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mary rosenblum
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Hello all!
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mary rosenblum
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Welcome to our Tuesday Forum.
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mary rosenblum
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I hope you all had a great
weekend. I did, if a soggy one!
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mary rosenblum
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I wanted to talk a bit about
writers conferences today.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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mary rosenblum
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I know a lot of novice writers
are ambivalent about conferences, whether they're worth the money, or
whether they should even go before they've sold something.
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mary rosenblum
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But conferences can do a lot
of different things for you as a writer, no matter where you are in your
career...
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mary rosenblum
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or what your ultimate writing
goal is.
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mary rosenblum
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Certainly, if you are working
on a career as a professional writer...you want to derive a significant
portion of your income from it...
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mary rosenblum
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and devote more than a 'hobby'
amount of time and energy to it...
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mary rosenblum
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then you really DO need to go
to conferences.
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mary rosenblum
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A lot of markets are available
through networking only...word of mouth...
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mary rosenblum
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and you need to get yourself
into that network or you'll miss out on lucrative opprortunities to get
published...
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mary rosenblum
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and thus get the reviews that
bring you to the attention of more readers and editors.
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mary rosenblum
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But even if writing is more a
part time hobby for you...you just want to see that romance or mystery
you've been working on published...
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mary rosenblum
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and maybe make some fame and
fortune in the process...
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mary rosenblum
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writers conferences are worth
it.
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mary rosenblum
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They always include panels on
the craft of writing, on breaking in, or what are the editors looking for
and where are they?
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mary rosenblum
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Conferences offer you a golden
opportunity to avoid the 'agent only' trap.
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shelli
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How do you find out about
where/when these conferences are?
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mary rosenblum
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The most comprensive spot that
I"ve found is Shawguides:
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mary rosenblum
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http://writing.shawguides.com/
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mary rosenblum
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shawguides link
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mary rosenblum
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If you read in a specific
genre, you'll find conferences advertized in the back of genre magazines...
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mary rosenblum
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mystery cons in the back of
Ellery Queen and AHMM, SF and fantasy cons in the back of Asimov's, Analog,
etc.
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mary rosenblum
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Writers Digest and The Writer
magazines list conferences of all genres.
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paminnapa
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what if you don't have a novel
finished? Do you still network? And if so, how do you market yourself since
you dont have anything ready to sell? Will agents/publishers still want to
hear about your unfinished product...or do you just take name/numbers for
when your ready
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mary rosenblum
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Absolutely, Pam.
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mary rosenblum
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If you have a work in
progress, you especially should start doing whatever conferences you can
afford to attend.
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mary rosenblum
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Your goal is to meet editors
and chat with them.
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mary rosenblum
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Don't throw your novel in
their faces, trying to do a pitch in the elevator...that is very rude.
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mary rosenblum
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But just talk with them. You
like reading this type of book, right, or you wouldn't be writing one.
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mary rosenblum
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So chat with the editor about
the genre in general.
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mary rosenblum
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Chat about that editor's kids
and your kids, about dogs, about whatever...
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mary rosenblum
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And feel free to ask the
editor point blank what he/she needs and does NOT need.
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mary rosenblum
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Editors would love to have you
NOT send them something they will instantly have to return.
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mary rosenblum
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And they appreciate an
author's willingness to ask before he/she sends anything.
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mary rosenblum
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And of course, if the editor
happens to say, "I really need more fantasy romances' and you just
happen to be working on a fantasy romance...
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mary rosenblum
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you say cheerfully, 'Oh,
that's what I'm working on right now. Would you like to see it when it's
finished?"
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mary rosenblum
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Most of the time, the editor
will say yes.
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mary rosenblum
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Then you RUSH home and finish
that novel and get it off to the editor addressed specifically to that
editor...
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mary rosenblum
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and including a VERY nice
cover letter that says specfically, 'thank you so much for your great
advice at XXX con,
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mary rosenblum
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and I appreciate your
willingness to look at Ranbow's Daughter. I'm thrilled to be able to send
it to you and thank you so much for your time.'
