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Writers' Conferences
Are The
Best!
For a
Whole Lot of Reasons!
(Scroll
Down for the List of Conferences!)
Conferences are where you learn
to
shop your book, better your craft, and generally kick-start
your
writing career!
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I
believe in writers' conferences. Conferences are a kind of
writers' religion for me. I credit the combination of
conferences and classes with the fact that my novel, This
Is the Place, won awards and topped sales records for
its publisher the first year it was released. To that end, I
included a section in my Web site for writers to use as a
resource for finding the right conference. It includes mini
recommendations of the conferences I have attended or spoken
at, tips on conferences, and an article on one of the
unexpected benefits of a recent conference I presented at. |
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Other Writers' Resource Pages |
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Article
On the
Benefits of Writers' Conferences |
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Some writers go to writers' conferences, come back and complain.
Here's the thing. Writers conferences have personalities and you should choose one
that meets your goal. There is an entire chapter in
The Frugal
Book Promoter on how to decide on what you want
from a conference and how to choose one that fits your
needs. It also tells you how to organize yourself for one
and utilize what is offered. That is not what this article
is about. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. You can
get that information from the book.
This article is
about the unexpected benefits one might find at a conference.
Because unexpected benefits are, well . . . unexpected, this tell
you about one in particular that came about when I was speaking at
the Erma Bombeck Writers'
Workshop this spring (2008).
It is an example of how presenters -- often people of influence
in the publishing industry -- are accessible to
attendees and vice versa, and how we can learn from one another. I
met Anne Louise Reinhard there. The excerpt (below) is from my
weekly newsletter, "Sharing with Writers." In it she
explains how we met at that conference and how that meeting
benefited us both. Below that,
you will find her first column for my newsletter. Our
connecting is truly a win-win situation that would never have
happened if I had not spoken there and if she had not put her little bod -- warmed by California's sun -- on an airplane and traveled to
Dayton, Ohio, (chilly in April) where the nation's premier
conference for humorists was being held. AND if both of us had not
kept our idea bonnets on and been open to opportunities.
Here's the editorial section form "Sharing with Writers."
New in Sharing with Writers
Tidbits on
Writing Humor is a new mini feature appears occasionally in your
"Sharing with Writers" newsletter. I met Anne Louise Reinard
(
www.annelouise.net
) at one Dayton University's Erma Bombeck
Writers' Workshop (http://www.humorwriters.org/
) I taught at. Our meeting and eventual collaboration happened in two steps. She
introduced herself to me not only as a one of the attendees at my
seminar on self-editing but as a neighbor in a community near mine
in the Los Angeles area.
The second contact
came in an unexpected way. I forgot to retrieve the sign-up sheet I
had sent around at that seminar for both this newsletter and--because
the room was so packed--I didn't have enough of my
handout for everyone. So I send a blanket apology to every single
Erma Bombeck attendee that I could glean from the business cards I
had collected and those from another attendee, Mindy Hoffbauer
(www.writeangle.biz)
had collected. I guess that makes two great networking contacts.
Anyway, the response was huge and Anne Louise was among them. We
started e-mailing and now I have a creative new columnist to fill a
niche in my newsletter heretofore unfilled. Even subscribers who
aren't humorists can learn something from Anne Louise. Humor can
spark an otherwise very dull book proposal, as an example. So listen
up! Here is Anne Louise with her first "Tidbits on Writing Humor"
straight from her first appearance in "Sharing with Writers."
Tidbits on Writing Humor
By
Anne Louise Reinhard,
fan of Dayton University's Erma Bombeck
Writers' Workshop
and humor writer.
In
order to be humorous, writing needs to have a twist that’s
unexpected – an element of surprise. Here is a perfect example of
an unexpected conclusion from Erma Bombeck: "When my kids become
wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're
finished, I climb out."
I
must say that my ideas aren’t always this good, so I have devised
this “unexpectation” test for my writing: I read the story aloud to
someone, but I pause before the punch line and ask them what they
think is coming.
