Sold Out Appointments

Appointments are really selling this week, especially with the critiques deadline less than a week away. Here's a quick list of faculty who are sold out of specific types of appointments. We're attempting to update the registration system as quickly as possible.

Bernadette Baker-Baughman -- SOLD OUT of Real-Time Query

Sarah LaPolla -- SOLD OUT of Real-Time Query

Toni Plummer -- SOLD OUT of Real-Time Query, Standard Critique

Stephen Barr -- SOLD OUT of Pitch

Stephanie Sun -- SOLD OUT of Pitch

Jim Frenkel -- SOLD OUT of Extended Critique

Also, if you register for more than three of a specific appointment type, be sure to send an email to scwwconference2011@gmail.com with the complete list of your top choices, providing one more choice than the number you purchased (in case one of the choices is sold out).

Please, don't attempt to request someone who was not a choice during the registration process. It will be impossible to fill the request.

Finally, if you would like to add an appointment to your registration, please email scwwconference2011@gmail.com. Do not start a new online registration.

First Come, First Served and Its Application to Appointments with Faculty

We've gotten a couple of questions about how we schedule critiques.

While it's a somewhat complicated process, here's the bottom line:

FIRST TO REGISTER, FIRST TO BE SCHEDULED.

When I download all the registrations, I sort them by the time they were submitted. Then I go down the list in strict order and assign the critiques, pitches and real-time queries. The earlier you register, the more likely you are to get your top choice.

It's the only fair way to handle things.

There's only one potential reason I would deviate from this process. If you classify your manuscript as something that the faculty member you've listed as your top choice does not accept, I will automatically move to the first choice that is appropriate for your manuscript.

Why, then, you ask, can I not confirm who your appointment is with and at what time before the conference begins?

There are several reasons:
1. The schedule shifts quite a bit from February to October.
2. Before I "concrete" the critique schedule, I have to make sure I recieve them at the proper time and in the proper format. Last year, a particular attendee signed up for one of our most requested faculty members. When, after dozens of phone calls and emails, the attendee never responded or sent materials, I assigned the slot to another person who ultimately got first-choice faculty instead of third-choice.
3. When I send the critique materials to the faculty members, I may get a call that he or she is not comfortable with the material, doesn't want that type of manuscript, etc. In that case, I'll move the manuscript to the next person on the list.

Rest assured, I put a lot of time in effort into making sure you get an appointment with the faculty member of your choice. I take this job very seriously and I want everyone to leave the conference feeling inspired, better educated on the publishing business, and ready to work on creating a masterpiece.

Critiques, Pitches, Queries: A Cheat Sheet for 2010

Standard or extended critique? Pitch? Real-time Query? With some many opportunities for one-on-one time with faculty members, how can an attendee get a crash course in who is doing what and for what types of writing?

I’ll admit, even as the conference chair, I have a difficult time keeping all of the faculty names, genres and locations straight (I use index cards). But, as attendees, there are a couple of things you can do before registering. First, read the biographies of the faculty members. Each industry expert who is offering any of these services has a bio page that you can find by going to the faculty page of the conference website. Second, do a little research on the faculty member. If the folks you might be interested in have websites, start there. A Google search never hurts, either. But when all else fails, check out a cheat sheet.

So, here’s a cheat sheet for writers so they’ll make the most of their time at the 20th Annual South Carolina Writers’ Workshop conference. I’ve listed the type of item offered, a brief explanation of what it is and then a list of the faculty members and the genres they’ll work with at the conference.

Due to the length and sheer volume of information, I will provide an individual post for each type of one-on-one meeting. It will include a short description before getting to the nitty gritty of who is looking at what.

When all else fails, shoot me an e-mail or call one of the the volunteers listed on the SCWW website. We'll be more than happy to help you.


So, there you have it. A cheat sheet for choosing one-on-one time with faculty members. Remember, you may purchase as many critiques, pitches and queries as you would like. And, for more time to learn what faculty members are looking for, thinking about, reading and just doing as a hobby, don’t forget to register for meals! Friday and Saturday dinners will have faculty-hosted tables. While we ask that you don’t pitch a manuscript during meals, unless the faculty member specifically asks what you’re working on, diners are a great way to learn more about these publishing folks. Sometimes, understanding the “world” they live in helps you to better market the book you want to become a reality.

For the most up-to-date information on the conference, be sure to visit this blog often, and to check out the SCWW website, www.myscww.org/conference.

2010 Extended Critiques Cheat Sheet

Extended critiques: A faculty member reads, ahead of time, 30 pages of your manuscript. Then, you meet with the faculty member for 20 minutes at the conference for a critique, other words of wisdom, and maybe a request for more of your material! Appointment times will be given to you at when you check in at the registration desk.

1. Richard Morris – Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Science Fiction, Current Affairs Non-fiction, History Non-fiction, Narrative Non-fiction and Politics Non-fiction.

2. Rachelle Gardner – Women’s Fiction, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Young Adult, Health Non-fiction, Self-help Non-fiction, Memoir and Christian Non-fiction.

3. Daniela Rapp – Mystery, Thriller, Memoir, Animal Non-fiction, Nature Non-fiction, Travel Non-fiction, Food Non-fiction, Humor Non-fiction, Language and Writing Non-fiction, History Non-Fiction and Native American.

4. Jill Marr – Women’s Fiction, Multi-cultural Fiction, Historic Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Self-help Non-fiction, Inspirational Non-fiction, Cookbook, Memoir (especially Travel or Foodie), Parenting Non-fiction, History Non-fiction, Health and Nutrition Non-fiction, Pop Culture Non-fiction, Humor Non-fiction and Music Non-fiction.

5. Diana Fox – Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Women’s Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Crime Fiction, Graphic Novel, Memoir, Biography and Narrative Non-fiction.

6. Wendy Sherman – Women’s Fiction, Memoir, Narrative Non-fiction and Prescriptive Non-fiction.

7. D. Anne Love – Children’s, Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction.

8. Anna Webman – Historic Fiction, Mainstream fiction, Middle Grade and Young Adult.

9. Susan Hawk – Children’s, Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction.

10. Maryglenn McCombs – Mystery, Suspense, Thriller.

11. Caitlin Alexander – most Fiction and Non-fiction, excluding Science Fiction, Fantasy, Self-help Non-fiction and Children’s.

12. Hank Phillippi Ryan – Women’s Fiction, Romance, Suspense and Romantic Suspense.