First-ever DFWWW Writer’s Conference is a success

-- and planning begins for next year --

Around 150 participants arrived at the Grapevine Convention Center for our first-ever two-day writer’s conference. With thirty session presenters including four agents, the workshop members knew this conference was going to be exciting. But it was only after the spirit of camaraderie and inspiration began seeping through the hallways and lecture rooms that participants realized how much fun attending the DFWWW conference really could be.

Writers got chapter and full manuscript requests from agents Doris Booth, Elaine Spencer, and Paul Levine. And our fourth agent, Jim Donovan, was handing out cards and requesting material as well.

Novelist Candace Havens gave a rip-roaring kick-in the-pants-speech during lunch on Saturday, telling all and sundry to get writing! She also claimed (though few believed) that she did everything wrong with one exception in her own, personal first-time agent pitch session. The one thing she did right? Mentioning two famous characters to explain what her book was about.

Alyssa Radcliff, who coordinated the catering and the pitch sessions, said the event came off like a charm (no pun intended on the title of Candace’s book.) “For these last two months, a whole lot of DFWWW members participated, even in small ways, to make this event happen,” said Radcliff.

Author and DFWWW member Julian Haber commented, “The DFWWW conference was a great meeting with not only sessions on how to write, but how to get published and how to sell your works. Agents were receptive during pitches and also gave invaluable pointers on how to approach them. Sessions on the legal aspects of getting an agent, protecting your works, and signing with publishers were also invaluable.”

A “pseudo-serious shorts” writing contest was offered during the event. Anne Perry was in charge of the contest. She felt that “the conference touched on so many reasons why we write and how we can better write, revise, network, and offer support to each other. The sessions with agents helped to humanize them. It trained us to understand more about what they are looking for and how to communicate with an agent, and it gave them an opportunity to meet us individually and collectively. I think it was a positive connection on both sides, which will have ripple effects for a long time to come. “

Katie Barrow, a conference attendee, wrote in a thank-you note: “I had a great time, learned tons and made friends. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and I really appreciated it. Your event will definitely be on my calendar for next year!”

And the conference is already on the DFWWW agenda for next year. “We want to bring in agents to represent all genres next time,” Radcliff said. “We also learned a lot about running a conference. Next year should be twice as good.

“I think it’s great to give our workshop members and the DFW community this conference,” she concluded. “It gets them inspired, since they know, this time next year, that they’re going to have an opportunity to pitch an agent and show what they’ve done. It gives them a goal to work toward and get writing.”

Blog Posts touching on reporting from the conference:

Rosemary Clement Moore
A. Lee Martinez
Sonja Cassella
Sue L. Huffman

Meeting of February 20, 2008

Our weekly Wednesday meeting was a full house, with plenty of new members and conference attenders coming to see Rosemary Clement-Moore's talk on How to Pitch an Agent at a Conference.

The stats:

Rejections: 2

Acceptances: Kyle White had an article appear this week in Reader's Digest; Harry Hall's book summary was accepted by his agent; A Lee Martinez' new book, already slated for publication in the United States, will be published by Piper in German as well; Sonja Cassella has had a story accepted by an e-zine; David Straiton had 3 articles accepted this week, and Rosemary Clement-Moore had 13 kids show up at her writing class last week, including 5 boys.

Submissions: Kyle White submitted three articles, Paul Lamar submitted a story, and Iris Acuff submitted a play to a theater producer in LA.

Rosemary's talk was short and to the point -- just like a successful agent pitch! She suggested developing two separate pitches -- a short one and a long -- though even the "long" would only be 2-3 minutes. The "short" is a single paragraph, something you would be able to say in an elevator between getting in and getting off.

The Short Pitch

Distill the essence of your book into a long sentence or short paragraph. What makes it different?

The essentials:
Title and genre
Character name and a 'hook'
Goal
Conflict
Motivation

Handy template:

Hero wants ....
But finds himself ...
At first he ...
And he has to ...
But in the end he learns ....

Long Pitch

1. Short paragraph on the set-up. Motivation/internal conflict.
2. Short paragraph on the external conflict.
3. Inciting incident.
4. Complicating element
5. Climactic turning point.
6. Conclusion (title, word count, genre, market.)

When you have these two pitches ready, practice telling them to the mirror. At the conference, be professional -- treat the agent or editor how you would like to be treated if you were in their shoes.

See you tomorrow!

It's here! DFW Writers' Conference starts tomorrow

After months of preparation, the conference is here! Registration will start at the Grapevine Convention Center at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Feb. 23, and the first sessions start at 9:30.

Walk-in registrations will be accepted. We can accept cash or checks only, no credit cards.

Registration rates are:
General public: $150
Educators and full-time students (must be 18): $75
Workshop members: $100
Package deal, conference plus 2008 membership: $175

We have four visiting literary agents and 30 expert speakers taking part! The conference is looking to be a huge success. We are on track to meet or exceed our attendance goal, but we have space for more! It's not too late to join us.

Please visit the conference web site for more details.

It's Time to Learn How to PItch an Agent

Don't miss Rosemary Clement-Moore's talk how to pitch an agent at a writer's conference tomorrow night at the workshop, or the practice pitch sessions we'll be holding during the read-and-critique time.

