The Pikes Peak Writers Conference
6) Celebrate Any Request for "Pages"
But don't hang all your hopes on an offer from them.
So you get your manuscript ready, really ready. It’s revised and polished to a high gloss. You get a pitch session with Dream Agent. You practice your pitch for weeks. You sit down with said agent and pitch your little heart out. Then you sit back and wait.
And she says it sounds interesting. Asks a few questions. Then she hands you her card and asks you to send the first three chapters.
You float out of the pitch room, skip down the hall, rush to the bar to tell all your friends the good news. They help you celebrate and plan how you’ll spend your six-figure advance.
When you get home, you give your chapters another going over—or three. And you send them off to Dream Agent. You polish the rest of the manuscript again in anticipation of a request for a full and eventual offer of representation.
The email—or letter—arrives. Heart racing, you open it and read “Thank you for letting us read your work. However, Book Title isn’t a fit for us at this time.” Despair. What did you do wrong?
Probably nothing. Some agents have a hard time saying "no" to a writer who--all eager-like--is sitting across a small table from them. The pitch may have been good but, possibly, not completely representative of the actual manuscript. Or the agent got back to the office and realized she had offered representation to another author with a similar story.
So follow the steps above. Polish the chapters to a gleam and send them off. Then polish the rest of the manuscript to the same high gloss. Then query other agents who represent what you write. And start on that next book. It'll keep you occupied while you wait for Dream Agent's reply, and you won't be hanging all your hopes on one response.
Registration is open for this year's conference. We all know the state of the economy. But if you can possibly afford it, go. Attend the workshops, talk to other writers. Try to sit at a table hosted by an agent, editor or author you admire. And if your manuscript is ready, sign up for a pitch session. Oh, and take the pitch practice workshop so you're ready.
Most important of all--have fun.
Showing posts with label PPW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PPW. Show all posts
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
What I Learned About Writing From
Pikes Peak Writers Conference
If you’re not familiar with the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC), let me give you the broad strokes. Pikes Peak Writers Conference has been held at the end of April in Colorado Springs, Colorado, since 1993. It was named one of the top ten writers conferences in the United States by Writers Digest Magazine. The conference is run by Pikes Peak Writers, a group of dedicated volunteers.
When I first attend, at the tenth anniversary conference, it consisted of two days of workshops and pitch appointments with either an agent or an editor. Friday afternoon, one could walk into a “read and critique” session and listen to a writer read a few pages and receive immediate feedback from an agent, editor or published author.
The conference has expanded to include workshops on Friday as well. And attendees may sign up for Thursday intensive workshops.
Following is a list of things I learned by attending several PPWCs over the years.
1) There are lots of other people out there like you.
I wrote a lot when I was in junior high and high school. Then “real life” interrupted that. I had gotten back into writing a couple years before my first PPWC. I joined a local writing group just a few months before the conference. So, I knew there were at least a dozen people in Colorado Springs who wrote.
Then I walked into the Marriott Hotel on the April Friday afternoon. There were writers everywhere—checking in, wandering the halls (some looking as dazed as I felt), sitting at the bar, and bravely reading their writing in front of an agent and a room full of people. Suddenly I became part of a much larger subculture. If I was crazy to be doing this, at least there were others as crazy as, if not more so, than I.
2) Writers can be incredibly generous with each other
Many of the faculty are authors—well-known and not so much—who shared their experiences and insights. They took the time to put together hour-long presentations and handouts to help other writers avoid some of the pitfalls the presenter had encountered.
The faculty were not the only generous authors. There were the strangers who invited me to sit with them at meals. The people who let me join in their conversations in the lobby between sessions and after the days events ended.
I left each night—I didn’t stay at the hotel that first year—feeling energized and knowing that I just might be able to do this thing.
3) No matter how much you know, there’s more to learn.
I love doing research. When I decided it was time to start writing again—seriously, I subscribed to Writers Digest and invested in a bunch of writing books. I read about plot, characterization, conflict, motivation, themes, dialogue. You name it, I had a book about it.
Even then, I felt there was probably a lot to learn from the workshops at my first PPWC. Sure enough, I absorbed a lot that weekend. There was a workshop on writing good query letters. Another on writing screenplays based on a two-hour movie broken into ten minute blocks.
By my third and fourth conferences, I was feeling pretty dang knowledgeable about the writing life. After all, I had a couple different first drafts under my belt. Even more books and magazines read. What else could there be to learn?
Well, how about developing a “bible” to manage a series. This is a notebook that contains information the author needs to keep track of. A map of the location, descriptions of characters, major events. Or how about the way real S.W.A.T. teams or canine units operate?
Every PPWC has taught me something new. They’ve also reminded me of things I might have once known, but forgot.
4) Be prepared.
I first learned that when I joined the Brownies in first grade. Who knew that it would help me at a writers conference mumble, mumble years later?
It took a year or two before I signed up for a Read and Critique session. A room full of strangers would be listening. A room full of strangers plus an agent. A big name agent. A big name agent from a prestigious agency.
Started a month or so before the conference, I polished and re-polished what I would be reading. I read aloud and timed myself. Then friends from my critique group helped by listening and offering advice. I was told accentuate certain phrases. Raise my voice here, lower it there. And remember to breathe.
