The Take Away

I listen to a show on National Public Radio called the Take Away. And these days I’m always thinking about the conference, so I started wondering about the Take Away for conference attendees.

What should you take away from our conference? That depends on you. What are you looking for by attending?

Are you just getting started as a writer and you’re looking for guidance? You’ve got a great idea, great plot and great settings, but now you’re stuck in the middle of your work? Have you finished your manuscript and now you want to know what to do next? Are you trying to sell your manuscript and you’d like to find out exactly how to approach your dream agent?

We’ve got classes to cover all of these subjects and more. For the beginning writer, I suggest courses on character and plot development. There is much to learn and a good place to start is any of the sessions David Coe is presenting. You will also have opportunities to meet and talk to other attendees, many of whom are new to writing as well as conferences. I hope you will find inspiration and encouragement in your interactions with other attendees.

If you’re in the middle of your manuscript, try the sessions on pace, craft or strategy. Lisa Tucker, David Coe and James Frenkel are offering a variety of sessions on these topics. It’s a good place to go if you’re stuck or you need some motivation to keep going.

And if you’re done, first congratulations, I suggest sessions on editing and crafting the perfect query letter or synopsis. All of those topics will be covered by Melissa Jeglinski, Stephanie Sun, Chuck Sambuchino and Conference Chair Carrie McCullough throughout the weekend.

There are also seminars on the business of writing and publishing as well as social media presented by Keynote Speaker M.J. Rose, Jessica Regel and Bill Starr.

Our faculty members were selected based on their ability to offer information and relevant industry information to our attendees. I’ve covered only a sample of the faculty members and courses we’re offering this year, please visit http://www.myscww.org/.

No matter your needs, any session is a great learning opportunity. I hope that you will take a little time to decide what you hope to gain from the conference, and then plan your time accordingly.

What’s your take away? It depends on you.

A Volunteer’s POV at SCWW Conference

Last year I was a full-time volunteer at our annual writing conference in Myrtle Beach. It was quite an experience. I knew SCWW put on a strong writers’ conference, but what I saw from my vantage point of the check-in/answer desk was a real wake-up message.

On Friday of last year’s conference, a very tire couple trudged up to the check-in desk. The lady said, “Can I still register?”

When I said she was most certainly welcome to do so, her face flooded with relief.

“My husband and I have driven from Phoenix, Arizona just so I could attend this conference.”

Dumbstruck I pushed the registration forms toward her. “How did you learn about us,” I asked her.

“There is a writers’ conference in Tempe and before I registered for it, I decided to Google writers’ conferences, and I found yours is the most comprehensive and best value. It was worth it to me to drive nearly across the country to attend. And the faculty you have put together is very impressive.”

I was impressed too! As she finished with the registration process and we continued to chat, she became so comfortable that she and her husband decided that he should take the opportunity to go visit friends in a near-by state and return on Sunday to get her.

I saw her again on Sunday morning, face beaming. I asked her if she had had a good experience at the conference, did she feel she had made a good decision to spend her weekend with SCWW. Enthusiastically she said yes and that she was planning to come back next time and bring a carload from her writing group. It was a highlight of my volunteer experience.

On Saturday I checked in a writer, physician by profession, who had flown in…again from Arizona…to get A critique ONLY from editor, Caitlain Alexander. I was awed that someone with a writer’s passion and very limited free time would fly cross country for a 20-minute appointment. Again I was struck by the quality of our faculty.

I ran into a friend from my home chapter on Saturday evening. She was as mad as a wet hen. “I am never coming to this conference again,” she said. It turns out the agent she thought would be her soul mate and would understand her writing esthetic was not a good fit. I tried consoling her, but it didn’t work…she was on her way home!

The next time I saw her was on Sunday morning after another critique with a different faulty member (who asked to see more of her work) and a pitch appointment (with a third faculty member who wanted to see the first 50 pages of another of her works). She was smiling and skipping to the tune of “Zippidy-Do-Da,” complete with the animated bluebirds from Song of the South.