If
they start their answer with “Duh”, then I know I need to rework, or
at least reword, the story. Sometimes, one of them will come up
with something way better than what I had, which is why I always
call this a collaborative process. ;-)
May
your keyboard never falter!
Anne
Louise
Those
who would like to subscribe to "Sharing with Writers" may do so by
sending me an e-mail with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Send it to
HoJoNews@aol.com. You'll
find there regular columns like Mindy Philips
Laurence's Itty Bitty Column, and other writing and promoting tips galore.
Sharing with Writes includes two All
Tips editions a year and one All Marketing edition each year. |
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Writers' Conferences
The Big and the Cozy |
(This list contains many of the conferences Carolyn has spoken at
or is connected with. There are many hundreds within the US
alone; these she personally recommends.)
Put
Pen to Paper, a
conference for those interested in the art of writing and the business
of writing. For more information,
e-mail Valerie Coleman at the Pen To Paper Literary Symposium, in
Dayton, Ohio.
The Muse On Writing (Lea Schizas) and The Frugal Book Promoter (Carolyn
Howard-Johnson) cosponsor the
Muse
Online Writers Conference every October. It's free, Please register
early. Registration URL is
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com
Mikhail Iossel founded
Summer
Literary Semesters where
writers can learn more about the craft of writing in places like St.
Petersburg, Russia, Montreal, Canada, and Kenya. I recommend their
program highly.
Dayton University's
Erma Bombeck Writers' Conference
is directed by humorist Tim Bete and is one of the best.
Sinclair
Lewis Writers' Conference in Sinclair
Lewis's hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Their Main Street is his
Main Street.
The Catholic
Writer’s Guild (www.catholicwritersguild.org)
and Canticle Magazine
sponsor Catholic Writer’s Conference Online.
The conference is FREE and conducted entirely via Internet. Advance
registration is required. To register or for more information, go to
www.conference.catholicwritersguild.org.
Your programming contact is Karina Fabian,
www.fabianspace.com.
Other Conferences
Nevada
Reading Week Conference, Reno,
NV.
Contact: Ellen Fockler. Certification
and college credit available.
Arts
for the Soul includes writers. It is in
Steamboat Springs in the majestic Rocky Mountains. Call 800-299-6811
for more information.
Writing It Real
in
Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, Port Townsend, WA. Spring. Your
contact is Sheila Bender,
sbender@writingitreal.com
Stanford Publishing Courses
Writers Workshop, Palo Alto. CA. It looks as if it was designed
for new publishing ideas and includes a day of promotion ideas (labeled
"public personna") as well.
http://publishingcourses.stanford.edu/writers-workshop.
Please find information
the intimate
writers' retreat
in Rome. Watch for an announcement
for the next one I'll sponsor with Eve Caram,
award-winning UCLA writing instructor.
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Tip: Presenting at
Conferences
If you
would like to present at a writers' conference, contact the program
director well in advance. Six to eight months in advance is
a good guideline. Use a great query letter (learn how
to do that in
The
Frugal Editor ). Then follow up by sending him or
her a media kit. Step-by-step information on how to do that
is in
The
Frugal Book Promoter!)
Find at least one tip on writing,
promotion or tech on every page of this Web site.
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Find helpful
articles on writing go to this site's
Free Articles
4 Readers and Editors.
This page includes Reviews for Riters
(tm),
how-to articles for writers, essays on tolerance, rants, and more.
Don't forget to check out my
list of books for writers on
this site
and in the appendixes
of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor.
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Tip:
Selecting a Conference
Select writers conferences based on their specialty. Many
don't make this apparent; you'll have to do some research on
their Web sites. Some attract agents and publishers who offer
critiques. Some, like UCLA Extension Writers' Program Studio
have special access to screenwriters and/or concentrate on
craft. Some offer speakers on book promotion and building a
platform (a process you should be starting right now!). Others don't. You decide depending on your book's
title, your personality, your pocketbook, and the place are
are in the writing process. The conference closest to home
may not be your best bet.
