Should I attend a Writer's Digest conference, or something else?
July 7, 2016 3:05 PM Subscribe
I just retired from teaching and am resuming writing. I had an agent and had two books published (F/SF, mainstream publisher) twenty years ago, but my agent died and I'm basically starting from scratch. The Writer's Digest conference in August in NYC looks okay. Is it worth going? Or should I do something else first?
I like Writer's Digest and have been reading articles while plugging away at the manuscripts I have in progress (one completed first draft that needs serious revision, one completed second draft that may never see the light of day, one being drafted), but I was wondering if it would be useful for me to go to a writing conference to find out what the business of writing is like these days.
Yes, I have started a blog and am blogging weekly. I do want to get an agent, but I think I need to get two of my manuscripts in better shape before I do that. My old agent's partner was unenthusiastic about taking on a living author (he mostly handles estates). I reached out to some writing friends about starting a writing group but though they all sounded eager, I haven't heard back. I belong to SFWA. I've only been retired three weeks, but am so happy to be writing full time again that I'm feeling optimistic.
I like Writer's Digest and have been reading articles while plugging away at the manuscripts I have in progress (one completed first draft that needs serious revision, one completed second draft that may never see the light of day, one being drafted), but I was wondering if it would be useful for me to go to a writing conference to find out what the business of writing is like these days.
Yes, I have started a blog and am blogging weekly. I do want to get an agent, but I think I need to get two of my manuscripts in better shape before I do that. My old agent's partner was unenthusiastic about taking on a living author (he mostly handles estates). I reached out to some writing friends about starting a writing group but though they all sounded eager, I haven't heard back. I belong to SFWA. I've only been retired three weeks, but am so happy to be writing full time again that I'm feeling optimistic.
Congrats on returning to the writing life! I've only been to a couple of writing conferences but I found them good for more than inspiration. YMMV. Once your manuscripts are up to speed, you may want to check out the New York Pitch Conference. Also, writing groups are great. In the absence of one, you might find support elsewhere. I thought this Wired piece was interesting despite the scary title. Good luck!
posted by Bella Donna at 3:39 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 3:39 PM on July 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
So, definite bias here, and apologies if this doesn't answer your question - but have you looked into indie publishing, either as an option for you or as just part of "the business of writing these days?"
Since you were traditionally published twenty years ago, you might have the immediate reaction of, "Self-publishing? Ick! Self-publishing is just vanity publishing!" That was true twenty years ago, but it's not true anymore.
I started my publication journey in 2008, and even then self-pub wasn't really done (I was told at a writer's group meeting by an agent that if I ever self-published, I should never mention it on a cover letter as it would only hurt my chances of getting a real agent). In 2016, I think things are totally different, and for me, indie was definitely the way to go.
If you're at all interested in exploring that route, I'd suggest starting with the podcasts Rocking Self Publishing and The Sell More Books Show. Both, especially RSP, were instrumental in helping me see that indie was not only an option, but a viable, professional, legitimate one.
I find the indie publishing world to be so much friendlier and more "let's all work together" than what, from the outside, the traditional publishing world always seemed to me. Since you write SF/F and not literary, indie is an even more potentially viable route for you, as it seems like there are plenty of folks out there who are getting paid good money to write great stories and publish them independently in those genres. Also, if you already have a platform/fan base from your previous publishing, that might make indie pub success even easier for you.
You may of course decide that indie pub is not for you, and that's certainly fine. But I think looking at your various options now might be a good way to get your foot back in the writing world (with its newer, broader boarders), even if you decide you want to stick with trad pub.
Another good podcast to check out if you don't already listen is The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, especially the older episodes. They almost exclusively talk to SF/F, trad published authors, but they talk quite a bit about the business these days. Their insight into various workshops (i.e., Clarion West is awesome) is really useful too, if you want to head to a conference/workshop/something structured.
Also, I write SF/F too, so if you want to manuscript swap and critique for each other, I'm totally interested. Just MeMail me. I'll read pretty much anything in the genre that isn't grimdark or tragic.