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mary rosenblum
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You have now avoided that 'no
unsolicited ms' rule...or 'no unagented ms' rule...
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mary rosenblum
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because the editor ASKED to
see your ms.
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mary rosenblum
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And you need that letter
because the mailroom opens the ms, not the editor, and they don't know if
you talked to him...
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mary rosenblum
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so your letter needs to make
it clear that this WAS asked for.
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sweett
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That is a great point Mary. That
was one of the items mentioned by the Harlequin editor..She said if they
send you a rejection with offer to resubmit, get it to them quickly.
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mary rosenblum
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Yes...if you get a request for
another submission along with your rejection DO SO.
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mary rosenblum
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They are not being polite.
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mary rosenblum
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Editors NEVER ask for work
they don't really want to see.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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tolkienlvr
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Mary, can you give us some
advice about what to include in a 1 minute pitch? how to make it worth the
assigned 1 minute. : )
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mary rosenblum
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Tolkien, a pitch is like a
book jacket blurb...
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mary rosenblum
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it's designed to sound
exciting and entice the editor to ask to read the book.
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mary rosenblum
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You don't even need to include
the ending.
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mary rosenblum
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Speckledorf sent us a blurb
template she uses to create blurbs...
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mary rosenblum
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and it's a good way to begin
your pitch. You can add more to it if you have a full minute to pitch...
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mary rosenblum
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but the very short version is
nice for that cocktail moment when that editor asks, 'so what is it
about?'...
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mary rosenblum
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a full minute pitch is too
long for a social moment like that.
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mary rosenblum
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You can find the template at:
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mary rosenblum
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http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/rx/st07/speckledorf.shtml
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mary rosenblum
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blurb
template
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mary rosenblum
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And that is a critical thing.
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mary rosenblum
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BEFORE you go to any
conference, create a blurb for the book you're working on or the story you
want to sell.
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mary rosenblum
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You can be sure that unless
you hide behind the furniture the entire time, someone will ask you, 'oh,
what's it about?"...
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mary rosenblum
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and there's nothing worse than
stumbling around in utter confustion trying to parse your plot out and
utter it coherently!
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mary rosenblum
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Practice it.
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mary rosenblum
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Tell it to the mirror, then
tell it to people you know.
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mary rosenblum
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Most conferences have a
website...
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mary rosenblum
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and you can look there to find
out which pros will be attending.
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mary rosenblum
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Pick your favorites, the ones
who write what you write or the ones you just love to read and would love
to meet.
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mary rosenblum
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Then go look at the schedule
of panels...most conferences offer several panels every hour..
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mary rosenblum
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on a wide range of topics.
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mary rosenblum
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Pick the ones that will help
your writing, pick some where you can listen to editors or your favorite
pro...
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mary rosenblum
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and really fill your daily
schedule.
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mary rosenblum
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You're paying for this...make
the most of it!
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mary rosenblum
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Don't just arrive and flounder
around.
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mary rosenblum
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If you attend a panel with
your favorite pro on it, hang around afterward and introduce yourself to
that person...
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mary rosenblum
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tell him or her what story or
book you really loved.
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mary rosenblum
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Believe me, ALL of us love to
have our ego stroked. LOL.
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janecj333
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I think the real disappointment
of trying to sell a novel is that what you've written doesn't appeal to
those to whom you pitch, and editors ask for "the next novel" or
story, but not the one that's finished.
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mary rosenblum
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But you know, Jane, that's
simply a reality.
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mary rosenblum
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If you want to write what
pleases you and that's the most important thing, then self publish and
promote your work on the internet.
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mary rosenblum
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If it pleases lots of people,
you'll make money from it, if it doesn't you won't.
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mary rosenblum
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But if you're dealing with
publishers, they have to make money, too.
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mary rosenblum
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It's a business.
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mary rosenblum
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That's the bottom line and
believe me, it sucks. But it IS the bottom line.
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mary rosenblum
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So publishers do buy what they
think lots of people will read.
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mary rosenblum
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Sometimes they're right,
sometimes they're wrong...
