Comments on: Final Thoughts On Conferences http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 16 May 2012 16:34:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Daniel Smith http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7200 Daniel Smith Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:13:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7200 Great advice, Randy! I never thought about attending a conference prior to reading your posts here, but you continue to show me what a great opportunity it is. I wonder if there is some place that lists them by genre and geographic area. If you know of something please share. Great advice, Randy! I never thought about attending a conference prior to reading your posts here, but you continue to show me what a great opportunity it is. I wonder if there is some place that lists them by genre and geographic area. If you know of something please share.

]]> By: Richard Mabry http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7205 Richard Mabry Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:08:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7205 Randy, One additional comment about your suggestion to polish the first ten pages. At Mount Hermon, I recall submitting my first thirty pages to you for critique. You returned them with your suggestions marked on the first ten pages--then, nothing. At first, I fumed. I'd paid for a critique of thirty pages and just got ten. Then it became clear. If you'd gone further, you'd have marked the same errors. I had to get past those first. I worked at it and eventually did. I think writing is a lot like some sports. Work until the fundamentals become ingrained, then depend on mental muscle memory for those basics and concentrate on honing execution. Randy sez: Yes, most writers display all their weaknesses in the first ten pages. Of course there can be high-level structural issues that don't show up in the first ten pages, but those won't be visible until at least halfway through the book. So my philosophy is to go deep in the first pages, rather than try to be broad and shallow. It's a tradeoff, because there's only so much time. I remember how much I valued a critique by New York Times best-selling novelist Kathy Tyers. She marked up about three chapters and that was enough to show me some mistakes I was repeating over and over. After reading her comments, I edited my entire novel. Then I sold it. Randy,
One additional comment about your suggestion to polish the first ten pages. At Mount Hermon, I recall submitting my first thirty pages to you for critique. You returned them with your suggestions marked on the first ten pages–then, nothing. At first, I fumed. I’d paid for a critique of thirty pages and just got ten. Then it became clear. If you’d gone further, you’d have marked the same errors. I had to get past those first. I worked at it and eventually did.

I think writing is a lot like some sports. Work until the fundamentals become ingrained, then depend on mental muscle memory for those basics and concentrate on honing execution.

Randy sez: Yes, most writers display all their weaknesses in the first ten pages. Of course there can be high-level structural issues that don’t show up in the first ten pages, but those won’t be visible until at least halfway through the book. So my philosophy is to go deep in the first pages, rather than try to be broad and shallow. It’s a tradeoff, because there’s only so much time. I remember how much I valued a critique by New York Times best-selling novelist Kathy Tyers. She marked up about three chapters and that was enough to show me some mistakes I was repeating over and over. After reading her comments, I edited my entire novel. Then I sold it.

]]> By: Kim Miller http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7206 Kim Miller Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:28:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7206 Richard's comment struck a chord with me. I like it when a seasoned editor rips into my pages and they come back covered in notes. But such a return has a hidden agenda. First, it means, 'Fix up what I've marked'. The unspoken message is, 'Learn your stuff, because there is a lot of repeats that I have marked.' My most recent editor had several, 'Stonger without..' notes in the margin. I wonder if I had received a critique of the first ten pages at a conference whether I would have seen the need to carry the learning from those ten pages of notes into the rest of the MS. It takes a bit of wisdom to put good advice to best use. Richard’s comment struck a chord with me.

I like it when a seasoned editor rips into my pages and they come back covered in notes. But such a return has a hidden agenda. First, it means, ‘Fix up what I’ve marked’. The unspoken message is, ‘Learn your stuff, because there is a lot of repeats that I have marked.’

My most recent editor had several, ‘Stonger without..’ notes in the margin. I wonder if I had received a critique of the first ten pages at a conference whether I would have seen the need to carry the learning from those ten pages of notes into the rest of the MS.

It takes a bit of wisdom to put good advice to best use.

]]> By: Andra M. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7207 Andra M. Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:55:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7207 I really enjoyed this mini-series on conferences. Thanks. To answer Daniel's question (if you don't mind me adding the links, Randy), I found two websites that might work for you: http://writing.shawguides.com/ http://www.writersconf.org/ I really enjoyed this mini-series on conferences. Thanks.

To answer Daniel’s question (if you don’t mind me adding the links, Randy), I found two websites that might work for you:

http://writing.shawguides.com/
http://www.writersconf.org/

]]> By: Marcus Goodyear http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7208 Marcus Goodyear Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:21:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7208 Since I was part of your group last year at Mt. Hermon, I experienced the chemistry you talked about. It was a special time. I wish I were coming back this year! (Alas...) You're comment about limiting the rounds of editing gave me pause. I'm in the process of a complete rewrite, restructure. I wish I had understood snowflake the first time around... Oh well, there's always next time. Since I was part of your group last year at Mt. Hermon, I experienced the chemistry you talked about. It was a special time.

I wish I were coming back this year! (Alas…)

You’re comment about limiting the rounds of editing gave me pause. I’m in the process of a complete rewrite, restructure. I wish I had understood snowflake the first time around… Oh well, there’s always next time.

