And the conference was...

... a blast.

I learned a lot and met a lot of people pursuing publication just like me. I guess the most important thing I learned at the conference was how much I didn't know. Being an author is not just about writing - its about marketing and audience and knowing the publishing business.

The most fun workshop was by mystery writer Jennifer (J.B.) Stanley (who also writes as (Ellery Adams). She explained a lot about "Plotting the Mystery". She was a middle school teacher and had prizes and games for us to play. School was not that fun when I went to middle school.

Another fun and highly informative workshop was led by author Judi McCoy, who has written both romances and mysteries. Her workshop was interrupted by a fire alarm, but we got through most of the material she had for us in "Getting Down to Basics." I had no idea that the new rule was only one space after periods! She gave us all the little nit-noid stuff that editors and agents pay attention to - like manuscript format - that can turn them off your story before they even get to read it.

The winner of the funniest workshop presenter would go to Jill McCorkle, who spoke to us about "Finding a Story", and was the keynote speaker on Friday. The woman is a southern belle with a sense of humor the size of Alaska. She showed us how to make a story real by including the sidebars, because often that is where the real story is.

Anyway, I am still digesting all the information I got in those two days, and how I can apply what I have learned to my manuscript.

Any ideas?

Pitching is like an audition...

...and you need to know your lines.

Because you don't have time for a retake.

Which is what agent Katharine Sands told us in the workshop she presented today at the Hampton Roads Writers Second Annual Writer's Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was wonderful, giving us the scoop from the agent's point of view.

And since most of us were writers, not agents, it was an enlightening experience.

Even though we had an agent offering to share her knowledge with us, I am really glad I did some research before attempting my first face-to-face interview with an agent.

I had jotted down talking points for my manuscript. Wrote and practiced a three-minute blurb about it. Knew I would need a little extra time to calm my nerves before actually going in to speak to her so I wouldn't throw up in her lap.

I revised my spiel just before going in to make my pitch, reworking it to focus on place, person and pivot - the words Katharine used in her workshop. But I wouldn't have been able to do any of that if I hadn't been prepared.

And my results?

She said she wanted to see more.

I did a happy dance with my daughter when I got home.

Now, I have to get something to her, quickly. And make sure it looks exceptionally good.

Have you had success pitching to an agent at a conference?

Preparing to pitch...

No, I'm not pitching a tent.

I am getting ready for an opportunity to pitch a book to an agent. Two of my stories are in heavy contention for the pitch, both are about 95% done in first draft.

I haven't really decided which one to pitch yet.

The opportunity is at a local writing conference I will be attending next weekend. The agents attending and speaking are offering pitching sessions, and many would-be authors are taking them up on it.

Myself included.

I am looking on it as a learning experience (though I won't turn down a request for a manuscript.) I have been doing research on pitching and have found a little bit of information, and am at the practising point. I need to have it down as I will only get five minutes to talk up my book and impress the agent. One chance only.

I think I will dress up - try to look nominally professional, without overdoing it.

Wish me luck!

Time flies when your working...

But I am not having fun (at work). A new technical editor has been hired at the office though, so the workload should start to wind down a bit. It is nice having someone else to talk English and grammar and semantics with... or rather, to talk with about English and grammar and semantics.

But still, before I knew it, two weeks had gone by and I hadn't been on here.

The good news is, I have actually gotten some writing done (bits and pieces here and there - several late nights with my husband reminding me just how late it is). I've been working on the second book in the dragons trilogy (I wasn't as far done as I thought when I put it aside, and now, upon my reread and edit, I am fixing that) and have been having fun with that, and enjoying writing again.

I can't wait to get started on book three (I have the outline done and a few scenes roughed in.)

Isn't it great when you start enjoying it again?