Preparing for a Writer's Conference

Spring ushers in the year's "conference season." Here's an article published a couple of years ago, but I hope it will be helpful to anyone going to conference this year - for the first time or the tenth.

Preparing for Your First Writer’s Conference

Conference season has arrived, and so have the nerves. The reservations are made, but your first writer’s conference is still weeks away. Utilize this time to make your first conference experience the most enjoyable, and the most useful.

1) Write two pitches for your project. Whether you’re writing the all-American novel, or a short magazine article, you need an “elevator” pitch and a longer one, usually called a “back cover blurb.” Condense your project into 25- and 50-word pitches. It’s not an easy task; take your time to get it right.

2) Practice giving the pitches. If you have critique partners, practice on each other. If not, practice with your spouse, your kids, your dog. Get so comfortable giving your pitch that it becomes a natural response when an editor asks, “What are you working on?”

3) Create a “one-sheet” to use as handouts to editors and publishers. If you have access to Microsoft Publisher, or any other type of graphic arts program, you can create a crisp layout conveying your ideas. You’ll find a One-Sheet handout on the http://www.writeintegrity.com/ Web site.

4) Order business cards. Several companies offer affordable options for cards so you won’t have to break the bank. Ordering two sets of cards provides a safety measure - you can give out the cards with your complete information to editors and business contacts who need all that information; distribute the more generic cards, with your email address and website, but no other personal information, to strangers who ask about your work.

5) Research the publishers and editors who’ll be attending the conference. Most conferences provide a list of professionals giving workshops, keynotes, appointments, and critiques so make use of the information. The conference may also provide a “most wanted” list from each participant, so you’ll know in advance who’s looking for your type of manuscript. Visit websites to learn about their current authors and projects, what types of projects they may be seeking and to get a general feel for the company.

6) Keep writing. A daily writing schedule - working on the project you’re pitching or a new one - will keep you focused.

7) Prepare your wardrobe. Check the conference information to determine how formal or how casual the event will be, and then make sure your wardrobe matches. You want to appear professional and together; others will get their first impression of you from your wardrobe so you don’t want to over- or under-dress. Some conferences host an awards banquet; find out if it’s a formal occasion before you arrive.

8) Keep your expectations in check. You’ll probably have time with agents, editors, and publishers and some may even be interested in your work. But if they aren’t interested, this isn’t the end of your career. Attend workshops and seminars, take notes, and seek advice. Learn as much as you can about the craft of writing, and know that the education never ends.

9) Stock up on thank-you cards. Immediately after the conference, you’ll want to send notes to all who helped you, advised you, offered critiques or assistance.

10) Most of all - enjoy the experience. Know this is a time to learn, listen, study, but it’s also a time to make new friends and contacts for the future.

Do Your Settings Need Help?

This week, I decided to do something different. Monday, March 1, Lena Nelson Dooley will begin teaching an online course through WIES Workshops entitled "Taking Your Settings to the Next Level." I recently interviewed Lena about this course, and thought I'd share it here with you. After the interview, I'll ask you to share with us.

First, let me share a little with you about Lena.

Lena Nelson Dooley is a multi-published, award-winning author with more than 650,000 books in print. Although her brand is Characters Who Grip Your Heart, her books are a rich tapestry of setting, too. She's been a full-time author, speaker since her second book released in 2002. She's taught online classes for ACFW as well as doing workshops for writing groups and at both regional and national conferences. Lena's next book, Love Finds You in Golden New Mexico, will release May 1.

A native of Arkansas, she moved to Texas during college. She married there and still lives in Texas with the love her her life. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and movies. Active in church, Lena volunteers in the church bookstore and serves on the Altar Ministry team.

TR: Lena, why are settings so important?

LND: A sense of setting lets the reader settle into the story without wondering where the characters are. They can comfortably enjoy watching the story take shape in their mind.

TR: Why are settings difficult to master?

LND: Many people don't understand the subtlety of adding setting. During the course, we'll talk about the nuances.

TR: How does an author know when to make the setting a real place, or when to create a fictional one?

LND: This depends on a number of things, and we'll discuss them during the class.

TR: I've read books that are so generic in setting, the action could take place anywhere. But the books I remember most create a sense of place for me - the author makes the reader want to go to the setting, even if it is fictional. Will your course help the writer accomplish that?

LND: Most definitely!

TR: What was your favorite setting to write in which book? Why was it your favorite?

LND: That's hard to answer. I loved each setting for different reasons. I will use many of the settings from my books as examples during the course.

TR: What was your most difficult setting? Why?

LND: Probably Pirate's Prize, set in 1804.

TR: How will the writer benefit from taking your course?

LND: They will learn how to establish a setting foundation and use it through the whole course.



Thanks, Lena, for taking the time to share with us. Registration is currently in progress for Lena's course, Taking Settings to the Next Level. Find all the details and registration information here.