When I started to read at PPWC, my hands shook the pages and my face went hot. But I was ready. My copy of the pages were in large print and marked up. “Hit this.” “Softer here.”
At the end of the reading I braced for the horrible feedback. But it didn’t come. She liked me. She really, really like me. I mean, she liked my writing. And that felt great. Even though she did not ask me to send her pages. I wouldn't have been ready for that anyway.
5) When they say finished work, listen.
Agent/Editor pitch sessions are limited. Writers are cautioned to only sign up for a pitch session when they have a finished work. “Finished” does not mean a first draft. It certainly doesn’t mean a kinda cool idea for a book. It doesn’t even mean a good second draft.
A finished work is a manuscript that has been written and rewritten, probably several times. Eyes other than the writer’s have read it and offered feedback. Eyes that belong to people who are writers themselves. Or at least people who truly know about writing.
I decided that I’d pitch a book that was still mostly in the idea stage at my second PPWC. I figured it would be good practice for when it was finished because, of course, I didn’t think anyone would say they wanted to see it.
But he did ask for the first 100 pages. I didn’t have 30 pages. Did I rush home and knock out the rest of the book, polish it up and send the requested pages? No. Instead I froze up. I didn’t write much of anything for months.
Not everyone will have that reaction. But even if you run home and finish the manuscript, it will not be your best work. And if you don’t submit your best work, you won’t get very far. That means you’ll have wasted the agent’s time and, possibly, prevented a writer who was ready from getting one of the precious time slots.
Take a look at the PPWC brochure for 2011. You can find it here at http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/html/brochure.html It could just be the boost your writing needs.
If you’re not familiar with the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC), let me give you the broad strokes. Pikes Peak Writers Conference has been held at the end of April in Colorado Springs, Colorado, since 1993. It was named one of the top ten writers conferences in the United States by Writers Digest Magazine. The conference is run by Pikes Peak Writers, a group of dedicated volunteers.
When I first attend, at the tenth anniversary conference, it consisted of two days of workshops and pitch appointments with either an agent or an editor. Friday afternoon, one could walk into a “read and critique” session and listen to a writer read a few pages and receive immediate feedback from an agent, editor or published author.
The conference has expanded to include workshops on Friday as well. And attendees may sign up for Thursday intensive workshops.
Following is a list of things I learned by attending several PPWCs over the years.
1) There are lots of other people out there like you.
I wrote a lot when I was in junior high and high school. Then “real life” interrupted that. I had gotten back into writing a couple years before my first PPWC. I joined a local writing group just a few months before the conference. So, I knew there were at least a dozen people in Colorado Springs who wrote.
Then I walked into the Marriott Hotel on the April Friday afternoon. There were writers everywhere—checking in, wandering the halls (some looking as dazed as I felt), sitting at the bar, and bravely reading their writing in front of an agent and a room full of people. Suddenly I became part of a much larger subculture. If I was crazy to be doing this, at least there were others as crazy as, if not more so, than I.
2) Writers can be incredibly generous with each other
Many of the faculty are authors—well-known and not so much—who shared their experiences and insights. They took the time to put together hour-long presentations and handouts to help other writers avoid some of the pitfalls the presenter had encountered.
The faculty were not the only generous authors. There were the strangers who invited me to sit with them at meals. The people who let me join in their conversations in the lobby between sessions and after the days events ended.
I left each night—I didn’t stay at the hotel that first year—feeling energized and knowing that I just might be able to do this thing.
3) No matter how much you know, there’s more to learn.
I love doing research. When I decided it was time to start writing again—seriously, I subscribed to Writers Digest and invested in a bunch of writing books. I read about plot, characterization, conflict, motivation, themes, dialogue. You name it, I had a book about it.
Even then, I felt there was probably a lot to learn from the workshops at my first PPWC. Sure enough, I absorbed a lot that weekend. There was a workshop on writing good query letters. Another on writing screenplays based on a two-hour movie broken into ten minute blocks.
By my third and fourth conferences, I was feeling pretty dang knowledgeable about the writing life. After all, I had a couple different first drafts under my belt. Even more books and magazines read. What else could there be to learn?
Well, how about developing a “bible” to manage a series. This is a notebook that contains information the author needs to keep track of. A map of the location, descriptions of characters, major events. Or how about the way real S.W.A.T. teams or canine units operate?
Every PPWC has taught me something new. They’ve also reminded me of things I might have once known, but forgot.
4) Be prepared.
I first learned that when I joined the Brownies in first grade. Who knew that it would help me at a writers conference mumble, mumble years later?
It took a year or two before I signed up for a Read and Critique session. A room full of strangers would be listening. A room full of strangers plus an agent. A big name agent. A big name agent from a prestigious agency.
Started a month or so before the conference, I polished and re-polished what I would be reading. I read aloud and timed myself. Then friends from my critique group helped by listening and offering advice. I was told accentuate certain phrases. Raise my voice here, lower it there. And remember to breathe.
When I started to read at PPWC, my hands shook the pages and my face went hot. But I was ready. My copy of the pages were in large print and marked up. “Hit this.” “Softer here.”
At the end of the reading I braced for the horrible feedback. But it didn’t come. She liked me. She really, really like me. I mean, she liked my writing. And that felt great. Even though she did not ask me to send her pages. I wouldn't have been ready for that anyway.