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mary rosenblum
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Look at Jeff VanderMeer, my
guest last week.
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mary rosenblum
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When he started out, he
published only in the fringe small press...because the mainstream
publishers thought his stuff was 'too weird'.
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mary rosenblum
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But it caught on, and now he's
publishing with the mainstream publishers.
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mary rosenblum
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The market is not static.
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mary rosenblum
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Ten years ago you couldn't
give fantasy away.
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mary rosenblum
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Now it's HUGE.
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mary rosenblum
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Courtesy of HP, but things DO
make the markets shift.
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mary rosenblum
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If you don't have something
that sells NOW, don't sit there and fret over it...
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mary rosenblum
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start the next book. This one
is now in 'inventory' and you can bring it out later.
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janecj333
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Self-publishing is not my goal.
I don't know about anyone else. I think the key is to somehow read editors'
minds to know what appeals to them, and I know I can't do that, yet, and
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to.
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mary rosenblum
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I think you're just going to
have to write more, Jane.
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mary rosenblum
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Sending the same thing out
over and over again is not going to advance you as a writer nearly as much
as writing more and sending it out, writing more and sending it out.
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mary rosenblum
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The mindset that 'I must sell
this before I move on' will really cripple you.
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mary rosenblum
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It will also slow your
progress as a writer, since you only get better the more you write. :-)
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cosmos
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What do you mean "courtesy
of HP" in reference to making fantasy a great success? Are you
speaking about Hewlett Packard?
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, sorry, cosmos...Harry
Potter.
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mary rosenblum
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That success really spurred
the fantasy market into a very strong life again.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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sallyk
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Are you familiar with PMA-U? Do
you know if anyone from LR is going?
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mary rosenblum
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What's that, sally?
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sallyk
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Publishers Marketing
Association-University, in Washington DC in May
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, duh.
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mary rosenblum
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That's a seminar targeting
book publishers more than writers, sally.
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mary rosenblum
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You'd certainly get a strong
sense of what publishers are concerned about, if you went...
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aelle
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Do you have someone critique all
you work before you submit?
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mary rosenblum
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Absolutely!
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mary rosenblum
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Not one line goes out the door
before at least a couple of readers have looked at it.
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mary rosenblum
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I will always know my fiction
way too well to miss the weak spots in it.
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janecj333
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I think we all write a lot and
'move on' because we have that passion, and it's good advice, Mary. When
you spend two or four or six years on a novel, tho, to not receive payment
for your work is a huge financial, not to mention psychological, setback.
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mary rosenblum
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Sure it is, Jane, but you
can't approach it with that 'no or never' attitude. If you have put that
much time into that book, you still have it.
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mary rosenblum
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Your next book or the book
after that one may sell...suddenly you are in the public eye...
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mary rosenblum
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your book is selling well...
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mary rosenblum
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Now your publisher is going to
look at that first book with a new eye.
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mary rosenblum
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Let's face it...if you choose
to write you are setting yourself up for setbacks because you're going to
get rejection slips.
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mary rosenblum
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Everyone does.
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mary rosenblum
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And being a writer means you
have to come to terms with that. It's fine to feel badly...
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mary rosenblum
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I pout and flounce about for
awhile when I get one. Then I send the work back out.
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mary rosenblum
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But I'm always going to be
POed when I get one!
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mary rosenblum
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NOBODY is really blase about
them...
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mary rosenblum
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(Even if they say in public
that they are, heheh)
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aelle
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Do you try to fix a book/ss that
has been rejected or resend
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mary rosenblum
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Not unless I think there is
something wrong with it, aelle.
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mary rosenblum
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Rejections are often for other
reasons than quality.
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mary rosenblum
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The editor just doesn't care
for this type of story, or she just bought a similar one from someone
else...
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mary rosenblum
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You really don't know unless
that editor TELLS you something is wrong.
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mary rosenblum
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So if you 'fix' it...you might
change what would have made the next editor buy it.
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mary rosenblum
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Don't make changes just
because it got rejected.