“Aren’t you glad you stayed,” I asked, even though the answer was written on her face.

“We’re writers,” she said. “We’re opinionated and volatile. The agent I thought was so like me and would ‘get me’ was not who I needed to see.” And off she skipped, still smiling. I smiled too, happy to be associated with a writing conference that offers a wide variety of professionals so well versed in their fields of expertise.

I’m looking forward to volunteering at the SCWW 21st annual writers’ conference again this year. I hope I’ll hear a success story from you.

Conference Alert! Looking for some one-on-one faculty time?

As I pause from conference registration prep a few minutes ago, I pinched myself. No, it wasn't just to make a new bruise... I just can't believe it's the third time I've been behind the scenes of the SCWW conference registration launch. Each time I'm amazed all of the time the faculty gives SCWW to help members reach their writing goals.

Which brings me to a very popular part of the conference, one-on-one appointments. There are three types again this year -- critiques (standard and extended), pitches and real-time queries. Here's a cheat sheet of which faculty members are offering each type of appointment. In the coming days, we'll also have a cheat sheet on the faculty members -- what they're looking for and what they're teaching.

Agents

1. Bernadette Baker-Baughman: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


2. Stephen Barr: Standard and Extended Critiques and Pitches


3. Sorche Fairbank: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


4. Alyssa Eisner Henkin: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


5. Melissa Jeglinski: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


6. Sarah LaPolla: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


7. Jessica Regel: Standard and Extended Critiques and Pitches


8. Eddie Schneider: Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


9. Jon Sternfeld: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


10. Stephanie Sun: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries

Editors

1. James Frenkel: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


2. Molly O'Neill: Standard and Extended Critiques and Real-Time Queries


3. Toni Plummer: Standard Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries

Authors

1. David B. Coe: Standard and Extended Critiques, Pitches and Real-Time Queries


2. Lisa Tucker: Pitches and Real-Time Queries

Editor Chuck Sambuchino and writers MJ Rose, Matthew Frederick and Bill Starr are also on faculty, but won't have any one-on-one appointment times.

So, now you know who you could meet with, but what do you need to do to make it happen? Register early! Conference registration will open at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2011. You must be registered for the conference in order to make an appointment. Also, please note that critiques will be held on Friday this year.

Planning your Conference Trip

You’re getting excited aren’t you? I’m getting excited. I can’t wait to meet all of you and to sit in on some of the great sessions we have planned for this our 20^th Annual Writers’ Conference. Our faculty is diverse and well regarded. We are fortunate this year to be able to include, for the first time ever, a Saturday lunch speaker.

All our faculty members will host tables at the dinner meals. This presents another opportunity to spend time with the editors, agents and authors who will be presenting through the weekend. You will also have a chance to talk to other aspiring writers about writing and the craft of writing. We’re certainly looking forward to catching up with old friends and cementing new friendships over a few good meals.

As you plan your trip to the conference, you may be planning to bring along a family member or friend who wants to enjoy Myrtle Beach in October but doesn’t want to attend any conference sessions. If you have a friend or family member attending the conference with you, you may be interested in purchasing one of our food packages which will allow your guest to enjoy any or all of the three speakers we have lined up for Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and Saturday dinner.

James O. Born, an award winning author, will start things off for us on Friday night. Dan Poynter, known as Mr. Publishing, will address us at lunch on Saturday. And our keynote dinner speaker on Saturday evening is New York Times Bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson.

A Spouse/Guest registration gives any guest over 18 access to all meals, mixers and Night Owl gatherings for $185, you can add on Friday breakfast, lunch and snacks for an additional $50. If you would rather purchase individual meal tickets for dinner on Friday and/or Saturday that will be $50 per ticket. Additional lunch tickets on Saturday are $25 per ticket.

While you’re making your plans to attend the conference and enjoy some of the terrific speakers we have lined up, you are probably wondering where to stay. On the SCWW website (http://www.myscww.org/conference/accommodations.php) you will find a link for the Hilton, our host hotel. There is a price break if you mention code SWW when you call (843-449-5000) or insert SWW in the discount section of the website when you book online. There are lots of options, including multi-bedroom condos that afford all the amenities of home.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all there!