Find at least one tip on writing,
promotion or tech on every page of this Web site.
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For resources and links
galore, grab yourself a copy of the
Frugal Book Promoter.
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Buy Links for
Carolyn's Books |
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"Careers
that are not fed die as
readily as any living organism
given no sustenance."
~
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Studio photography by
Uriah Carr
Logo by
Lloyd King
All Carolyn's Frugal Books Are
Available on Kindle as well as paperback:
To
subscribe to Carolyn's FREE online newsletter send an
e-mail.
Learn more about Carolyn's
newsletter and blog.
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Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers Newsletter
and get a FREE copy of
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Carolyn's Blogs |
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Sharing with Writers
All things publishing with
an emphasis on book
promotion. Named to
Writer's Digest
101 Best Website list.
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The New Book Review
Great way for readers, authors, reviewers and publicists to get more
mileage out of
a great review.
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The Frugal Editor Blog
This is the Frugal, Smart
and Tuned-In Editor blog.
Covers editing, grammar, formatting and more.
Get the answers you need.
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Carolyn's Speaking Engagements |
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Presenter 2009, 2010
Presenter, 2008, 09, 10
Presenter, 2007
National Span College, 2002
Fellows presenter, 2007, 08
Co-sponsor and presenter, 2007, 08, 09,
10
University of Dayton Erma Bombeck Writers' Conference, 2006,
2008
Sisters in Crime,
Pasadena, 2009
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Endorsements |
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I’m a writer who would
love to have someone else take over the editing and proofreading stages
of my manuscripts because I hate editing, proofreading, and rewriting.
Ms. Howard-Johnson’s techniques and her encouragement from page to page
of THE FRUGAL BOOK EDITOR lifts my spirits to the level where I can
approach these hated tasks in a better attitude and get the job done. I
advise all writers to obtain a copy of THE FRUGAL BOOK EDITOR and keep
it handy as your write."
~Lucille P. Robinson, reviewer for
Alternative Read
Wow. What more can I
say? [The Frugal Book Promoter is] interesting,
informative, readable and more. Easy to follow, quotes and technique
mixed in together wonderfully. This is an A-one job. Watch out world!
I’m going to have to put it under my pillow
~
Leora G. Krygier, author of First the
Raven and When She Sleeps
Just visiting your Web site
gives me ideas and prompts me. It's very inspiring to meet and now
know such an energetic fellow writer. You are wonderfully dedicated
to our craft.
I was i... was quite
impressed with their USA Book News' booth at Book
Expo America and
Jeff's efforts on all our behalf.
~
Loren
Woodson, author of The Passion of Maryam (Plain
View Press, 2007)
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Tips |
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Tip
Promotion Tip:
Warning!
Writers' conferences are only as good as make them. Each
varies in character. Choose the best matches for you, then
go, learn, and promote. For other ideas on how to work
conferences, how to make them successful, check
"writers conferences" in the index of
The
Frugal Book Promoter.
Find tips on writing, promotion or
tech on every page of this Web site.
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Carolyn's Shopping Plaza |
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Please visit Carolyn's
Shopping Plaza
for autographed copies and occasional special offers.
Order two or more books and get Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers free!
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Carolyn's Awards |
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Awards for Carolyn's Books, Blogs and More
The New Book Review
Named to
Online Universities'
101 Book Blogs
You Need to Read
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites
for Sharing with Writers blog.
Best Book Award for The Frugal Book Promoter (2004) and The Frugal Editor (2008).
Reader Views Literary Award for The Frugal Editor
New Generation Award for Marketing and Finalist for The Frugal Editor
Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award
Military Writers Award of Excellence for
Tracings, A Chapbook of Poetry.
A Retailer's Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotion wins author Military
Writers Society of America's Author of the Month award for March, 2010
Gold Medal
Award from Military Writers Society of America, 2010.
MWSA also gave a nod to She
Wore Emerald Then,
a chapbook of poetry honoring mothers.
And more than a dozen other awards for Carolyn's novel, short story collection and poetry.
See the awards page on this site.
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