Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Pikes
Peak 20th anniversary writers conference in Colorado. I randomly chose this event mainly due
to location and optimal time to visit my father. It was very eye opening and I learned a lot. I thought for those newbies to writers’
conferences might appreciate a few insights. Here are the 10 things I took away from the event.
1.
Be
prepared for everything even if you don’t think or were told not to
bring your manuscript, synopsis, and query letters. It is not so much that you will be given the opportunity to
submit to an editor or literary agent, but in a session you might ask to read
or show it for comments. You also might run across another similar genre writer who wouldn’t mind giving you a critique. These
opportunities are rare and you never know, it might lead to something – like a
friendship or sharing publishers.
2.
Published authors insist you are not an
author until you are published.
They were even weary to call those who are self-published authors. They say you are simply a writer, not
an author, if you have not published any material. Harsh but I guess if you've made it into the author club, then you
have the right to dictate definitions of what-is-what in the writing
world. Why am I telling you
this? Don’t bring printed business
cards with “Author” under you name unless you are one, regardless of how you
feel about it. It’s better to be
safe than offend.
3.
Take
advantage of everything they are offering even if you are not
ready. I passed on the read and
critique sessions (this is where you can read a page of your manuscript and
receive a professional critique) and regretted it after sitting in a
session. Not only do you learn
about your first page and your writing, but you also learn about the agent or
editor critiquing your manuscript.
I sat in the literary agents session and learned almost instantly I made
a mistake in choosing her for my pitch appointment.
4.
Although the thought of Pitch assignments are really cool because you get a
one-on-one opportunity to sell your idea to an agent, don’t get too excited.
Every single person I talked to was asked to send his or her materials
to the agent even when it wasn’t a match.
The main thing to take out of a pitch appointment is the preparation for
the appointment. It forces you to
prepare what you would tell people if by chance you were fortunate enough to
sit next to an editor on a plane ride.
You never know if you have an opportunity and it is great to be
prepared.
5.
Be
friendly to everyone. I
was fortunate to attend a conference that is known for its friendly
atmosphere. But I was still afraid
of being there alone. Yet I talked to everyone and enjoyed all their stories,
experiences, and love for the art of writing. If I took anything from the conference it was the bonding
and sharing experience with other writers. Writers can be introverts and breaking that barrier of
mixing with people you don’t know is difficult, however make a point to talk to
every single person who sits next to you in a session and you just might learn something!
6.
There are huge debates about self-publishing. What I took away from the conference is
that both sides are right. A great
deal of money can be made in self-publishing but only if you know what you are
doing. How do you know what you
are doing? Get published
traditionally first and build your readership, then if you are comfortable –
give self publishing a try and see how you do! One author said she self published and was traditionally
published. She makes 3 times more
on the self- published book than she has on the traditional book.
7.
Don’t
worry about how you dress.
I tend to dress on the professional side because that is what I am
comfortable wearing. I also rather
be slightly overdressed than significantly underdressed. However, at this particular conference, there were all levels of dress so it doesn’t matter what you wear – just be
comfortable and confident.
8.
Read
everything about the conference and find a volunteer to explain things
you don’t understand. There were
opportunities at lunch to sit with one literary agent, but if you didn’t read about it or hear about and not line-up early for the lunch in enough time, then you just got stuck with no one and passed up on your next possible literary agent.
9.
Pay
attention to trends, to what the agents are saying, and presenters…BUT take it as subjective as
well. The bottom line, if your
story is good it will sell. That
doesn’t mean to break every single rule and think it is going to work. It means
to write well, tell a good story, and have a compelling plot. Don’t stress about every single detail
or formula but know the rules.
10.
Literary
agents aren’t really there for writers; they are there for the
editors. Editors are looking for
new opportunities and they are there for everyone. This was the most eye-opening revelation. I thought literary agents were there to
find the next author, and don’t get me wrong, they are looking – kind of. But according to the literary agent
sitting at my lunch table, they come to events where editors are
plentiful. Since they make money selling
the books that they have already signed, you, the new writer, will take place a far
second on that list of people they want to talk to. Pitches are “obligations” and lunches are “acceptable
opportunities to mingle.” Almost
all will say, “query me.” With
that said, a lot of the visiting authors and presenters said they found their
agent through a writing conference.
It was a priceless experience but it will probably be the
last time I attend this particular event.
I think I will save my conferences for those more local. However, for those wanting to go to a
very well organized friendly writers’ conference, Pikes Peak is definitely the
place to go.
The following is an inventory of my carry-on after the
conference:
My carry-on
Papers bent and scribbled with notes
A badge must wear at conference
Business cards bring new hopes
Abused Pen inners lay slaughtered
Quartered hotel map stained
Elevation sickness warning to over-water
Writers’ conference at Pikes Peak meal pass
Pocket schedule worn and torn
Notebook neatly crammed notes in mass
Apple computer with green cover
Neatly wound cord ready to charge
A historical novel about an aristocratic lover
Break-out novel synopsis stapled
Pitch reservation noted
Thumb drive with manuscript from computer disabled
Plane tickets crumpled accordion style
The black bottom of my carry-on
Nothing left but crumbles and a torn file.
Good job!
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