Okay, reader, now it's your turn to tell us what you think about settings. Choose any or all of the questions below and provide your answers in the comments.


First, as a writer: What causes you the most trouble when creating settings for your books? Do you have any tips you'd like to share with us about creating those settings? Have you had a favorite setting for your own stories? What was it, and why was it your favorite? What about least favorite, and why?


Second, as a reader: Do you like rich settings? What's one setting you remember most in a book? Why? Does a vivid setting cause you to become more involved in the story? Or perhaps like/dislike the characters more strongly, depending on the setting?


I look forward to your thoughts.

Prepositions Aren't Always Fun

Third grade was an exciting time for me, even though much of my childhood memory is blank. When we got to third grade, we were issued ENGLISH books! I still remember its orange cover and black lettering, and was disappointed that my book was a little ragged on the edges, but I loved its contents.

I was one of those kids who actually LIKED diagramming sentences, and I loved finding all the prepositions because it was a small list of words I could memorize.

But as I became a writer and then an editor, I learned that prepositions aren’t always a writer’s best friend, especially when numerous prepositional phrases are used in a single run-on sentence, like this extreme example:

Looking through the store window on her right during her lunch break, Drucila spotted the dress of her dreams in pale yellow before she pirouetted right there on the sidewalk in broad daylight because she was so happy and in love she could just about die from excitement that tomorrow under the romantic stars she would become Matt’s wife in spite of what their parents said and they would live happily ever after just like in the fairy tales read to her by her mother since she was only a child still in diapers and sucking on a bottle from her crib in the evenings before bedtime.

How many prepositional phrases can you identify?* How many would you remove or change? Yes, this is one of those paragraphs that would probably get scrapped completely – pulling only a few choice nuggets of information from it.

Scan your manuscript. Read it aloud. Focus your words. Tighten. Remember as you write that the reader is not in YOUR head, and can’t see the story unfolding. (This is a very good thing for most of us.) You unfold it for them with logic, clarity, and purpose.

*P.S. There are 22 – did you find them all?

Choose Your Words Carefully

When I first started writing, I had no idea how difficult the journey was going to be. Thankfully, God sent me a few talented and gifted writers who willingly and graciously shared their expertise, and helped me to learn and to grow. In my articles here on The Book Doctor, I’ll tackle many of the topics I’ve dealt with in my own writing, and many that I see on a daily basis from my editing clients.

Today, we’ll focus on three topics related to words.

Overused Words

One weakness in most first drafts is the use of pet words and phrases. Recognizing this weakness gives us the opportunity to make more of our writing, and create a stronger story for the reader.

I’ve compiled a list of words that I provide to my clients, and I’ll share it with The Book Doctor’s readers, too. Just visit this page, and click on the link for the free “Overused Words List” download in pdf format.

Learning to spot those weak words gives us an opportunity to show, instead of tell; an opportunity to be active with our story, rather than passive. Author Jeanne Marie Leach provides some excellent examples in her book Writing Basics for Beginners.

First, she offers a simple sentence, and shows how to reword it to eliminate the overused (and passive) word “was”:

She was tired.
Her body ached as she climbed the stairs to the house.

She offers another example:

Jane was angry at her brother for telling her parents she was the one who’d caused the stain on the carpet.

Then she shows us how to eliminate the “was” and pull the reader right into the middle of the story, with words that show, rather than tell:

Jane frowned and stomped her foot. “You little brat! You had no right to tell Mom and Dad I spilled my juice on the rug. I’m going to ring your stupid little neck when I catch you.”

The difference is amazing, isn’t it? It's much more powerful, and we feel like we're right there in the middle of the scene.

Repetitious Phrases

After you’ve scanned your manuscript for the list words, be sure to check for repetition of favorite phrases concerning your characters. Does your heroine regularly tuck her hair behind her ear, chew her bottom lip, or tap her fingernails impatiently? Does your hero crack his knuckles, toss his head back, or wink? The reader will catch these phrases faster right away, so you’ll want to add variety. If you need help coming up with different traits, just pay a visit to the coffee shop or bookstore for observation. (Any excuse, right?) Watch how people interact, then watch their movements when they’re sitting alone. You’ll be surprised at how much fresh material you can gather in just one trip!

Word Usage

Many writers like to share their knowledge of big words, but sometimes simpler is better, especially when we discover that we’re explaining ourselves every other paragraph. I’m not saying “dumb-down” our writing – I’m saying we need to be wise with our word choices to best convey our meaning, keeping the reader in mind as we write.

Eliminating overused, passive words and phrases, avoiding repetition, and choosing the right words can make our stories stronger, and can make us better writers overall, but we must work at it. Anyone who thinks a writer is “lazy” must not be a writer himself. Don’t you agree?


P.S. Don’t forget to hop over to Write Integrity to get your free Overused Words List!