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mary rosenblum
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Now if the editor says, 'I
really liked this until I got to that awful ending'. (That was my very
first rejection slip ever...courtesy of Stan Schmidt at Analog)...
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mary rosenblum
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then pay attention. (And he
was right...it WAS awful...and I never did figure out how to fix the darn
thing).
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andi
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Mine seems to be character problems.
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mary rosenblum
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That's a craft issue.
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mary rosenblum
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It means you're just going to
have to write more, work on characters more, and when your characters...
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mary rosenblum
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get stronger, you will start
selling.
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cosmos
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I wanted to explain. Normally I
would have got it. Re: Harry Potter. But today I was writing up a novel
idea that included Hewlett Packard and I have an HP computer so my mind
went there. That was funny. I always need an extra laugh in a day. Thanks,
Mary.
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mary rosenblum
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That's funny, cosmos!
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mary rosenblum
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And it's a marvelous example
of why it's a bad idea to use even familiar acronyms...
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mary rosenblum
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without spelling them out at
least once! :-) Thanks for the reminder.
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mary rosenblum
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This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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mary rosenblum
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One thing, too...
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mary rosenblum
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When you first start writing,
most novices, myself included, can't see the mechanics behind story
clearly...
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mary rosenblum
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so it really seems to be the
'idea' that makes this story work.
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mary rosenblum
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The more you write, the more
you work at improving your craft, the more you see HOW to make a really
good story...
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mary rosenblum
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out of an idea.
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mary rosenblum
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And often, what you thought
was good writing on your part, a year later, you realize was very
weak...you're writing MUCH more strongly by now.
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janecj333
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Have you had many stories
accepted by Analog since then?
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mary rosenblum
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Oh yes...mostly I"ve sold
to Asimov's, but I did send a second story to Stan last year...'Search
Engine'. He bought it...
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mary rosenblum
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and it got selected for TWO
best of the year in SF anthologies. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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Actually, Stan asked me to fix
the story and resubmit it...
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mary rosenblum
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but I had painted myself VERY
firmly into a corner.
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mary rosenblum
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Never could figure out how to
fix it and then I was busy writing better stories...
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mary rosenblum
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I should go back and revisit
it actually. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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Bet I could get out of that
corner now.
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mary rosenblum
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It would be fun to send it
back to him. With a copy of the original rejection letter. He YELLED at me.
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mary rosenblum
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Of course, NOW, I know that
that was very good. AT the time I was shocked and horrified, LOL.
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mary rosenblum
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Believe me, if an editor yells
at your in a rejection slip it is a very good thing.
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janecj333
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I understand what you mean by
'idea' seeming all-important, and I'm not sure I'm convinced that it
occupies such a low spot on the ladder. Essentially, when we send a query,
if it is competently written, it is the 'idea', not the actual text of the
story that the agent/editor rejects.
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mary rosenblum
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Well, it's not the idea so
much as the 'type' of story.
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mary rosenblum
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If you send in a query for a
classic Sword and Sorcery fantasy...which is clogging that editor's office
in stacks about four feet high...
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mary rosenblum
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and your story doesn't seem
that different from the other 150 ms on the floor, then you'll probably get
a no thanks if...
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mary rosenblum
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they're only going to publish
2 titles in the coming year.
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mary rosenblum
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Why add to the avalanch?
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mary rosenblum
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That is..by the way...why it's
worth doing the meet and greet thing at a con.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are a real person with
a real face, that editor may well go ahead and look at your ms...
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mary rosenblum
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just because you ARE real and
not one of that faceless 150.
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mary rosenblum
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That's a reality.
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mary rosenblum
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Editors really do want to help
new writers...
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mary rosenblum
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and if they have met you
personally, you are a real person rather than yet another piece of paper...
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mary rosenblum
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asking to add to that huge
slush pile.
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mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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paminnapa
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so do you go dressed in hot
pink, a straw hat and broken glasses to give them something to really
remember you buy:)
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mary rosenblum
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My dear, that, along with
sending your letter on cute or weird stationary or including bizarre things
in the package...