5) When they say finished work, listen.
Agent/Editor pitch sessions are limited. Writers are cautioned to only sign up for a pitch session when they have a finished work. “Finished” does not mean a first draft. It certainly doesn’t mean a kinda cool idea for a book. It doesn’t even mean a good second draft.
A finished work is a manuscript that has been written and rewritten, probably several times. Eyes other than the writer’s have read it and offered feedback. Eyes that belong to people who are writers themselves. Or at least people who truly know about writing.
I decided that I’d pitch a book that was still mostly in the idea stage at my second PPWC. I figured it would be good practice for when it was finished because, of course, I didn’t think anyone would say they wanted to see it.
But he did ask for the first 100 pages. I didn’t have 30 pages. Did I rush home and knock out the rest of the book, polish it up and send the requested pages? No. Instead I froze up. I didn’t write much of anything for months.
Not everyone will have that reaction. But even if you run home and finish the manuscript, it will not be your best work. And if you don’t submit your best work, you won’t get very far. That means you’ll have wasted the agent’s time and, possibly, prevented a writer who was ready from getting one of the precious time slots.
Take a look at the PPWC brochure for 2011. You can find it here at http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/html/brochure.html It could just be the boost your writing needs.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Looking Back
Yes, I'm blatantly copying Jenny. But it's that time of year.
How did 2010 measure up?
All in all, pretty well. Not if I look at total words written. That number is way down for the year. I did get MMG one revision closer to being ready to submit, though.
I think I accomplished something better than a lot of words. Or at least as good as. I finally realized what works and what doesn't for me when it comes to feedback on my writing. And I managed to articulate that to my critique group. The thing that still makes me smile is that they immediately got it. A couple other members also spoke up at that point to say what is and isn't working for them.
I read a lot of books this year. Just look at the list on the right. And I learned so much from having read them. As I do with just about every book I read. Not just about writing either, but that sure helps.
PPW asked me to do a regular blog post for them. It's my What I Learned About Writing series. I publish here first, then PPW picks it up. Pretty shiny.
My first blog post on Red Room was picked up as a featured blog. I supposed to get a bunch of books, but haven't seen any yet. Not like I don't have enough to read.
I took a banjo class and am still practicing regularly. Performed three dance numbers and a couple "specialties" with my dance class as the Pikes Peak Center--and loved it. Took an additional tap class over the summer that really helped with technique.
A pretty dang good year.
How did 2010 measure up?
All in all, pretty well. Not if I look at total words written. That number is way down for the year. I did get MMG one revision closer to being ready to submit, though.
I think I accomplished something better than a lot of words. Or at least as good as. I finally realized what works and what doesn't for me when it comes to feedback on my writing. And I managed to articulate that to my critique group. The thing that still makes me smile is that they immediately got it. A couple other members also spoke up at that point to say what is and isn't working for them.
I read a lot of books this year. Just look at the list on the right. And I learned so much from having read them. As I do with just about every book I read. Not just about writing either, but that sure helps.
PPW asked me to do a regular blog post for them. It's my What I Learned About Writing series. I publish here first, then PPW picks it up. Pretty shiny.
My first blog post on Red Room was picked up as a featured blog. I supposed to get a bunch of books, but haven't seen any yet. Not like I don't have enough to read.
I took a banjo class and am still practicing regularly. Performed three dance numbers and a couple "specialties" with my dance class as the Pikes Peak Center--and loved it. Took an additional tap class over the summer that really helped with technique.
A pretty dang good year.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Quick Update
The new PPW Prez sent out an email yesterday (that I read this morning) about the economy and how it's impacting non-profits (like PPW) and how they rely on volunteers, and how they need more volunteers. Sort of a "many hands make light work" sort of message. All of that is true. And I found myself thinking, "I could maybe do that one little thing there that shouldn't take much time." Then I heard several voices yelling at me and felt several virtual dope-slaps.
So I took my name off the volunteer loop.
So I took my name off the volunteer loop.
Friday, December 12, 2008
A Lovely Side Effect
So, you all know that I resigned my position on the Board of Directors of Pikes Peak Writers. Only one column was submitted directly to me. A couple were sent to editor@pikespeakwriters.com which meant I got one and the new editor got one as well. After this issue, that one won't forward to me any longer. Lots less hassle. With the exception of a flurry of activity the first week or so while the new editor asked questions, I sent extra articles I had on hand and information about the reporters, she asked me for the information I sent again, I sent it again, she asked again, etc. Funny how I never received any notification that my email didn't go through. Oh well.
The new editor seems like a nice person. And very optimistic. Yes, I remember being optimistic when I first started, lo these many months ago. I would no longer be working with aspiring authors who had poured their very souls into this master work of under 2,000 words. Their sad little souls. Their sad little, poorly written souls. No, I would be working with reporters. Hard-nosed, hard-drinking, tough-talking reporters.Serious-minded fact-based writers who took pride in their work, but weren't personally invested in it. Reporters. And then I woke up. The reporters were aspiring authors. This reporting gig was waaaaaay down on their list of priorities. As well it should have been. But that meant some less than best efforts. There were exceptions, of course. Linda and Fleur were always reliable and on time and polished like a new penny. And Deb C. really stepped in and stepped up toward the end of my run. Maybe the new editor will have more of those in her future. I hope.