Pssstttt! I've Got a Secret: Advance Notice of Silent Auction Goodies

I told you earlier that the info would be posted on the main site first, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. Here are some, JUST some, of the wonderful items that have been donated by faculty.

1. Barbara Poelle – Query letter, first three chapters and synopsis
2. Pam Ahearn – Partial manuscript (First three chapters)
3. Chuck Sambuchino – 100-page critique
4. Jeff Kleinmann – 75-page critique
5. Nikki Poppen – Full manuscript critique
6. Rochelle Bailey – Critique of YA manuscript
7. Jim Casada – A manuscript critique
8. Jim McCarthy – 50-page critique
9. Joanna Stampfel-Volpe – 50-page critique
10. Scott Eagan – Critique of First three chapters and synopsis
11. Karen Syed – Critique

The hard and fast rules will be posted on the silent auction bid sheets on the tables. Some faculty members will have specific requirements so be sure to read the sheets before you bid.

MAN OH MAN! What an incredible list.

Please remember to thank faculty members for their generous donations to our Silent Auction. They receive NO PROCEEDS from their item(s). They donate time and energy to helping you better your craft and in the meantime keep the conference affordable for all of us. They are not required in any way to donate. They're doing it because they're nice people, they have passion for the industry and they want to help us become better writers.

Thanks to everyone who's donating something. We really appreciate your commitment to the conference and the craft.

Harping: Not the Celestial Kind

At the risk of sounding like your mother, or worse a screeching harpy, I cannot impress upon you the importance of knowing your genre and selecting an appropriate faculty member for your critique.

There are several reasons this is VERY IMPORTANT.

1. Someone who does not know your genre cannot give you the best feedback. Translation: You are wasting your money if you select a faculty member who doesn't want to read, represent or publish your type of manuscript.

2. If you select an inappropriate faculty member, you run the risk of really ticking them off. Why does it matter? Say you're writing romance now and you select someone who represents mostly non-fiction. In two or three years, you may write a book that's non-fiction. And guess what? You've burned that bridge. Translation: People in this business have long memories. If you tick someone off by forcing them to read something they don't want to read, they won't look favorably on subsequent submissions.

3. The myth that if the writing is good enough ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would kill for the chance to represent or publish it is exactly that: A MYTH. Even if you're the next Hemingway or Faulkner, you shouldn't bank on the strength of your writing to persuade someone to ADORE your genre. Translation: Your book has to be well-written and well-represented. You want the agent you sign with to be ga-ga over your work. Forcing them to like it is not an option.

4. Publishing is a business. You want someone who's a good fit for your work to read, represent or publish it. Translation: You will be more successful if you don't try to cut corners, get an agent, editor and publisher who's right for your work. You will make more money and get more exposure this way.

In summary, do your homework. Make sure the person(s) you select for critique are appropriate and willing to read your genre.

Conference FAQs: Take 2

We've been getting some new questions lately so I thought it was a good time to stop and answer a few.

Q. I don't see pitch sessions or critiques on the schedule. When will they take place?
A. Pitch and critique sessions will be scheduled based on the faculty member's teaching schedule. When you arrive and check in at the registration desk, you will be given a card listing your appointment time. They will be going on throughout the conference, beginning on Saturday morning.

Q. When will I find out who my critique faculty is? When will I find out who my pitch faculty member is?
A. Upon checking-in at the registration desk, you will be given a card with the name of your faculty member and the time you will meet for your critique and or pitch.

Q. What if I don't get any of my choices?
A. We do our best to give each attendee one of their three choices. However, sometimes this is impossible. If we cannot assign you to one of your top three, we will call you, well before the conference, and discuss options with you.

