Hello everyone,
Today's tip: Remember I said suggested that aspiring writers, readers and published authors ought to go to the Desert Dreams conferences? Well, here are just two of the reasons you should go. Every year the people who put on this conference donate these lovely raffle baskets, some up to $500.00 in value, and you can buy tickets. Proceeds go to literacy. These baskets are raffled off at events throughout the conference. You may get autographed books, candles, lotions, writing services (critiques, help with synopsis etc). This year I got a lovely heirloom coverlet perfectly created by Mary Fiori. Thanks, Mary. Second reason: You get to visit with old friends, like Linda Lael Miller and I in the second photo and even though they may be especially dear, if you are a dedicated writer, you don't have much time for visiting, so make the most of it. And for all authors these are times when we also network, catch up on market news and our latest projects with each other and of course the things like family news as well.
Inside Information: Pay close attention to what publishers are requesting NOW. Go to every spotlight on the publisher you hope to work with and find out what they want NOW. Keep your ears open. This is one of the best ways to get the current needs of the market. One of my friends was once commenting that no one wanted to see her civil war novel. A savvy editor of a house she hadn't even considered glanced over and said, "I want to see it." and gave her card to my friend. Viola!
A Day in the Writer's Life Tuesday through Friday are my most productive days usually. But, in every writer's life, adjustments must be made. My daughter is recovering from surgery and asked for books. Books, I have. :-) So, I sent her her favorites: fantasy, mostly light. So, what to do? After supper, instead of sitting down and watching Castle (which I'd TiVo'd) I perfected a cover letter I'm sending in.
How I started and you can too: Remember, continue to look up all the different writer's chapters. Figure out which books attract you most. Buy and read what you like. Find out which publishing houses they are from. Look up that house and see what they want. Try to do this for several weeks. Is that idea that's been percolating on your mind beginning to take shape?
Humor: A group of us just got back from an all day horse-back ride in the mountains. One of the fellas says: "Ah, a day in the saddle--better than sex." In the few quiet seconds following, I offered, "I don't know what to tell you, bud, but you're doing something wrong." The whole group nearly fell off their horses laughing.