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mary rosenblum
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have all been done, and rank
you as a Screaming Amateur.
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mary rosenblum
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You're much better off to sit
over coffee with the editor and share a laugh about your teenagers and how
they're making your life miserable.
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mary rosenblum
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THAT will get you remembered
as a nice person, trying hard, and that editor will give you a little
personal time.
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aelle
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What do you wear to cons? Jeans,
a suit?
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mary rosenblum
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Depends on the con.
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mary rosenblum
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Most are very casual. You can
wear jeans, casual tops...
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mary rosenblum
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Mystery cons tend to be a bit
dressier than SF/fantasy cons, but you're still fine in casual attire.
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mary rosenblum
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If it's a very large con and
the evening publishers parties are likely to be dressy, it's a good idea...
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mary rosenblum
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to pack something a bit nicer.
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mary rosenblum
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Women tend to dress up more
than men.
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mary rosenblum
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You only see nice suits at
awards banquets for the most part.
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mary rosenblum
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But there is no strict dress
code.
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mary rosenblum
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Be comfortable.
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mary rosenblum
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Jay Lake, a recently emerged
SF writer has made it his trademark to wear only VERY bright Hawaiian print
shirts.
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mary rosenblum
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You can see Jay coming from
miles away. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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And a magic realism writer
from Seattle always wears a white tux and top hat...tha'ts sort of his
trademark.
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mary rosenblum
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Me, I wear jeans and a top
most of the time.
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janecj333
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You made a comment months ago
that we compete against others writing similar work, and of course
sf/fantasy publishers attract huge slushpiles of such. How do we stand out
against the other excellent work?
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mary rosenblum
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Only one way, Jane, the only
way that has ever worked.
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mary rosenblum
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You write better.
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mary rosenblum
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Most of the slushpile...about
90 percent, I'd bet you...
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mary rosenblum
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is going to be lesser in
quality than your average graduated LR student.
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mary rosenblum
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So you're not really competing
against the maximum number.
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mary rosenblum
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You're still competing against
a lot.
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mary rosenblum
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So you work on getting
better...better...better...
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mary rosenblum
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and that's another reason to
do cons.
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mary rosenblum
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They usually offer a writers
workshop for a small fee, where you can have your story or novel synopsis
or chapters critiqued by a pro or two or three.
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mary rosenblum
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And they have panels on
writing craft. Go to them.
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paminnapa
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a little OT but would you put
that you are a LR student grad in a cover letter?
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mary rosenblum
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It won't hurt.
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mary rosenblum
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If the editor has been a guest
of mine, or knows that I teach for them or knows one of the other
instructors...
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mary rosenblum
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it will help. Patrick Swenson,
at Talebones, goes out of his way to help out LR students who submit to
him.
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mary rosenblum
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If they don't have any
personal knowledge of LR, it won't mean anything to 'em.
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cosmos
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What if you can't afford to
attend conferences or join writing organizations or attend workshops?
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mary rosenblum
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I think you can afford to,
cosmos, if you can find one that is close enough to avoid airfare.
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mary rosenblum
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As I said, it depends on what
you want.
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mary rosenblum
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If you want a career in
writing, you really need to do it....start saving the money and look for
bargains.
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mary rosenblum
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If you just want to get THIS
book published, no, you don't need them.
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mary rosenblum
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But if you can travel for the
day, the small cons are not too expensive.
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mary rosenblum
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The big ones cost more, but
they offer more.
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mary rosenblum
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If you can share a hotel room
with three other people, the lodging isn't too bad...
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mary rosenblum
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and nearly all conferences
offer a hospitality suite.
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mary rosenblum
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You can live for two or three
days on what they serve there. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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If you can afford it, even if
a serious writing career is not your goal, you should go.
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mary rosenblum
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It is SO much fun to simply
immerse yourself in the world of writing for two or three days!
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mary rosenblum
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You meet all kinds of other
novice writers, pros, maybe your favorite author...
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mary rosenblum
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And everyone lives, breathes,
and talks writing.
