Today is Monday and it's the first opportunity for me to get some internet access. To blog on the road is sometimes a challenge.
On day 4 and last day of the conference, I saw the energy run out a little. The combination of late nights, challenging workshops and a few cocktails (for some, but not for me ;-)) dwindled the enthusiasm for many of the attendees. That is why it's a challenge for workshop presenters on Saturday afternoon: how to keep people alert.
Margie Lawson did that very well. She made her workshop interactive, though her fashion choice was a bit odd: she wore surgery scrubs! In her attempt to make our manuscripts free of clichés and full of fresh writing, her assistants performed an operation on poor Raggedy Ann who had a stomach full of flat words. Well done, Margie, you kept us awake the whole hour.
At the book signing, I had the pleasure to see Lisa Kleypas, one of my favorite historical writers. I went to St.Martin's spotlight and the editors there repeated what all others said before: write the best manuscript you can.
Then it was time to prepare for the gala. Everyone wore their best clothes and perfume. I like the importance RWA gives to the Golden Heart and Rita Awards: it's the Oscars of the publishing world.
Before I conclude this series of blogs, here's what I'm taking away from the conference. In the business world, it's called a post-mortem.
On Agents and Editors:
Every writer dreams about landing an agent and/or an editor, and every writer knows how hard it is to get the attention of one. Writing conferences are the perfect opportunity to make an appointment with one. Agents and editors WANT to find a new talent to work with. Let me repeat: agents and editors WANT to find new writers.
But (there has to be the proverbial but), they want someone professional to work with. What does professional mean? It means working with a manuscript that is as close to publication as possible. What does that mean? It means having a manuscript that is clean of clichés, has an almost perfect grammar, a plot that grips the reader, a VOICE that is compelling. It means a manuscript that follows the guidelines of the targeted publishing house.
I heard many writers complain how the agent/editor world is a clique and is hard to penetrate. Sure it is. I was a food buyer for many years and it was hard for any new supplier to attract my attention. If they did, that was because they had a damn good product. Same with publishing. The product is the manuscript. And it has to be damn good.
As big as the RWA conference is, the publishing world is small and it can be real easy to get a reputation, good or bad. Approach agents/editors with professionalism or risk being labeled.
On the Craft:
There is always something new to learn.
On the sisterhood of RWA:
IT'S AMAZING
On my to-do list:
Any good post-mortem is never complete without a set of new upcoming goals. Here are mine, based on what I learned in Orlando:
1) Revise my first manuscript and make it the best it can be
2) Work on my second manuscript
3) Submit to contests
4) Diversify my writing (other genres, short stories, magazine articles...)
My personal conclusion: I will submit to an agent only when I am truly ready. Ready with a polished manuscript and a second one in the trenches. If asked for a full, I can send it right away. If asked for anything else I've worked on, I can send that right away.
My long term goal is to become a career writer, thus my short term goal is NOT to quickly land an agent. My short term goal is to get ready to land the best agent for me, who will help me achieve my long term goal. Hurrying the process can only hurt me in the long run.
So there you go. I hoped you enjoyed my Orlando posts. You can look at the latest pictures at http://www.facebook.com/carolestlaurentRW
Keep writing!!