But the lovely side effect of resigning? Loads less email to wade through. My name is now off the BOD and Steering Committee lists. It will drop from the Volunteer list soon (because I'm no longer allowed to volunteer for ANYTHING). But even better is that the email I do get because I'm a member still and on the PPW loop doesn't have to paid attention to if I don't want. I don't have an obligation to keep up with topics and make sure I send congratulations for every announcement. And that means more time.
I resigned because of time, I know. But I was thinking of the schlepping to meetings and reading submissions and editing and looking at layouts and scrambling to get more content to fill up the issue and all that good stuff. I didn't think about less email and what that would mean.
Are you on any email loops that you don't need to be? I'm thinking of another one I'm on that may be the next to go. Hey, I've got to do something so I have time for Facebook and Twitter.
The new editor seems like a nice person. And very optimistic. Yes, I remember being optimistic when I first started, lo these many months ago. I would no longer be working with aspiring authors who had poured their very souls into this master work of under 2,000 words. Their sad little souls. Their sad little, poorly written souls. No, I would be working with reporters. Hard-nosed, hard-drinking, tough-talking reporters.Serious-minded fact-based writers who took pride in their work, but weren't personally invested in it. Reporters. And then I woke up. The reporters were aspiring authors. This reporting gig was waaaaaay down on their list of priorities. As well it should have been. But that meant some less than best efforts. There were exceptions, of course. Linda and Fleur were always reliable and on time and polished like a new penny. And Deb C. really stepped in and stepped up toward the end of my run. Maybe the new editor will have more of those in her future. I hope.
But the lovely side effect of resigning? Loads less email to wade through. My name is now off the BOD and Steering Committee lists. It will drop from the Volunteer list soon (because I'm no longer allowed to volunteer for ANYTHING). But even better is that the email I do get because I'm a member still and on the PPW loop doesn't have to paid attention to if I don't want. I don't have an obligation to keep up with topics and make sure I send congratulations for every announcement. And that means more time.
I resigned because of time, I know. But I was thinking of the schlepping to meetings and reading submissions and editing and looking at layouts and scrambling to get more content to fill up the issue and all that good stuff. I didn't think about less email and what that would mean.
Are you on any email loops that you don't need to be? I'm thinking of another one I'm on that may be the next to go. Hey, I've got to do something so I have time for Facebook and Twitter.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Mr. Neil Gaiman
What to say about last night?
It could be lack of sleep, but the whole thing is kinda jumbled together in my mind. Mainly impressions.
--Neil is shorter than I expected, but I expected he'd be shorter than he looks in pictures. If that makes any sense.
--He's quite at home on the stage. Not fakey comfortable like I did at AI, but really comfortable.
--A great reader. Does voices and everything.
--Manages to be down to Earth while dropping names. But it doesn't seem like name-dropping because he seems truly awed to know these people (Dave McKean, Charles Vess, Tori Amos, Amanda Palmer, Terry Gilliam, Terry Pratchett, etc.)
--Very funny, and can ad lib. (or has prepared what seem like ad libs and delivers them as if they are off the cuff)
--Coraline looks amazing. Even with the technical glitch in the middle that caused previous groups to go mmmmmrrrrMMMMMMMRRrrrmmmm.
--Will buy Blueberry Girl for Elizabeth and Clerissa as soon as it comes out.
--I liked what I heard of The Graveyard Book. Like Ali, I focused more on nuts and bolts than I probably would have. Caught many things that a former critique group would have just reamed him about. But it worked in the story.
--Definitely want any audio versions of his books that he reads.
--Neil telling us about the reaction of the LA group when he stopped at the halfway point of Chapter 7.
--Boulder group had great questions but horrible handwriting. Apparently, LA was just the opposite.
--Neil's favorite breakfast is "probably a cheese omelette, but only if I make it." He was a bit nonplussed that anyone would use their one question to ask that of a published author.
--A little over a month ago, I started using a different color ink in my Vesta notebook each day so it was easier to tell how much I'd written that day. Seems one Mr. Gaiman does the same. "Page and a half. Horrible day. I suck."
--Event organizers seem never to be all that organized. There was a traffic jam at the inner door after the reading as people who didn't get the book before the show lined up in the lobby to get it after. The people who just wanted to leave had a hard time getting around the clump. Make one door the actual Exit door and the other the one for shoppers. Easy fix, but noooo.
--With apologies to anyone from PPW who might read this: This was by far the best perk I've gotten from being a volunteer. Second row, stage right, two in from the aisle. Reserved seats. Gotta love it.
--Must save some dubloons for next trip to Beads, Beads, Beads.
That's all that's coming to mind right now. If you ever get the chance to see Neil Gaiman in person, do it. He's amazing.
It could be lack of sleep, but the whole thing is kinda jumbled together in my mind. Mainly impressions.
--Neil is shorter than I expected, but I expected he'd be shorter than he looks in pictures. If that makes any sense.
--He's quite at home on the stage. Not fakey comfortable like I did at AI, but really comfortable.
--A great reader. Does voices and everything.
