Can you feel that?
It’s palpable.
The excitement is building. The thrill of discovery hanging in the air. It’s getting closer every day.
The 21st Annual South Carolina Writers’ Workshop Conference is less than four weeks away.
I’m getting excited. I can’t wait to meet our attendees. And I can’t wait for you to meet our outstanding faculty members.
We’re enthusiastic about our silent auction; did you see Kim Hyclak’s post from this past Saturday? Scroll down and check that out. There are a few terrific trips on the menu of items for this year. I hope to win one of those great getaways, so get ready for a little competition if you plan to bid. Let’s not forget to mention our faculty member’s post-conference critiques up for auction. How can you beat a top agent or editor reviewing your work and offering insight?
As you start packing your bags and planning your schedule, I have a few additional reminders to help you get the most out of your weekend.
1) Bring your questions. But try to avoid being too specific: “I’m writing a suspense, romantic epic poem and my main character May is waiting tables in Abilene, Texas, and encounters her brother Roy who died twenty years ago? What should I have her do next? Should she tell him about their mother’s kidney transplant? Or should Roy tip her big before he leaves since he finally won Powerball?”
2) Prepare ahead of time. You don’t have to read everything by or about every faculty member or review every website they’re mentioned on. I’ve mentioned this before, but I once met a conference attendee who read at least one chapter of a book by every published faculty member. I thought it was a great idea and have employed that technique ever since.
3) Practice your elevator pitch, just in case you get that frightening question we all dread but secretly can’t wait to be asked: So, what is your book about? You’ll hear it a lot over the weekend; hopefully you’ll have a great answer.
4) And have fun. Conference weekend always goes by so quickly that I never know where the time went. Relax, enjoy meeting some new friends and have a great time. The conference is always a fun and we really want you to enjoy yourself.
See you in October!
Showing posts with label silent auction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silent auction. Show all posts
Weather, Dress Code and Other Tidbits
The conference is almost here! Carrie and I are looking forward to meeting each and every one of you! We've been planning since November 2008 and we're ready to start the actual event.
Here's a link to the weather:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/interstate/tenday/29572?from=36hr_topnav_driving
It looks like we're going to have great weather, so be sure to bring warm-weather clothes as it's supposed to be near eighty!
As for the attendee dress code, during class time its business casual. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing; but you want to make sure you're presentable. Please refrain from anything inappropriate, as in halter tops, ratty t-shirts, stained sweat pants, skirts that don't clear the upper thigh. If there's a question as to whether it's appropriate, consider wearing something else.
At dinner, we step it up a notch. Don't feel compelled to pack your cummerbund and tails or your cocktail shimmery dress, but please wear something appropriate for a nice dinner. For the guys, slacks and a button-down is fine. For the ladies, dresses or slacks.
When considering what to wear to your critique or pitch, consider this: Our faculty members buy and sell books for a living. They want clients who also see publishing as a business. You want to put your best foot forward. Don't overdo it --- no one expects you to show up in a three-piece suit complete with watch chain. But make sure to look your business casual best. Faculty members are looking for new authors. Don't let your appearance stand in the way of an offer.
Last item: Silent Auction. Our annual silent auction is one of our greatest sources of income. We're a non-profit. There are no paid employees, board members, or conference staffers. So, please, PLEASE be generous at the Silent Auction. The baskets, crafts, and critiques are all donated items. Your generosity keeps the conference affordable for everyone. All the proceeds go directly to next year's budget and insure the continuation of the SCWW Conference.
If you have any questions, or last minute emergencies, please call or email us and we'll do our best to help!
Here's a link to the weather:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/interstate/tenday/29572?from=36hr_topnav_driving
It looks like we're going to have great weather, so be sure to bring warm-weather clothes as it's supposed to be near eighty!
As for the attendee dress code, during class time its business casual. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing; but you want to make sure you're presentable. Please refrain from anything inappropriate, as in halter tops, ratty t-shirts, stained sweat pants, skirts that don't clear the upper thigh. If there's a question as to whether it's appropriate, consider wearing something else.
At dinner, we step it up a notch. Don't feel compelled to pack your cummerbund and tails or your cocktail shimmery dress, but please wear something appropriate for a nice dinner. For the guys, slacks and a button-down is fine. For the ladies, dresses or slacks.
When considering what to wear to your critique or pitch, consider this: Our faculty members buy and sell books for a living. They want clients who also see publishing as a business. You want to put your best foot forward. Don't overdo it --- no one expects you to show up in a three-piece suit complete with watch chain. But make sure to look your business casual best. Faculty members are looking for new authors. Don't let your appearance stand in the way of an offer.
Last item: Silent Auction. Our annual silent auction is one of our greatest sources of income. We're a non-profit. There are no paid employees, board members, or conference staffers. So, please, PLEASE be generous at the Silent Auction. The baskets, crafts, and critiques are all donated items. Your generosity keeps the conference affordable for everyone. All the proceeds go directly to next year's budget and insure the continuation of the SCWW Conference.
If you have any questions, or last minute emergencies, please call or email us and we'll do our best to help!
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.
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.
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