Tag Archives: Writers

Volunteer’s Eye View of a Writer’s Conference

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I’ve spent the last four days volunteering at the San Francisco Writers Conference. It was an amazing experience that came with many perks along with lots of responsibilities.

First, I want to answer why I decided to volunteer. I attended SFWC in 2012 and 2013 and felt like I’d already done the conference as an attendee. I wanted to participate as someone who soaks in the creative atmosphere and knowledge without having the pressure that I will make the right connection that leads to a book deal. I was interested in being part of the team, an insider who helps make SFWC a really fabulous event.

I got all that and more. As part of my responsibilities, either as timekeeper or host, I was able to sit in on some great workshops. I also worked as a wrangler who kept the crowds moving during the Speed Dating with Agents sessions. These are the sessions where writers have 3 minutes to pitch their work to agents. That was really exhausting for everyone involved: writers, agents and volunteers. It was also fascinating to witness all the different personal styles and the reactions of the agents.

I can tell you what made the best impression: being personable, prepared, and ready to listen. Steamrolling the agent with a 3-minute ramble was a waste of time and energy. You should be able to recite your pitch in under a minute and spend the rest of the time answering the agent’s questions.

I was a timekeeper during the freelance editor sessions, where writers could seek 8-minute consultations with freelance editors. This was actually an okay place to ramble a bit if you just wanted to approach someone with your idea, but it was still really important to listen. The people who got the most out of it were the ones who came prepared with their pitch and the first few pages of their manuscript.

When you are pitching to an agent or editor, you are making a valuable first impression. You want to be someone they want to work with. It’s okay to be nervous. They expect that. Along with being nervous, you can also bring your A game. That’s what makes the best impression.

Keep in mind that the most important people at the conference are the attendees. It’s funny, but that’s what I learned as a volunteer. The agents, editors and presenters are there for you, the attendee, not for themselves. They really want to impart information and make connections.

Most of the agents, editors, presenters, organizers and volunteers are writers as well. During the conference, there was a strong sense that we are all in this together. Presenters also attended sessions and keynote speeches, eager to learn.

Speaking of the sessions, you may be interested to know that the SFWC has generously made the session handouts available online. While it’s not the same as attending, you can still glean a lot of valuable information from these handouts.

You can download the handouts here: Presenters Handouts: 2014 List of Presenters Handouts for Download.

J.K. Rowling and Writer’s Regret

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Harry Potter OTP

J.K. Rowling, author of “Harry Potter” series, just opened a Hagrid-sized can of worms by admitting she wishes she’d paired Hermione with Harry rather than Ron.

I hesitate to call the canon pairing a mistake. The series is completed. Hermione and Ron as a couple have a solid fan base. Most authors are tormented by second thoughts and the what-ifs of their worlds. Once a road is committed to and books are already published, it’s hard to double back and say, “Whoops! Actually…” All the writer can do now is regret and carry on.

Or maybe not.

J.K. Rowling still thinks about and frets over her characters. In her mind, their stories are not done. If she thinks Ron and Hermione don’t belong together, she probably feels the same way about Harry and Ginny. She now realizes that the story’s OTP (one true pairing) should have been the two powerful, confident characters.

What to do?

Why not write that book? No, don’t rewrite history. Write these characters as adults, realizing they’ve made mistakes. Talk about drama. Harry and Ron are best friends. Ginny is Ron’s sister. This could cause a vast schism that would deeply affect their children, not to mention the wizarding world.

Hmm. Sounds like a new series to me.

Or Rowling can simply live with her regrets and imagine what she will. After all, they are her characters.

Lessons learned for writers? Choose your OTP wisely, yes, but also don’t think that the last period at the end of the book is really the end of the story.

Showing Freebie Authors the Love

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You may be wondering why all these authors are offering their books for free. A simple explanation is that free books increase the authors’ visibility on Amazon. For indie writers, it is much-needed publicity paid for in copies of their books. Writers and readers both benefit from this deal. Sweet!

However, these writers can’t live on air and publicity. Readers, like me, who are happily building freebie Kindle libraries need to give them some love. Here are two ways to show your appreciation.

Write a review on Amazon or another book site like Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be lengthy or go into the minute details of what you liked and didn’t like. A few sentences will do. Reviews are very helpful to authors. They generate buzz. Think about it. Are you more tempted to buy a book with six reviews or 60?

I don’t review books that I didn’t like. I was only out time, not money, and I don’t want to negatively impact somebody who is struggling to succeed. My reviews are in the three-to-five star range. I’m always honest and say what worked and didn’t work for me. That’s my method. It’s up to you how you review.

Buy their books. If you enjoyed a freebie book by a certain author, buy their next one. If it’s the first book in a series, buy the rest of the series. Like I said above, these authors can’t live on air. If we want them to keep writing, we need to show them love in monetary form.

Opening your wallet is like opening your heart. It’s a great way to say, “Thank you.”

Looking for free books? Check out my sidebar. I’ve listed numerous resources for Kindle and other format eReaders. And keep reading my blog. I love sharing my freebie finds.