch sessions at the Writer’s Digest Conference, Kayla MacNeille digs into the do’s and don’ts of crafting an awesome pitch. Read on to see how she went from zero to pitch in twenty-four hours and check out the fantastic pitch she came up with at the end of the process.

How to Write a Killer Logline

by: Gabriela Pereira

In 2013 I attended critique session on loglines. These are a one-sentence nugget or pitch that encapsulates your book’s hook and story, and producers use loglines to sell book concepts to movie-makers. In this article, you will see a pitch go from average to awesome, and all the intervening steps that got it to the final result.

The DNA of Your Story

by: Kent Bridgeman

Columnist Kent Bridgeman describes about the pitch as being like the DNA of your story, a microcosmic sentence, “a solid 15 – 20 words that details the core drama of your story.” He also talks about how this pitch can not only benefit your writing process, but how you market and promote your book as well.

Pitching on Twitter: How to Circumvent the Slush

by: Robin Lovett

The fabulous S.A. Lovett shares the nuts-and-bolts details of how Twitter pitches actually work, and how to do it right. In this article, she gives tips on how to make your pitch awesome and unique so that it stands out from the crowd.

Crafting the Perfect Twitter Pitch

by: Vicki Leigh

Just because your pitch is the size of a Tweet, doesn’t mean it can’t pack a punch. In this article, author Vicki Leigh shares insights on how her Twitter pitch helped her land an agent and a book deal. Read on to find out how to craft your own super-powered Twitter pitch.

This is it! Everything on DIY MFA on how to pitch your book. We’ve also had two #5onFri round-ups on this topic, in addition to this one. Check out 5 Awesome Things About Pitching Your Book from columnist Leanne Sowul, and this article from web editor Bess Cozby on the 5 Benefits of Pitch Sessions.

Want to try your hand at pitching?

Check out the DIY MFA online writing conference.
We still have a few spots left in the pitch/logline session
where you will get feedback on your pitch from agents!

Writer Igniter Con 2015
October 24-25

Use the coupon code wicon2015speaker to get $50 off the registration price!
Click the link to learn more or register.

Want more info? We’re doing another FREE Webinar and Open House next Monday, Oct. 19 at 8pm.

The post #5onFri: Five Articles to Help You Pitch Your Book appeared first on DIY MFA.

Now, I admit that WDC isn’t my first literary conference, and I had an idea of what to expect when I signed up. However, there was something truly magical about this event that I haven’t experienced with others. Here are my five reasons why WDC 2015 was awesome – and why I’m already planning to go back for next year’s edition.

1) Personalizing Your “Track” Through the Conference

This year, Writer’s Digest Conference offered five “tracks” with distinct concentrations:

1. Getting Published, from the various routes of publishing your books (traditional, self-publishing, partner publishing) to e-books and submitting articles for online / print publication
2. Platform & Promotion, covering all aspects of an author platform (social media, blogging) as well as promotion / marketing
3. Craft, with individual classes on character development, story outlines, setting, revisions, and much more
4. The Business of Being an Author, including agent and editor Q&As, author career plans, and writing communities
5. Genre Studies, with each session focusing on a specific genre such as fantasy / science fiction, historical fiction, YA / middle grade, and memoir

With each track represented during each time slot (for a total of five sessions an hour), it was easy for writers to pick a specific track to follow, or try classes from each one. I was one of the “dabblers,” and I’m grateful I took that route. It allowed me to learn more about book marketing, author platforms, and other business aspects without feeling overwhelmed. And, it gave me permission to geek out over my unique interests. I mean, a world-building session by fantasy author N.K. Jemisin? I couldn’t miss that!

2) Applying What I Learned to My Own Career

I keep calling Writer’s Digest Conference a “learning experience” for a good reason: It truly is a learning experience. Many of the sessions inspired the gears to start turning in my head regarding social media, blogging, marketing strategies, and the questions I should ask if and when I’m offered a book deal. Even if you’re still in the drafting or revising stages, it never hurts to discover as much as you can about the publishing industry. Some of those tips and tricks may come in handy down the road.

3) Discovering New Authors to Read and Admire

You can’t go to a literary conference and not buy books, especially if certain presenters floor you. My purchases from Writer’s Digest Conference not only reflect the sessions I enjoyed most, but are also by authors whose works I haven’t read before. Even better, most of WDC 2015’s authors were available for book signings throughout the weekend. That fueled my enthusiasm even more, and made me feel like I carried a treasure trove in my suitcase when I went home.