Congrats and good luck!
posted by bananacabana at 6:28 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Since you were traditionally published twenty years ago, you might have the immediate reaction of, "Self-publishing? Ick! Self-publishing is just vanity publishing!" That was true twenty years ago, but it's not true anymore.
I started my publication journey in 2008, and even then self-pub wasn't really done (I was told at a writer's group meeting by an agent that if I ever self-published, I should never mention it on a cover letter as it would only hurt my chances of getting a real agent). In 2016, I think things are totally different, and for me, indie was definitely the way to go.
If you're at all interested in exploring that route, I'd suggest starting with the podcasts Rocking Self Publishing and The Sell More Books Show. Both, especially RSP, were instrumental in helping me see that indie was not only an option, but a viable, professional, legitimate one.
I find the indie publishing world to be so much friendlier and more "let's all work together" than what, from the outside, the traditional publishing world always seemed to me. Since you write SF/F and not literary, indie is an even more potentially viable route for you, as it seems like there are plenty of folks out there who are getting paid good money to write great stories and publish them independently in those genres. Also, if you already have a platform/fan base from your previous publishing, that might make indie pub success even easier for you.
You may of course decide that indie pub is not for you, and that's certainly fine. But I think looking at your various options now might be a good way to get your foot back in the writing world (with its newer, broader boarders), even if you decide you want to stick with trad pub.
Another good podcast to check out if you don't already listen is The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, especially the older episodes. They almost exclusively talk to SF/F, trad published authors, but they talk quite a bit about the business these days. Their insight into various workshops (i.e., Clarion West is awesome) is really useful too, if you want to head to a conference/workshop/something structured.
Also, I write SF/F too, so if you want to manuscript swap and critique for each other, I'm totally interested. Just MeMail me. I'll read pretty much anything in the genre that isn't grimdark or tragic.
Congrats and good luck!
posted by bananacabana at 6:28 PM on July 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
I can't vouch for its usefulness because this will be my first time going, but I'll be at the Writer's Digest conference if you want to memail me and meet for coffee!
posted by pretentious illiterate at 7:07 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 7:07 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Congratulations!
If you're not following Janet Reid, do so immediately! Her client list seems to be heavy on the thrillers and some horror, but she discusses conferences a lot. She's a big believer.
Recently, a published author told me the best way to get an agent is to meet a writer who will introduce you to theirs. This could happen for you at any conference, right? The authors I've become friends with, I've met at The Midwest Writers Workshop, and I feel that's to do with the relative smallness and midwestern friendliness. That conference seems to be very much about mystery and YA these days, though.
posted by BibiRose at 5:34 AM on July 8, 2016
If you're not following Janet Reid, do so immediately! Her client list seems to be heavy on the thrillers and some horror, but she discusses conferences a lot. She's a big believer.
Recently, a published author told me the best way to get an agent is to meet a writer who will introduce you to theirs. This could happen for you at any conference, right? The authors I've become friends with, I've met at The Midwest Writers Workshop, and I feel that's to do with the relative smallness and midwestern friendliness. That conference seems to be very much about mystery and YA these days, though.
posted by BibiRose at 5:34 AM on July 8, 2016
Response by poster: All good answers. Tried to pick "one best" but can't. Thanks!
posted by Peach at 1:25 PM on July 8, 2016
posted by Peach at 1:25 PM on July 8, 2016
Response by poster: Decided to go, for the same reason I paid my daughter's way to an MLA conference her freshman year in college when she was considering becoming an English major...of course, that backfired because she went on to enter a Ph.D. program and has been doing the obligatory suffering stage of dissertating for a long while now. Hm... Oh, the heck with it, it's my money.
posted by Peach at 7:36 AM on July 9, 2016
posted by Peach at 7:36 AM on July 9, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'm assuming you read F/SF, so you know what's getting published, and you shouldn't write to the market anyway.
Spend your resources on getting those manuscripts up to speed.
posted by the_blizz at 3:16 PM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]