Q. How does the faculty have time for all of the critiques, classes, meals and other time with attendees?
A. Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling. We do our best to make sure each faculty member has time for everything, but sometimes it's a squeeze. Faculty members work the entire time, so please keep the following things in mind. When your critique time is over, please thank the faculty member and move on. Don't take up the next person's time. If you make a connection and get a request, don't 'hog" the faculty member for the rest of the conference. You might wear out your welcome. And please, please, don't do anything creepy like send you manuscript to his or her room, don't stalk at the bar, don't try to hem someone up in the restroom or at the pool. Keep it professional AT ALL TIMES.

Q. What is the best way to pick my critique and pitch people?
A. Check out our website at www.myscww.org/conference and look at all the individual bios. Then google the person and find out what they're selling and what they may be looking for at the present time. Make sure you write what the faculty member sells.

Q. Who do I contact about Carrie McCray?
A. Check out the contacts link on our website. Ms. Kim Blum-Hyclak is in charge of the contest. You can email her using the link on that page.

Q. Who do I call or email if my question hasn't been answered?
A. You can call me, Lateia, at 803-671-1664 or email me at lateia.sandifer@gmail.com. Or you can call Carrie at 706-564-7998. Her email address is mcculloughca@bellsouth.net. Both of us are on the East Coast and we take calls from 9am - 9pm. Please don't call super late or super early. All of our staff members are volunteers so please be patient if it takes a few hours for us to get back to you. We WILL return your calls/emails. If we don't contact you within 72 hours, feel free to call or email again.

Understanding Conference Lingo

“I’ve decided to register for the conference,” one of the members of my chapter announced at our last meeting.


“Really? What changed your mind?” I asked.


It turns out that she misunderstood a major selling point of our conference, our faculty. Those of us who have participated in the SCWW conference for several years know that the term faculty refers to the agents, editors, authors, and poets that teach the workshops at our conference. This new member thought that faculty meant members of the SCWW organization teaching workshops! Once she realized the difference she got excited about the conference.


Wow!


This made me wonder about other terms that we toss around. This blog has done a great job on explaining pitches, so that’s one area that I don’t think needs explanation, but I thought of a few others. So, I’m going to try and scrape away the jargon and shed light on two other areas.


Proctors: When you register for the conference, one of the questions you’re asked is would you like to proctor. If you don’t know what that means, you probably left the box blank.

I attended my first SCWW conference in 2007, and I agreed to proctor one session. That means that I made sure that the faculty member (remember that’s our agents, editors, authors, and poets) had everything they needed in the workshop room. If a projector didn’t work or the temperature was uncomfortable, I knew who to contact to fix it. The best part of this opportunity is that you meet the faculty member and introduce them at the beginning of the workshop.


Hello? It’s an opportunity to meet someone on faculty in a service capacity. Now don’t let that word “service” throw you. This is one of the BEST ways to connect with a faculty member. If you give them what they need without promoting yourself to them, they often will ask to help you!


That’s what happened to me in 2007. My faculty member had a bad cold and was losing her voice. I knew that she liked hot tea, so I planned a Starbuck’s run (there’s one in the Hilton lobby) prior to her class, had a pack of tissues on hand, and offered her some homeopathic allergy medication. It helped and she found that she could keep her voice strong enough to get through the day. She tracked me down later and gave me her card. Her words to me? “You helped me, so I want to help you.” And she has.


So, if you did not indicate an interest in proctoring (introducing the faculty, making sure the room is set up and comfortable, etc.), you can still contact the conference chair or co-chair to see if they need more proctors.


Slush Fest: We make a big deal about these every year, but if you’ve never attended one, you might not grasp the benefits. Slush Fests are sessions set up by genre and taught by an agent and an editor who represent that genre. Participants bring up to 2 pages of their manuscript on transparency sheets, and the faculty places them on an overhead projector and evaluates the work. This is done anonymously, so no one else knows that your work is onscreen.


There are limits to how many works will be evaluated in a session, but whether yours is or not, you can still learn valuable information. It’s a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on an agent or editor while they get their first look at someone’s manuscript. Imagine the tips you can pick up!



So, I've defined 3 terms: faculty, proctor, and slush fests. Let me know if there are other terms that you find confusing, and I'll see if I can make things clearer for you.