]]> By: Bob Kaku http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7209 Bob Kaku Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:22:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7209 Hi Randy. I'm joining Morgan and Marcus in praising the fiction mentoring track that you led last year. It not only provided me with invaluable writing skills and techniques, but it helped me see a totally new direction for my manuscript that I've been busy re-writing. You're right about the relationships with other writers. I've been continuing mutual critiques with Loralee Kodzo, Lynda Quinn, and Richie Wines. Sometimes I think I've written something really good and send it to them. But then I get their comments back. They really make me think and help me to improve. Hi Randy. I’m joining Morgan and Marcus in praising the fiction mentoring track that you led last year. It not only provided me with invaluable writing skills and techniques, but it helped me see a totally new direction for my manuscript that I’ve been busy re-writing. You’re right about the relationships with other writers. I’ve been continuing mutual critiques with Loralee Kodzo, Lynda Quinn, and Richie Wines. Sometimes I think I’ve written something really good and send it to them. But then I get their comments back. They really make me think and help me to improve.

]]> By: Morgan http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7210 Morgan Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:55:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7210 To emphasize what Randy just said, the connections I made last year at Mt Hermon with my critique group are great! They become your cheerleaders, your comrades, and good friends. Even if you're a beginning writer, these connections you can make at a conference can carry you through the ups and downs of writing and publishing. To emphasize what Randy just said, the connections I made last year at Mt Hermon with my critique group are great! They become your cheerleaders, your comrades, and good friends. Even if you’re a beginning writer, these connections you can make at a conference can carry you through the ups and downs of writing and publishing.

]]> By: Stephenie http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7211 Stephenie Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:44:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7211 Daniel, Check out http://writing.shawguides.com/ Make sure you follow up on the information. Sometimes it's outdated. Daniel,

Check out http://writing.shawguides.com/

Make sure you follow up on the information. Sometimes it’s outdated.

]]> By: Camille Eide http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7213 Camille Eide Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:07:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7213 Thanks to Mt Hermon, some very pushy critique partners, and Randy's encouragement, I met with editors, sought out an agent, finished a manuscript and qualified to enter a publishing contest with a major publisher. A contest in which I was just told today that I am one of the 3 finalists for the winning prize of publishing contract. Don't knock conferences. Listen to Randy. Finish the manuscript. Take a shot when it comes your way. Thank God for every open door and don't question him. :) Thanks to Mt Hermon, some very pushy critique partners, and Randy’s encouragement, I met with editors, sought out an agent, finished a manuscript and qualified to enter a publishing contest with a major publisher. A contest in which I was just told today that I am one of the 3 finalists for the winning prize of publishing contract.

Don’t knock conferences. Listen to Randy. Finish the manuscript. Take a shot when it comes your way. Thank God for every open door and don’t question him. :)

]]> By: Jenny Carlisle http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7215 Jenny Carlisle Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:52:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7215 I've been to one ACFW, but this year, I'm going to the Called to Write conference in Girard, Kansas. Kim Vogel Sawyer will be the featured fiction writer, and her style is very much what I aspire to. Though small, I think this conference will be exactly what you are talking about, a place to establish connections that will last. Thanks for your thoughts and your encouragement. I’ve been to one ACFW, but this year, I’m going to the Called to Write conference in Girard, Kansas. Kim Vogel Sawyer will be the featured fiction writer, and her style is very much what I aspire to. Though small, I think this conference will be exactly what you are talking about, a place to establish connections that will last. Thanks for your thoughts and your encouragement.

]]> By: Leigh http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7217 Leigh Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:14:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7217 Just another thought to add to your conference chatter -- I'm a card-carrying conference junky and don't go to nearly as many of them as I'd like, but I often resort to the next best thing -- ordering CDs afterwards. I've gotten workshop CDs from Florida, Write to Publish, Philly and ACFW. Although nothing beats the face-to-face experence of a conference, I've been happy with the CDs as a back-up plan. Just another thought to add to your conference chatter — I’m a card-carrying conference junky and don’t go to nearly as many of them as I’d like, but I often resort to the next best thing — ordering CDs afterwards. I’ve gotten workshop CDs from Florida, Write to Publish, Philly and ACFW. Although nothing beats the face-to-face experence of a conference, I’ve been happy with the CDs as a back-up plan.

]]> By: Daniel Smith http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7219 Daniel Smith Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:03:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7219 Thanks for the links Andra and Stephenie! I'm in NC so finding something local is a little more challenging for me, but I found the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at http://blueridgeconference.com/. It's coming up in May and is literally 20 minutes from my house. Thanks all and thank you Randy for your informative posts! Thanks for the links Andra and Stephenie!

I’m in NC so finding something local is a little more challenging for me, but I found the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at http://blueridgeconference.com/. It’s coming up in May and is literally 20 minutes from my house. Thanks all and thank you Randy for your informative posts!

]]> By: Leigh http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7220 Leigh Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:58:11 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2009/02/02/final-thoughts-on-conferences/#comment-7220 Daniel -- I signed up for the Blue Ridge conference yesterday. I had hoped to maybe go to Florida this year but that didn't work out (guess I'll just have to order recordings of Randy's marketing sessions LOL). I went to Blue Ridge in '07 and it's a good conference -- and you can't beat having it only 20 minutes from home. Maybe our paths will cross while we're hiking up and down that mountain to classes. :-) Daniel — I signed up for the Blue Ridge conference yesterday. I had hoped to maybe go to Florida this year but that didn’t work out (guess I’ll just have to order recordings of Randy’s marketing sessions LOL). I went to Blue Ridge in ‘07 and it’s a good conference — and you can’t beat having it only 20 minutes from home. Maybe our paths will cross while we’re hiking up and down that mountain to classes. :-)

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