writersguide

I’m back from conference: What do I do now?

1. Requests from Agents/Editors/Booksellers/Librarians

SEND IN WHATEVER WAS REQUESTED!!!! DO NOT PASS UP OPPORTUNITIES!!!!
Make sure to write or stamp ‘Requested Material’ on the outer envelope of your submission.
Write in your cover letter that it was requested along with where you met them, when you met them, how you met them and something to tickle their memory. Ex: “I met you at agent/editor appointments at the Desert Dreams 2006 conference. I was your first appointment and we discussed our mutual love of Chai Tea Lattes and then you asked me to send in my full manuscript of WRITERS IN THE BAR AND OTHER PROPHESIES.”

2. Notes/Handouts/Tapes

Type up your handwritten notes and then put them in a notebook by subject. Ex: Plotting, creativity, voice, writer’s block etc.
File handouts by subject, or you can also put them in a notebook by subject.

Pure repetition of retyping notes will help the information seep into your unconscious. (It will also help your ability to read it later!)

Helps churn your ‘ah hah’ moments

Later reference for later ‘ah hah’ moments.

Read handouts from any workshops you didn’t attend. Ex: At Desert Dreams when all the handouts are in the packet. Same for RWA Nationals)
Listen to any tapes of workshops you bought. You accomplish whatever you concentrate on. It’s worth giving up some jamming to your favorite tunes time to listen to a writing tape on your commute instead.

3. Networking

Organize your contacts

Did you collect some business cards or numbers written on napkins? Write notes on the back of the cards to tickle your memory. (Ex: Buyer for Borders. Loved STONE MAIDEN and wants me to email her when I have a release date for FIRE MAIDEN.) Get a file that is made to hold business cards. OR keep all info in a database.

Always follow up! Don’t waste contacts!

Work your contacts. (Ex: You meet Cheyenne McCray and then go get FORBIDDEN MAGIC and love it! Then you email her to tell her how much you enjoyed it, reminding her that you met her at conference and bought her book at the book signing.)

4. Lessons Learned

It’s not plagiarism, it’s Best Practices! (Steal shamelessly ideas for your career – NOT your books) J

Chachkis – Promo Items. Ex: You fell in love with another author’s promo items and it’s given you an idea for your own. You saw a cover flat someone made at Kinkos to display behind your promo items.

Ideas to get more involved. Ex: I volunteered for agent/editor appointments, not only to help the chapter, but to get to network with agents and editors as well as other authors. Think about it – 260 people saw my name repeatedly. THAT’s a great investment in trade for some of my time. AND 10 agents/editors got emails from me and answered me back. Anything that gets your name out there is GOOD! Other examples: Faery Court at RT, donating promo items, doing a author basket, doing table topics, volunteering to give a workshop etc.

Career Strategies: Become a student of other author’s careers. Do you want a career similar to theirs? Watch and learn and find out how they did it. Ex: I would LOVE to have Cheyenne McCray’s career. She started in ePub’s like me and I have learned a lot from watching her career. So, find a mentor (they don’t have to know they are your mentor) and watch and learn!

Comfort/Sanity Strategies: Ex: Did your favorite shoes give you blisters at Desert Dreams? Did you get munchy in between workshops and wish you would’ve packed trail mix in your bag? Did you find yourself sitting by someone at dinner who sucked your energy? Did you wish you would’ve arrived a day early? Learn from the past and try not to repeat the pain points. If you need to – write them down!!