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mary rosenblum
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I don't, but Writers Digest
usually does good stuff...I assume it's a big multi genre conference.
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tolkienlvr
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Anyone going to the Book Expo
America (writers digest) Writers Conference in DC in May? (and) Do you know
much about that conference Mary to give a critique of it?
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mary rosenblum
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Oops..answered the question
before I posted it!
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mary rosenblum
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I just googled the site...
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mary rosenblum
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much of that is a bookseller's
expo...a
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mary rosenblum
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again, it's for publishers and
bookstore owners, not writers...
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mary rosenblum
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but they DO have a writers
conference on May 17, a Wed.
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mary rosenblum
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The rest of it would be
interesting, but might not help you much as a writer.
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mary rosenblum
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I would do the May 17 part if
I were you.
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janecj333
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Mary, where will you spend most
of your time at Norwescon. In panels, wkshps?
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, I have a very nice lineup
of panels...I'll post my schedule on my blog today...
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mary rosenblum
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and I'm doing their writers
workshop as well.
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mary rosenblum
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And I'm doing a plotting
workhop on Thursday. They're keeping me VERY busy. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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I love that.
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paminnapa
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I know you are doing 2 sessions
at williamette? will you be doing a panel too?
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mary rosenblum
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Those are panels, Pam.
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janecj333
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Where's your blog?
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mary rosenblum
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You can get to it from the front
page of my website.
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mary rosenblum
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www.maryrosenblum.com
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mary rosenblum
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The writers workshops are a
valuable part of most conferences.
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mary rosenblum
|
Some, like Willamette Writers,
offer pitch sessions with agents or editors as well.
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mary rosenblum
|
This is the Tuesday Forum with
me Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor, fiction and nonfiction writer. We're
talking about conferences. If you're new here, remember that you need to
click on the Ask a Question button or the word bubble next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen, or use the ask a question icon in
order to ask a question. Your regular send bar won't reach me! You can also
type /ask in front of your question in your regular send bar to reach me.
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mary rosenblum
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The main thing to remember if
you decide to attend a con is that what you get out of it...
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mary rosenblum
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is proportionate to what you
put into it.
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mary rosenblum
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Sign up for the writers
workshop. Usually, the cost is just enough to cover photocopying and
mailing expenses...
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mary rosenblum
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nearly always under 20, and
most cons try to have at least two pros per workshop session.
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mary rosenblum
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Read the list of panels...the
panelists will be listed, too.
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mary rosenblum
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If an editor from the
publishing house you want to submit to is there, do your best to meet that
person.
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mary rosenblum
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Be friendly. Even if you're
shy, make the effort. (I AM shy, and it was very hard for me to do this at
first.).
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mary rosenblum
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Even if you don't have
anything to offer do it.
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mary rosenblum
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Attend panels on topics that
fall into your 'weak spot' category.
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mary rosenblum
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If you have trouble with your
characters, attend the panels on character building or dialogue, or
whatever you think you need.
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mary rosenblum
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Talk to the pros afterward.
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mary rosenblum
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Thank them...ask for more
tips...
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mary rosenblum
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you never know when these
connections will pay off for you.
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tolkienlvr
|
Mary, for us new con attenders:
what type of writerly stuff should we carry with us at workshops - business
cards? copy of clips? Manuscript?? Camera to take photos of all the famous
writers :)? LOL
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mary rosenblum
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No manuscripts, tolkien!!!
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mary rosenblum
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Editors are not about to
schlep wads of paper home on the plain.
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mary rosenblum
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Definitely carry business
cards! And a notebook.
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mary rosenblum
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Clips aren't necessary.
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mary rosenblum
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You're not doing that kind of
business at a con...
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mary rosenblum
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That will happen back at the
editor's desk.
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mary rosenblum
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You can mention your
clip...certainly name drop your publications whenever possible. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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And here's a real key...
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mary rosenblum
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try to get onto a panel as a
panelist.
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mary rosenblum
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Programming committees are
often in need of warm bodies for panels...