4) Networking with and Pitching Your Story to Industry Professionals

The word “networking” normally induces chills and cringes for writers. However, it’s a crucial part of literary conferences, and it’s less intimidating that you might think. At Writer’s Digest Conference, attendees could chat with presenters between sessions, during book signings, and at Saturday night’s networking reception. The most coveted networking event, however, was the sold-out Pitch Slam. Here, writers had one hour to pitch their novel to agents and editors who might be interested in reading – and publishing – their work. I didn’t pitch this year, but I spoke to several other attendees who did. Each was encouraged by the feedback they received, and several were elated about hearing the best possible answer (“Yes! Send it to me!”).

Equally as amazing were the moments that might not seem like networking but still open doors of opportunity. One writer spoke with author Jonathan Maberry, who gave the conference’s opening keynote address. Maberry asked the writer to pitch her story to him on the fly. His response? “Here’s my card. Send me your contact information. I know some people who would be interested in your story.” It’s a fantastic example of never knowing what good might come out of unexpected surprises.

5) Meeting Friends New and Old

My decision to attend Writer’s Digest Conference was sealed when Gabriella Pereira, Creative Instigator here at DIY MFA, announced she would be a presenter. Our web editor Bess Cozby and fellow columnist Leanne Sowul were there as well, and it was so rewarding to meet them in person and get to know them better. They weren’t the only attendees I met. I befriended a “line buddy” while waiting to register, exchanged contact cards, and made impromptu plans for meals. For an introvert like myself, it was the closest I’d ever been to being a social butterfly.

Then again, the idea of meeting fellow writers thrills me. Literary events are the perfect places to do just that. Even if you start with a simple “Hello,” it can lead to questions about each other’s projects, personal writing journeys, and then other topics unrelated to our craft. Thanks to WDC, I have new blogging friends and Twitter pals – writers I can now cheer on and maybe see again next year.

I could go on with other reasons why I loved Writer’s Digest Conference 2015. But my point is, if you didn’t go this year, don’t put off signing up for next year’s. It could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make in your writing career. Keep an eye out at the conference’s website for information about 2016’s edition. And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you there!

Did you also attend Writer’s Digest Conference? What did you enjoy most about your experience? Leave a comment below, or tweet us at @DIYMFA and @SaraL_Writer using the hashtags #5onFri and #WDC15.

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Sara Letourneau is a Massachusetts-based writer who practices joy and versatility in her work. In addition to writing a fantasy novel, she reviews tea at A Bibliophile’s Reverie and is a guest contributor for Grub Street Daily. She’s also a published poet whose works have appeared in The Curry Arts Journal, Soul-Lit, The Eunoia Review, Underground Voices, and two anthologies. Learn more about Sara at her personal blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

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In the coming weeks, we’ll have a full recap of WDC 2015, including a glimpse at some of the conference’s recurring themes and a #5onFri with reasons why writers should attend next year. For now, here are some of this year’s most memorable quotes, from the authors, agents, and other industry leaders who spoke there:

“Writing is an art. It’s an intimate conversation between you and the reader.”

– Jonathan Maberry, author of the Joe Ledger series

“Let the passion for your book shine through in your pitch.”

– Alec Shane, literary agent

“The fear of worldbuilding is why we see so many similar worlds done to death. Worldbuilding is really what makes speculative fiction unique. Embrace it.”

– N.K. Jemisin, author of The Inheritance Trilogy

“‘Black or white’ advice – do this, or don’t do that – isn’t good advice. Trust your voice. Learn what’s best for you.”

– Therese Walsh, author of The Moon Sisters

“By creating comic books and reading as a kid, I learned how to tell the stories I wanted to read.”

– Tim Johnston, author of Descent

“It’s necessary to use our imagination and think creatively when it comes to selling books.”

– April Eberhardt, literary agent

“Writers don’t have control over their own stories. The stories often know where they’re going better than we do.”

– Jacqueline Woodson, author of Brown Girl Dreaming

“You are your best advocate.”

– Phil Sexton, Publisher of Writer’s Digest

“Write more. Worry less.”

– M.J. Rose, author of The Witch of Painted Sorrows

Did you also attend this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference? What were some of your favorite quotes from the event?

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Sara Letourneau is a Massachusetts-based writer who practices joy and versatility in her work. In addition to writing a fantasy novel, she reviews tea at A Bibliophile’s Reverie and is a guest contributor for Grub Street Daily. She’s also a published poet whose works have appeared in The Curry Arts Journal, Soul-Lit, The Eunoia Review, Underground Voices, and two anthologies. Learn more about Sara at her personal blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

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