Getting maximum value from a writer's conference

Writer's Conferences aren't cheap, but they can be worth every penny (and more) if you do your homework before you go. If you're thinking of attending a conference, you should do it (and collect the receipts, because if you're trying to get published, you can deduct the cost). Here are some tips for getting the best value out the writers conferences you attend.

Establish your goals for the conference. Decide what you want to get out of the conference. Review the conference website, then decide. Are you going to market yourself, to network, or maybe to learn about the genre? Whatever your goal, decide on it ahead of time. For me, the Florida Writers Association Conference was all about networking. At Sleuthfest, I learned a lot about my genre. I'd have gotten more value out of each conference by reviewing the list of faculty, agents, and publishers, and planning on who to talk to and why.

Relax and enjoy. When you attend a writers conference, the faculty, agents, and writers are there to interact with attendees. That means you! They expect people to talk to them, ask them questions, and even gently market or pitch them. Most conferences include time specifically set aside to network. Don't be afraid to approach someone just because they've sold a zillion books or happen to be the keynote speaker. They were in your shoes once and they're attending so they can help you make the most of your talent.

A friend of mine made friends with Jeremiah Healy by being his model for showing how you can kill someone with your bare hands. Jerry, as they call him, was gentle, but she used the opportunity to talk to him. I expect that she's probably e-mailed him since then.

Take your stuff with you. Again, any agent or publisher attending a conference expects to be pitched. Most conferences allow you to purchase time with an individual agent or publisher. Whatever the cost of the pitch session, it's worth it. Even if the person you pitch doesn't accept your materials, they can give you valuable insights or pass it along to someone who might have interest in it. Last year, at the FWA conference, editors and agents requested 20 manuscripts.

Your stuff should include, at a minimum, a synopsis and a sample of your writing. Getting your material right takes time, so start work now for conferences that might be months away. You should also have business cards made. I got 250 very nice business cards from VistaPrint for less than $30.

Say Thank You. If you meet someone and talk with them even a little bit, drop them an e-mail after the conference and say thank you. It's just good business and you might wind up with an ongoing conversation.

Also, if you're going to the Maui Writer's Conference, and need someone to be your advisor or valet or to get you a Coke, let me know. I'd be happy to accompany you and the cost of my airline ticket would be tax deductable for you after you pay for it.

Publishing News -- 1/31/2009 (Pot pourri for $200, Alex)

Potpourri for $200, Alex
No overwhelming theme today. I'm sure if I looked around, I could find stories about layoffs and impending doom, but that gets old. We're writers, for crying out loud. For some of us, the goal is to provide some entertainment, a chance to ditch the bad news and enjoy a diversion. I'm currently enjoying the lastest Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a thousand well-selected and assembled words can pain a more vivid picture than any canvas or digital camera. Sometimes the best gift you can give is a few hours of joy or diversion. As writers, that's a gift we can deliver. When times are difficult, that gift is more valuable than ever.

So write on!

Agentry
Agent Advice: Courtney Miller Callihan -- Among other things, she's looking for historical fiction with a non-Western setting.

Agent Advice: Sammie Justesen -- Including five great hints for writing a suspense story.

Social Media
Five Ways Blogging Can Make You a Better Writer -- Blogging's not just for hacks any more. It can bring benefits and help you connect with your readers.

Perfect Social Media Trifecta: Have You Found Yours? -- An excellent primer on three social media tools and how they can fit together.

Digital Publishing
E-book Revolution Favors the Agile -- Small, independent publishers are leading the charge to digital content. But their efforts are not without challenges.

Publishing and the Economy
Amazon Has Big Year, Though Media Growth Slowed -- Media sales, including books, didn't increase as quickly as the rest of the e-tailer's products, but seven percent in the last quarter is a lot better than competitors.

Marketing Your Work
What You Need to Know About Off-Site Book Sales -- Selling books someplace other than a bookstore requires a massive logistical effort.

Publishing News -- 12/8/2008

Publishing and the Economy
Tribune files for Chapter 11 -- Filing includes Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, but not the Cubs or Wrigley Field, which have been on the market for months.

Ad losses send newspaper industry into a tailspin -- More than 30 papers are up for sale, and buyers are scarce.

Agent Predicts More Celeb Books -- In a world of austerity and risk-averse publishers, celebs are a known commodity.

Author Tools
Blog Book Tours Yahoo Group --Planning a release in Spring 2009? Check in here to plan a blog book tour.

The Radio Show for Authors -- Not sure how big the value proposition is, but if nothing else, you can get used to being interviewed.

Digital Publishing
Sony Sells 300K Digital Readers -- iPhone also has a digital reader. Both compete with Kindle.

e-Book Romancers Set Out to Capture New Mass Market -- Ravenous Romance, a venture partially owned by Florida Writers Association friend Lori Perkins, has online offering with prices ranging from 99 cents (short stories) to $4.99 (novels) to $12.99 for MP3 audio books.

The Death of Print Magazines and Other Fairy Tales -- Pro and Con about the future of print and digital media.

Social Networking
Regulation for Social Networking? -- Recent online suicide, MySpace suicide lead some to call for oversight.

How Photographers Use Twitter for Fun and Profit -- Except for the specific photogs named, the model could also apply to writers.

Top Social Networking Sites -- More sites (and types of sites) than you can shake a stick at.

Surviving the Recession
Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn -- LinkedIn is a business social networking site. It's a useful tool for reaching out to others in your industry.

The Writers Market Guide v. Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents

I started out writing this entry as a review of the literary agents I encountered in my search for one of my very own. In short order, it became clear that I wanted a guide to navigate the online jungle of literary agencies. I know a little of the basics (for instance, reading fees are a bad sign). With this tiny bit of information, I charged forward and found a site called WritersNet that has a list of agencies.

Awesome! I can look at the entries and Google them to do more research. Great idea, right?

It seemed so until the first in the list was on the SciFi Writers of America list of worst agencies, and the second was out of business.

However, there are two books that will help you wade through the jungle: The Writer's Market Guide to Literary Agents and Jeff Herman's Guide. Here's a link to an article that compares the two.

To begin my search, I went to Barnes and Noble and bought Jeff Herman's guide. As a beginner, I like it better. It lists the basics, like the Writer's Market guide, but also goes beyond that. The answers are gleaned from the agents themselves, and provide a deeper perspective of their individual likes and dislikes. Using this information, you can tailor your query to match the person you're pitching. For me, an unpublished author, any advantage I can get, I'll take.

The Writer's Market Guide has many more agencies listed, but Jeff Herman's guide has more information, and the information comes directly from the agencies. Jeff Herman's guide also has how-to information, as well as lists of publishers and editors. If you have to chose between them, I'd recommend Jeff Herman's guide. You can get both guides for a little over $60, though. It beats having to comb the Internet and try to figure out who's reputable and who isn't.