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mary rosenblum
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write them a letter...yes,
even before you have published...if you have anything that might be of
interest.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are at a mystery con
and you worked in the law enforcement/legal field...
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mary rosenblum
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write a letter, tell the
programming chair that you are an aspiring mystery writer...
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mary rosenblum
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and were a cop for twenty
years. You'd love to be on a panel about verisimilitude in the mystery
cop...
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mary rosenblum
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and you might just find
yourself sitting beside your favorite author.
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geezer
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What should be put on a business
card, especially if you are "prepublished"
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mary rosenblum
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Your name. Your email address.
Your snail mail address. :-0
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mary rosenblum
|
-)
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mary rosenblum
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All I have on mine is name,
contact info, website address and my MWA/SFWA credentials.
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gskearney
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This looks like a place where I
can leverage my PC and teaching experience. Thanks. --gk
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mary rosenblum
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Oh you BET Gary.
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mary rosenblum
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I bet you could end up on a
panel at most cons..in fact...
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mary rosenblum
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if you can suggest a panel
where you fit, the programming chair will love you.
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mary rosenblum
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They always need new ideas.
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cherley
|
And a flashy nude picture
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mary rosenblum
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LOL...don't think that hasn't
been tried.
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mary rosenblum
|
And you can get whimsical.
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mary rosenblum
|
You can hand out pink business
cards with a lifesaver tied to it with a pretty ribbon...
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, it's amateurish, but
amusing, and you may be remembered.
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mary rosenblum
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Being remembered is good.
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mary rosenblum
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It won't sell your work for
you....good writing does that...
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mary rosenblum
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but if you feel you MUST do
something like that..it won't hurt you. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
A lot of writers hand out pens
or little cards with their cover on it when they have a book coming out.
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mary rosenblum
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One novice writer got a LOT of
people at his readings when word got around that he always provided
chocolate.
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mary rosenblum
|
I may start doing that. :-)
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sweett
|
How about a tent business card
with your blurb on the inside? Is that acceptable?
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mary rosenblum
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Sure...that's a fine idea,
sweett.
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mary rosenblum
|
It just depends on how much
money you want to spend.
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sweett
|
These were made at home by a
member of my writing group.
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, that is SO cool.
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mary rosenblum
|
Very nice.
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mary rosenblum
|
That kind of thing can indeed
catch someone's eye.
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mary rosenblum
|
I know I always have a fistful
of cards after a con...
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mary rosenblum
|
and here's another tip...
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mary rosenblum
|
write a note on each card to
remind yourself why you are keeping it.
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mary rosenblum
|
Events and people and
conversations can blur after three hectic days.
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gskearney
|
Information: it's not too
difficult to create your own business cards if you have a few computer
skills. Mine have been very well recieved. You can use card stock to print
them and save a bundle. --gk
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mary rosenblum
|
Yes, I think there's quite a
bit of free software out there, too, Gary.
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mary rosenblum
|
Of course some of us with
b&w laser printers are at a disadvantage where color is concerned
sigh...
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mary rosenblum
|
but they're very cheap to
purchase these days, too.
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mary rosenblum
|
Even if you get them made.
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mary rosenblum
|
If you get the chance, if you
find a writers workshop fairly close to you..do it.
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mary rosenblum
|
Even if you don't want a
career as a writer, it's a lot of fun to hang out with like minded people
...
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mary rosenblum
|
and talk to well published
authors.
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mary rosenblum
|
They are just so ORDINARY.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It's amazing. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
Well, this has been a fun
Oregon hour!
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mary rosenblum
|
I hope you all give
conferences a try.
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aelle
|
What do you wear to cons? Jeans,
a suit?
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mary rosenblum
|
I mostly wear jeans, aelle.
:-)
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mary rosenblum
|
See you all at a conference
one of these days, I hope.
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mary rosenblum
|
I'll post the transcripts of
this in the usual place:
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mary rosenblum
|
Writing Craft: Forum
Transcripts.
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mary rosenblum
|
Have a good week, all.
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mary rosenblum
|
See you here tomorrow for our
casual chat.
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