--Manages to be down to Earth while dropping names. But it doesn't seem like name-dropping because he seems truly awed to know these people (Dave McKean, Charles Vess, Tori Amos, Amanda Palmer, Terry Gilliam, Terry Pratchett, etc.)
--Very funny, and can ad lib. (or has prepared what seem like ad libs and delivers them as if they are off the cuff)
--Coraline looks amazing. Even with the technical glitch in the middle that caused previous groups to go mmmmmrrrrMMMMMMMRRrrrmmmm.
--Will buy Blueberry Girl for Elizabeth and Clerissa as soon as it comes out.
--I liked what I heard of The Graveyard Book. Like Ali, I focused more on nuts and bolts than I probably would have. Caught many things that a former critique group would have just reamed him about. But it worked in the story.
--Definitely want any audio versions of his books that he reads.
--Neil telling us about the reaction of the LA group when he stopped at the halfway point of Chapter 7.
--Boulder group had great questions but horrible handwriting. Apparently, LA was just the opposite.
--Neil's favorite breakfast is "probably a cheese omelette, but only if I make it." He was a bit nonplussed that anyone would use their one question to ask that of a published author.
--A little over a month ago, I started using a different color ink in my Vesta notebook each day so it was easier to tell how much I'd written that day. Seems one Mr. Gaiman does the same. "Page and a half. Horrible day. I suck."
--Event organizers seem never to be all that organized. There was a traffic jam at the inner door after the reading as people who didn't get the book before the show lined up in the lobby to get it after. The people who just wanted to leave had a hard time getting around the clump. Make one door the actual Exit door and the other the one for shoppers. Easy fix, but noooo.
--With apologies to anyone from PPW who might read this: This was by far the best perk I've gotten from being a volunteer. Second row, stage right, two in from the aisle. Reserved seats. Gotta love it.
--Must save some dubloons for next trip to Beads, Beads, Beads.
That's all that's coming to mind right now. If you ever get the chance to see Neil Gaiman in person, do it. He's amazing.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pleasant Surprises
I was invited to be guest critiquer (shouldn't it be just critic?) at the PPW Open Critique last night. As I've never attended the event, I wasn't sure quite what to expect beyond the little bit I'd been told. People bring in pages and pass out copies to the attendees. Everyone reads for a certain amount of time. Then they go around the circle and give feedback. The "special guest" basically bats clean-up and gives a longer critique on what works and what doesn't with suggestions. I have to say that I didn't think it would be particularly pleasant.
As the day progressed, my prophesy seemed to be right on. There was no information on the PPW website about how many pages are allowed or how many copies to make. I didn't receive an email giving me a heads up as to how many people had registered. By the time I left work, tired, I was hoping that maybe no one would make it. Then I arrived at Cottonwood (where most PPW small events are held) to find that the classroom we normally use was occupied by an art class. The person in charge (PIC) of the event wasn't there. But neither were any other writers. Maybe I'd get home much earlier than expected.
No such luck. Two woman arrived. Both were new to PPW and the Open Critique and looked to me for answers. I had none. But we chatted about writing and PPW. They were very nice. The PIC arrived and informed us that they always use a little table near the back entrance. How silly of me not to have thought of that!
Eight people attended besides the PIC and me. Six of them brought pages to be critiqued. PIC spent a lot of time calculating how much time to allow for reading and feedback, giving me extra time to share my expertise. Somewhere around the sixth computation, I had to physically hold myself in the chair to keep from bolting.
Finally, the first pages were passed around, and we started reading. It wasn't bad. All description and not much action for six pages, but the guy knew his setting. Some good humor and character building. Just move the description into actiony scenes. And he was good about taking feedback. Cool.
Some of the others were really good, others needed a little more work. But there wasn't anything that made me cringe to read--except for the subject matter of one of the memoirs which I won't go into here. Two left me wanting to read the whole book and the other memoir might be my cup of tea with a little work. Except for not getting out until 9:00 (a half hour after the promised stop time), it wasn't bad.
I was thanked graciously and told I'd be invited back.
Yeah, about that......
As the day progressed, my prophesy seemed to be right on. There was no information on the PPW website about how many pages are allowed or how many copies to make. I didn't receive an email giving me a heads up as to how many people had registered. By the time I left work, tired, I was hoping that maybe no one would make it. Then I arrived at Cottonwood (where most PPW small events are held) to find that the classroom we normally use was occupied by an art class. The person in charge (PIC) of the event wasn't there. But neither were any other writers. Maybe I'd get home much earlier than expected.
No such luck. Two woman arrived. Both were new to PPW and the Open Critique and looked to me for answers. I had none. But we chatted about writing and PPW. They were very nice. The PIC arrived and informed us that they always use a little table near the back entrance. How silly of me not to have thought of that!
Eight people attended besides the PIC and me. Six of them brought pages to be critiqued. PIC spent a lot of time calculating how much time to allow for reading and feedback, giving me extra time to share my expertise. Somewhere around the sixth computation, I had to physically hold myself in the chair to keep from bolting.
Finally, the first pages were passed around, and we started reading. It wasn't bad. All description and not much action for six pages, but the guy knew his setting. Some good humor and character building. Just move the description into actiony scenes. And he was good about taking feedback. Cool.