In addition, two articles from Writing-World.com offer opinions on how to approach the dreaded ten minute pitch sessions some will be facing very, very soon at the first-ever DFW Writer's Workshop Conference this weekend. Read more at:

“The Perfect Pitch: Pitching to Agents at a Writing Conference”

and

"How to Pitch Your Book at a Writing Conference"

Meeting of February 13, 2008

With less than two weeks to go before the conference, attendance was high at our regular meeting of the workshop last night.

Members were shocked to hear that long-time workshop member Lanny Priddy died Wednesday, Feb. 13 of complications related to a brain tumor. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted when they become available. President Steve Manning urged members to attend the funeral and show our respect for Lanny, who worked hard not just on his own books but on helping others, giving careful critiques and reading manuscripts for members for years.

As for the meeting:


Rejections: 2

Acceptances: None

Submissions: Carolyn Williamson entered a contest, Chris Lee Moore applied for a web writing job; Sonja Cassella sent out an agent pitch letter.

Announcements:

Conference registrations have surged as we move down to the wire, with only ten more needed to make our original goal. President Manning asked for another promotion push from members, handing out fliers and urging everyone to take them to libraries, writing groups, schools and universities, and anywhere else that seemed appropriate.

President Manning emphasized that the dinner for workshop members who are conference attendees on Friday will admit no guests. None! He does not want to see anyone showing up with a guest. This means you.

Carolyn Williamson still needs volunteers for the conference. Contact her if you are available.

Candace Havens gave a 15 minute presentation on "Things I did to jump start my fictional career." It was a remarkable talk, which she delivered with her dog, a Maltese-Japanese Chin cross, under her arm.

Candy listed the following ideas:
1. Sit down and write. No excuses; we all have busy lives.
2. Take advantage of the opportunity to be with other writers. Attend conferences even if you can't afford them, take classes, join groups, visit websites, everything.
3. Network: in person, on-line, at writer's groups. This doesn't mean you want to turn into "crazy writer" at conventions, cornering editors and agents and deluging them with plot summaries of your great (as-yet unpublished) book and how much your mother loved it. But do meet people, and do be professional, friendly, even helpful to editors and agents. "You never know when these contacts you make will pay off," she told us.
4. Let yourself dream, but be practical. That means: send stuff out!
5. Take advantage of any opportunities offered once you have a book in print: do school visits, book signings, and classes.
6. More than anything else, be caught up with the passion to create.


Next week, Rosemary Clement-Moore will give a talk on "how to pitch" at a conference. There will be a practice pitch workshop after the talk, during read-and-critique time.

Member Candace Havens to speak on "Top Things I Did to Get Started as a Writer" Feb. 13

Member Candace Havens, author of several books including most recently Like A Charm, will speak at our regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. on "Top Things I Did to Get Started as a Writer." Whatever she did, it seems to have worked, so this will be a great one to hear.

Candace, by the way, is also our keynote speaker at the upcoming DFW Writers' Conference, Feb. 23 & 24.

Rosemary Clement-Moore to speak Feb. 20 on how to pitch to an agent

As the conference approaches, I've received numerous requests for information on how to pitch your work to an agent.

Member Rosemary Clement-Moore will speak to the group on this topic before read-and-critique at our regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20. If you're going to the conference, you'll want to hear this, whether you're doing a one-on-one pitch session or you're just planning to talk to them at the reception. Agents do appreciate it when the writers they meet know how it works.

In addition, we will provide a room during the first half of critique for those who would like to practice their pitches on a "surrogate agent." This kind of practice is invaluable for a successful meeting with an agent. You only get one chance at making a first impression.

All conference attendees, whether Workshop members or not, are welcome to attend the Feb. 20 meeting to hear Rosemary talk and participate in the practice session.

News from the Febuary 6, 2008 meeting

Last Wednesday was our monthly business meeting.

Rejections: Two acknowledged rejections.

Acceptances: Russell Connor reported receiving a request for the full manuscript of his completed novel, Second Unit, from an agent. This is a novel that has been read and critiqued by the workshop. Candace Havens received a go-ahead from her editor on a brand new book. She has just finished editing the 4th, The Demon King and I. Ginnie Bivona received a check for Hallmark's television production based on her novel, Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party.

Submissions: Dan Anders and Sonja Cassella reported submissions.

Announcements:

Candace Havens, A. Lee Martinez and Shannon Canard will be signing their books from 2-4 this Saturday, February 9, at the North Richland Hills Barnes and Noble.

Rosemary Clement-Moore will offer her class from the conference, for FREE, if you can get yourself down to Arlington Public Library next Wednesday, February 13, from 6-7:30.

Monday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m at the Euless Library, Susan Koskelin and Joan McCord, billed as the "Dueling Harps," will play a program of country western, Spanish dances, and classical selections. They will discuss some of the differences in harps and answer questions. The program is free and open to the public and will be held in the area of the hanging glass sculptures.

Conference schedule posted

A schedule of speakers at the DFW Writers Conference, Feb. 23 & 24, has been posted on the conference web site at www.dfwwritersconference.org.

One-on-one pitch sessions with agents are still available!