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Conference Advice, Part 2

So it’s lunchtime at the writing conference. My friend and I had been at separate sessions just prior so I’m looking everywhere for her in the dining area. When I’m certain she’s not there, I find a mostly empty table and ask the women sitting there if they don’t mind if I and a friend join them. Of course they graciously let me sit.

I found my friend, sat down and after catching up, turned to our neighbors. It was a woman and her 13-year-old daughter. Very nice. Her name was Bonnie. So here’s a bit of the conversation that ensued:

BONNIE: Have you attended many conferences?

ME: [shrug] I’ve been to a few. How about you? Have you been to many?

BONNIE: [shrug] Yeah, I’ve presented at quite a few conferences.

ME: [choke on my salad] Oh. Yeah, I guess there’s that.

SENIOR EDITOR BONNIE: [graciously ignoring my red cheeks] So what do you write?

Okay, so the point of this little story? STUDY THE LIST OF PRESENTERS BEFORE YOU GO. Cyber stalk them. Find their picture and know who they are. In fact, the conferences usually post these on the website. Then maybe, just maybe, you can avoid embarrassing yourself like I so thoroughly did.

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At the Beginning

I spent this weekend in Gettysburg at the Tri-regional SCBWI conference. I had a great time, refueled my writing bucket, and met so many wonderful people. Okay, that sounds trite, but it’s true.

Though we are limited in what we can share because of copyrights, I wanted to share one little nugget with you all:

In a session with Sarah Davies, Agent Extraordinaire of The Greenhouse Literary Agency, she said that about 50% of the submissions she receives start with one of the following opening scenes:

• The MC [main character] just waking up
• The MC eating breakfast
• The MC in the process of moving
• The MC at the airport
• The MC involved in a major accident

What do they all have in common? They are all literal beginnings. Interesting, no?

She commented that when she sees this, though it sounds harsh, her expectations drop. It’s an immediate strike against the manuscript which takes amazing writing to overcome.

Instead, start in an unexpected place, and you’ll already be one up from about half the submissions. . . . The middle of a heist. Feeding the pigs. At the top of the school’s flag pole. Standing on cloud 9 (literally). In a graveyard digging up a grave. At the scene of a murder.

So many options!

Perhaps we just need to give ourselves permission to go a little crazy. I mean, we are writers, write? (I mean, . . . right?)

Where does your book start?

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String Bridge Amazon Rush Day!

Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell’s debut, STRING BRIDGE, hit the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original  soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!

All you have to do is purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and then email the receipt to: 

jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com

She will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost! And she has an amazing voice. You want this!

To purchase the paperback:

Amazon USA

To purchase the eBook:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.

If you are not familiar with String Bridge, 

check out the book trailer:

Rave Reviews for String Bridge:

“Jessica Bell’s STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of my veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell’s narrative.” ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal

“Poet and musician Jessica Bell’s debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody’s growing insecurity as her world begins to unravel … String Bridge is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a hint of magic.” ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion Thrust and Sleep Before Evening

“Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. She doesn’t pull back from the difficult scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel. I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next.” ~ Karen Jones Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds

Connect with Jessica:

String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell

Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/

Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell

Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com

Please TWEET and/or FACEBOOK this post using #StringBridge!

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Moments of Joy

It snowed here the other day.

You can see the joy radiating from her face. Shining through her eyes. Bursting from her whole being. I’m completely in love with this picture (and not just because it’s my daughter)!

Do you remember what it’s like to feel that way? Do you ever want to burst with joy after writing a particularly good bit of work? After receiving a glowing critique?

What brings you joy like that?

P.S. I deeply apologize for lack of responding to comments! My internet has been spotty at best. Hopefully things will improve next week when we switch providers. *grumble, mumble, asparagus*

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Superheros in Real Life

After the accident, Christopher was ready to give up . . . certain that he would only become a burden on the people he loved. But lucky for him (and us), his amazing wife, Dana convinced him otherwise.

As a quadriplegic, Christopher Reeve accomplished more than most people can with the use of all their limbs. He even helped fund the American Paraylsis Foundation that is now aptly named the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. He never stopped working to improve his and others’ situation, and he never stopped believing he would one day walk again. (Something that his doctor’s claimed impossible for an injury as severe as his. After all, he couldn’t even breathe without help!)

1. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/reeveu.html

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SPECIAL EDITION: This vs. That – Trick vs. Treat

First, I want to thank all you great people who have stopped in and commented . . . and apologize for not responding*. Life has been hectically crazy here. I’m sure most of you know all about craziness. Especially the week of Halloween, which brings me to the REAL purpose of this post: The results!

Trick or Treat?

Total votes: 23

Trick: 3 votes; 13%
Treat: 19 votes; 83%
Depends on who’s tricking: 1 vote; 4%

 Okay, no real surprises here. Who wouldn’t like a treat? However, who said the trick had to be mean? SO . . . I voted for Trick, because I am playing a trick on all of you.

Random.org spit out a number, and the number was Old Kitty’s. Just send me your address within 24 hours if you dare, and I will send you something that is NOT a treat (bwa ha ha!).

If you miss the 24-hour mark (aka, 7 AM Nov. 4), Random.org will choose a second someone and so on and so forth. Even if I have your address, you still have to e-mail me! (see that “Contact Me” tab up there? Use it!) 

*If you have your email address connected to your account, I reply by email to your comment

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If I had all the magic in the world, I’d . . .

. . . create a time pocket where time doesn’t exist.

That way I could get all those tasks on my to-do list knocked off and still have plenty of time to smell the roses. *Dreamy sigh as I imagine the possibilities*

So today I joined in to help Elizabeth Mueller launch her YA romance, Darkspell. What a perfect day to launch a novel with such a title!
 
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . .until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.

As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.

Will love prove thicker than magic?

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SPECIAL EDITION: This vs. That

Today I am NOT going to conclude the chocolate chip vs. sugar cookies debate, so you can still go vote. But when I had this lightbulb moment, I couldn’t resist. So today’s debate?

(Yes, the cowgirl is me)

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Conference Advice

This past weekend, I went to my local SCBWI region’s annual conference. I had a great time, and my head is swimming with all the great advice and inspiration shared by the speakers.

I was reminded that agents and editors are nice, normal people, too. When you find yourself in the query trenches, it’s easy to forget that. And same goes for award-winning authors.

Also, I got to meet Caroline Tung Richmond who blogs at Adventures in Space. This is the first time I’ve met a fellow blogger in person (and of course, I didn’t have a camera), but we had a great time visiting!

Anyway, over the years, I have attended several conferences, and I wanted to impart a bit of advice to anyone considering going to one.

1. GO. Find a nearby conference, bite the bullet, and pay the enterance fee.
2. Sign up for a critique. This means you need to sign up early. And it costs extra. Plus it may break your heart. But trust me when I tell you it’s worth it. These are the people who know the business. They know what they’re talking about. Even the stuff that hurts to hear puts you that much further ahead.
3. Volunteer. Okay, I can hear the groan. You don’t have enough time. Or you doubt you have anything to offer. Or you’re nervous because you don’t know anyone. . . . I’m telling you to push past that. I have done it both ways. My first few conferences, I didn’t dare volunteer. But when I finally got up the courage to do it, I enjoyed the conferences so much more. Not only did I meet a lot more people, I got a special name tag. *pauses while you all turn green with envy*
4. Take notes. Because that stuff you think you will remember? You won’t.

In short, my advice is to participate as fully as possible. There’s nothing like a conference to boost your writers morale and get you inspired to finish your WIP. The more you put in, the more you get out. (cliché, I know, but still true).

Have you ever been to a conference? What was your experience?

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Follow Your Heart

I know I’m a bit late to the party, but I ran across this Steve Jobs quote while waiting in a doctor’s office. This was from a commencement speech he gave. Anyway, I had to share:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.

“Almost everything—the external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important . . . There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Definitely puts it in perspective. There is no reason not to follow your heart, people. Let’s do this thing!

P.S. If you haven’t heard Shannon Whitney Messenger’s amazing news, she had a book deal! A mega, super, awesome book deal. And she’s celebrating with a crazy fun contest that you need to check out by Oct. 22nd. Seriously, you don’t want to miss >>this.<<

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