Some of the others were really good, others needed a little more work. But there wasn't anything that made me cringe to read--except for the subject matter of one of the memoirs which I won't go into here. Two left me wanting to read the whole book and the other memoir might be my cup of tea with a little work. Except for not getting out until 9:00 (a half hour after the promised stop time), it wasn't bad.
I was thanked graciously and told I'd be invited back.
Yeah, about that......
Monday, November 19, 2007
Intrusions
I'm a big one for lecturing people on not letting too much intrude on their writing time. Looks like I need to sit down and have a heart to heart with myself.
This is always a pretty slow week for me at work. We've done all the mid-month stuff and it's not yet time to gear up for end of month. So what to do today except, oh I don't know, write?
Except I have some other commitments to see to. So I've been reading submissions for Apollo's Lyre and responding. I am definitely seeing a trend. People submit, are accepted and immediately submit something else. Not a bad thing if second submission is as good or better than first (and that means you, Frank!), but if the first acceptance was pretty much because we had to have something to publish and said author's didn't exactly suck, well....the next one is never better, let me tell ya. I believe this is a similar phenomenon to the people who are rejected and immediately send in a different story with all the same flaws. Frustrating. And tiring.
And then I had some clean-up work to do for PPW. Submit my volunteer hours. Have a Sweet Success story published on the web because, somehow, it didn't get included in the November print edition. Apologize to person who achieved the success, profusely. Send out a reminder of the deadline for the January issue. And think about what my editorial will be for January. Should probably write a draft. Ain't gonna happen today.
I've said before, and I'll say again, the editing is rewarding work. We do put out some really useful information in the PPW NewsMagazine. And when I get a so-so submission to AL and give feedback to the author who then turns it into a great piece of short fiction, what a high! And I love when an awesome piece shows up out of nowhere. But editing is not my passion. That's my writing. And I need to remember to protect my passion.
I'll be finished with the other stuff in less than an hour (mainly because I'm not writing my editorial right now). That leaves two hours to work on Vesta before I go home. And, if I tape Chuck and Heroes, I'll have a couple more hours tonight.
Okay, I feel better now. I did my have-tos and can still get some want-tos done.
Lecture over.
This is always a pretty slow week for me at work. We've done all the mid-month stuff and it's not yet time to gear up for end of month. So what to do today except, oh I don't know, write?
Except I have some other commitments to see to. So I've been reading submissions for Apollo's Lyre and responding. I am definitely seeing a trend. People submit, are accepted and immediately submit something else. Not a bad thing if second submission is as good or better than first (and that means you, Frank!), but if the first acceptance was pretty much because we had to have something to publish and said author's didn't exactly suck, well....the next one is never better, let me tell ya. I believe this is a similar phenomenon to the people who are rejected and immediately send in a different story with all the same flaws. Frustrating. And tiring.
And then I had some clean-up work to do for PPW. Submit my volunteer hours. Have a Sweet Success story published on the web because, somehow, it didn't get included in the November print edition. Apologize to person who achieved the success, profusely. Send out a reminder of the deadline for the January issue. And think about what my editorial will be for January. Should probably write a draft. Ain't gonna happen today.
I've said before, and I'll say again, the editing is rewarding work. We do put out some really useful information in the PPW NewsMagazine. And when I get a so-so submission to AL and give feedback to the author who then turns it into a great piece of short fiction, what a high! And I love when an awesome piece shows up out of nowhere. But editing is not my passion. That's my writing. And I need to remember to protect my passion.
I'll be finished with the other stuff in less than an hour (mainly because I'm not writing my editorial right now). That leaves two hours to work on Vesta before I go home. And, if I tape Chuck and Heroes, I'll have a couple more hours tonight.
Okay, I feel better now. I did my have-tos and can still get some want-tos done.
Lecture over.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Workshop
The Scaring Your Readers workshop that took up most of my Saturday and interrupted prime word-churning time was absolutely worth it. They didn't seem thrown by the fact that only a couple people raised their hands when they asked how many wrote horror. They went on to ask about various genres and acknowledged that no matter what you write, you need to amp up the tension sometimes.
I especially like Carrie Vaughn, author of a series about a werewolf named Kitty (no it's not just the name) who is a radio talkshow host for other supernatural beings. She was funny and honest and talked structure and pacing to build suspense. I'll definitely pick up Kitty and the Midnight Hour after the first of the year. She's the one who gave us the exercise that D.B. used for her prompt this week. I'm thinking of using the scene I wrote somewhere. It's another exercise that took me to my dark side. Has to be a positive thing for my writing. I don't think we have to worry about me staying there. Too long.
The venue was okay, but needed more restrooms (which should have been out of earshot of participants--don't ask). The food, however, was really good and there was so much of it. Broke up the day nicely. Of course, everyone was drowsy after lunch and that's when they scheduled the gentleman with the deep, soothing voice. It's a good thing he had a handout of everything he covered.
All in all, another great workshop from Pikes Peak Writers. I always feel like it's going to be too much money or take too much time, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised by all of them.
And now it's time to go work on adding pages to the Vesta story. I know what's next, and that's always cool.
I especially like Carrie Vaughn, author of a series about a werewolf named Kitty (no it's not just the name) who is a radio talkshow host for other supernatural beings. She was funny and honest and talked structure and pacing to build suspense. I'll definitely pick up Kitty and the Midnight Hour after the first of the year. She's the one who gave us the exercise that D.B. used for her prompt this week. I'm thinking of using the scene I wrote somewhere. It's another exercise that took me to my dark side. Has to be a positive thing for my writing. I don't think we have to worry about me staying there. Too long.
The venue was okay, but needed more restrooms (which should have been out of earshot of participants--don't ask). The food, however, was really good and there was so much of it. Broke up the day nicely. Of course, everyone was drowsy after lunch and that's when they scheduled the gentleman with the deep, soothing voice. It's a good thing he had a handout of everything he covered.
All in all, another great workshop from Pikes Peak Writers. I always feel like it's going to be too much money or take too much time, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised by all of them.
And now it's time to go work on adding pages to the Vesta story. I know what's next, and that's always cool.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
And They're Off
to a 4-note theme. 100 points for anyone who gets that reference. My money is on Nicole for this one.
So November 1st. Time to state goals for the month. I've already said I'm going to attempt NaNoWriMo this year. That's 50,000 words. Which I believe D.B. (the accountant) figured out is between 6-7 pages a day. So, two hours of non-editted typing should pretty much get me there. The non-editted is always the hard part, but is the main point of the whole exercise.
Wow, just felt myself tense up thinking about that. So an addendum to the goal is to do it without hurting myself. My buddy, Geoff, actually ended up in the hospital a few years back from stress and exhaustion. Deep breaths, walks, plenty of sleep. All part of the monthly goal.
For the rest of the week, through Sunday, I'll write 24 pages and attend the Scaring Your Readers Workshop that PPW is sponsoring on Saturday. Tension was one of my weak areas in MMG so an all-day workshop should help.
Good luck to all of us on our goals this month, whether or not we're doing NaNo.
So November 1st. Time to state goals for the month. I've already said I'm going to attempt NaNoWriMo this year. That's 50,000 words. Which I believe D.B. (the accountant) figured out is between 6-7 pages a day. So, two hours of non-editted typing should pretty much get me there. The non-editted is always the hard part, but is the main point of the whole exercise.
Wow, just felt myself tense up thinking about that. So an addendum to the goal is to do it without hurting myself. My buddy, Geoff, actually ended up in the hospital a few years back from stress and exhaustion. Deep breaths, walks, plenty of sleep. All part of the monthly goal.
For the rest of the week, through Sunday, I'll write 24 pages and attend the Scaring Your Readers Workshop that PPW is sponsoring on Saturday. Tension was one of my weak areas in MMG so an all-day workshop should help.
Good luck to all of us on our goals this month, whether or not we're doing NaNo.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Cheating and Eating
Since I don't belong to the CSFWG Sunday group anymore, but do go out to dinner with the group after the meeting, I decided to go to the Starbucks at the B&N where they meet and do a little writing. I wrote seven pages of the Vesta story while I waited for the meeting to finish. Since my goal for the week was 5-10 pages, I met my goal. But, since one of the rules for NaNoWriMo is that you're supposed to start a new book, it is cheating. Oh well. Pirate.
It was a fun dinner, as usual, but more . . . just more. I was sitting pretty much at the center of the table and at one point there were three different conversations going on around me. I was having a nice conversation with Nicole, Ali and Jenny while Whit was regaling John and Marie with something outrageous at one end of the table and a somewhat political discussion (that I KIND OF [inside joke] wanted to jump into) happened at the other end of the table. Everyone seemed to be wound up. Maybe it was the length of the meeting and the sheer number of critiques.
Some topics of discussion:
--Dumbledore's sexual orientation
--Christian Bale
--Historical accuracy in fiction
--Neil Gaiman
--Strange coworkers
--Halloween costumes and customs
--Russell Crowe
--Slumber parties
--Fortune telling
--Heroes (the television series)
--Acting one's age and what that means
--Joss Whedon
--Dinner auctions (see Ali's blog for more on that)
--Pan's Labyrinth, Solaris, Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon and other disappointing movies
--Do people think your characters are you?
--Having too much to do
--Zombies
--Sherman Alexie
--Cheating at NaNoWriMo
--Bad writing
--Good writing
--Turning bad writing into good writing
--Great Big Sea (briefly, but they must be discussed at each monthly dinner)
--Whiny boy singers (watch this space for more on that and a related topic)
There were more, but I can't remember them right now. All I know is that it was late when we left and we were still chuckling.
Oh, my goal for the week is to write another 12 pages of the Vesta book. Another cheat I'm doing with NaNo is to set my goal at 30,000 words which is 20,000 fewer than what you're supposed to write. That comes to 4 pages a day and since Saturday is the 3rd . . . And I'm going to the PPW Scare Your Writers workshop on Saturday since I need some help with building tension. That's it.
It was a fun dinner, as usual, but more . . . just more. I was sitting pretty much at the center of the table and at one point there were three different conversations going on around me. I was having a nice conversation with Nicole, Ali and Jenny while Whit was regaling John and Marie with something outrageous at one end of the table and a somewhat political discussion (that I KIND OF [inside joke] wanted to jump into) happened at the other end of the table. Everyone seemed to be wound up. Maybe it was the length of the meeting and the sheer number of critiques.
Some topics of discussion:
--Dumbledore's sexual orientation
--Christian Bale
--Historical accuracy in fiction
--Neil Gaiman
--Strange coworkers
--Halloween costumes and customs
--Russell Crowe
--Slumber parties
--Fortune telling
--Heroes (the television series)
--Acting one's age and what that means
--Joss Whedon
--Dinner auctions (see Ali's blog for more on that)
--Pan's Labyrinth, Solaris, Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon and other disappointing movies
--Do people think your characters are you?
--Having too much to do
--Zombies
--Sherman Alexie
--Cheating at NaNoWriMo
--Bad writing
--Good writing
--Turning bad writing into good writing
--Great Big Sea (briefly, but they must be discussed at each monthly dinner)
--Whiny boy singers (watch this space for more on that and a related topic)
There were more, but I can't remember them right now. All I know is that it was late when we left and we were still chuckling.
Oh, my goal for the week is to write another 12 pages of the Vesta book. Another cheat I'm doing with NaNo is to set my goal at 30,000 words which is 20,000 fewer than what you're supposed to write. That comes to 4 pages a day and since Saturday is the 3rd . . . And I'm going to the PPW Scare Your Writers workshop on Saturday since I need some help with building tension. That's it.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
September Goals
--Revise MMG, submit to DL and query at least 12 others [Phase 1 complete]
--Play with TNN a little more [did some mental work on it]
--Stay current on AL submission. [DONE]
I'm going to try Ali's weekly goal idea and see if it works for me. For this week, I will read through MMG and put it in order of Phase 1. And stay current on any submissions I get for AL or the PPW NewsMag. Oh, I have a PPW meeting tonight that I need to attend.
That's it.
--Play with TNN a little more [did some mental work on it]
--Stay current on AL submission. [DONE]
I'm going to try Ali's weekly goal idea and see if it works for me. For this week, I will read through MMG and put it in order of Phase 1. And stay current on any submissions I get for AL or the PPW NewsMag. Oh, I have a PPW meeting tonight that I need to attend.
That's it.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Final Feedback
Well, I received the final feedback for this draft of MMG last night. There will be much more when I start my rounds of queries. Jenny wrote up a great summary with an assignment. Maybe because I'm always harder on myself than anyone else would be comfortable being, it wasn't anywhere nearly as harsh as I thought it would be. Even with my thinking that she was delaying because it was such bad news.
I did wait until this morning to read it. Wanted to just enjoy last night with The Group. We have such a great mix of people now. All different genres and backgrounds, but it works somehow. I hope John decides to join us. He makes a nice addition.
Now I need to go buy a big 3-ring binder (part of my homework) so I can begin working on it this weekend. I'd start sooner, but this is shaping up to be a crazy-making week. Meeting last night (which was wonderful), meeting tonight for PPW, possibly a concert tomorrow night, barbeque at Jonnie and Steve's on Saturday (again, wonderful) and another meeting on Sunday (jury's out on this one). Oh, and maybe dinner with Geoff if he doesn't pick Saturday.
Think I may take Friday off just for me. Sounds like a plan.
I did wait until this morning to read it. Wanted to just enjoy last night with The Group. We have such a great mix of people now. All different genres and backgrounds, but it works somehow. I hope John decides to join us. He makes a nice addition.
Now I need to go buy a big 3-ring binder (part of my homework) so I can begin working on it this weekend. I'd start sooner, but this is shaping up to be a crazy-making week. Meeting last night (which was wonderful), meeting tonight for PPW, possibly a concert tomorrow night, barbeque at Jonnie and Steve's on Saturday (again, wonderful) and another meeting on Sunday (jury's out on this one). Oh, and maybe dinner with Geoff if he doesn't pick Saturday.
Think I may take Friday off just for me. Sounds like a plan.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Time Off
I took a week after my feedback to be away from my writing. No working on MMG or on TNN or, as you may have noticed, the blog. I thought it would be hard, but it was fabulous. I must have needed it.
So what did I do?
I read, a lot. I watched the special edition Long Way Round DVDs. And then I read some more.
And after a week of forced distance from my writing in all its forms, I'm raring to go. You've gotta love that. So what are the goals for this month?
---Revise MMG after receiving feedback (Jenny, I acknowledge your opinion and, respectfully, diagree)
--Submit to at least 12 agents
--Write editorial for PPW NewsMag
--Complete Writer's Life for PPW NewsMag
--Write up mini-bio for PPW NewsMag
--Stay current on submissions to Apollo's Lyre
I detect a trend. I knew becoming editor of the NewsMag would impact my time, but that looks a little scary. I do, however, think it looks worse than it will be to execute. Look to future posts.
So what did I do?
I read, a lot. I watched the special edition Long Way Round DVDs. And then I read some more.
And after a week of forced distance from my writing in all its forms, I'm raring to go. You've gotta love that. So what are the goals for this month?
---Revise MMG after receiving feedback (Jenny, I acknowledge your opinion and, respectfully, diagree)
--Submit to at least 12 agents
--Write editorial for PPW NewsMag
--Complete Writer's Life for PPW NewsMag
--Write up mini-bio for PPW NewsMag
--Stay current on submissions to Apollo's Lyre
I detect a trend. I knew becoming editor of the NewsMag would impact my time, but that looks a little scary. I do, however, think it looks worse than it will be to execute. Look to future posts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)