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    James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences
    James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences
    James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences
    Ebook85 pages54 minutes

    James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences

    By Lana Krumwiede

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    About this ebook

    A writers conference is an important investment in your publishing career. These conferences can be spendy, and you'll want to get the most out of the time and money you invest. Set yourself up for success by using this guide to plan ahead. Topics include why writers should attend conferences, how to choose the best conference for you, preparing yourself and your manuscript, deciding what to bring and what not to bring, managing logistics, writing and delivering a pitch, handling a critique, using the conference to grow your network, understanding conference etiquette, and getting the most from conference follow-up. This book is chock full of tips and advice from a published author who has been involved with writing conferences for years as an attendee, speaker, and organizer. If you're planning to attend a writers conference, or even thinking about it, don't miss this practical and thorough guide. All proceeds from this book are donated to James River Writers.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLana Krumwiede
    Release dateApr 30, 2014
    ISBN9781311220257
    James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences
    Author

    Lana Krumwiede

    Lana Krumwiede began her writing career by creating stories and poems for publications such as Highlights, High Five, Spider, Babybug, The Friend, and Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul. Her first novel, Freakling (Candlewick, 2012), tells the story of Taemon, a boy who lives in a society where everyone has telekinetic powers. Lana has attempted telekinesis many times, particularly when it comes to household chores, but she could never make it work. Freakling was named a finalist for SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Member’s Choice Award and an honor book for the International Reading Association’s Intermediate Fiction Award. Taemon’s story continues in subsequent books in The Psi Chronicles, Archon (2013) and True Son (2015). Lana lives in Richmond with her husband and daughter.

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      Book preview

      James River Writers Essential Guide to Writers Conferences - Lana Krumwiede

      James River Writers’

      Essential Guide to Writers Conferences

      Written by Lana Krumwiede

      Edited by Kris Spisak

      Copyright 2014 Lana Krumwiede

      Smashwords Edition 2014

      Warning

      This guide is dangerously comprehensive. It contains far too many tasks for one human being to accomplish in the months preceding a writers conference. Attempting to do so may result in serious side effects such as hives, gastrointestinal discomfort, and rare forms of writers block. We recommend that you read over this guide and choose a few ideas that are most relevant to your situation. Concentrate on what will help you the most and – for the sake of your mental and physical health – feel free to ignore the rest.

      About James River Writers

      In 2002, James River Writers (JRW) was established to build community by connecting and inspiring writers and readers in central Virginia. Our first annual writers conference was held in October 2003. Today, JRW has grown into a multi-faceted non-profit organization that serves as central Virginia’s literary hub and a welcoming home for anyone who loves the written word. Aspiring and professional writers as well as passionate readers in all genres benefit from a variety of programs, services, and events, often presented in partnership with other cultural organizations. We are supported by government grants, foundations, corporate partners, and the generosity of our members. You can find out more about us at http://www.jamesriverwriters.org.

      Although most of the examples and anecdotes in this book are taken from experiences at the James River Writers Conference, they should be applicable to many other conference situations.

      About the Author

      Lana Krumwiede is the author of the popular series, The Psi Chronicles (Candlewick Press), Freakling (2012), Archon (2013), and True Son (coming in 2015) as well as a forthcoming picture book from Candlewick Press, Just Itzy. In 2002, she began writing stories, poems, and articles for children’s magazines and anthologies. Her work has been published in Highlights for Children, Babybug, Spider, The Friend, Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul, and many other magazines. She has attended numerous writers conferences over the years. In 2009, she made a connection with an editor at the James River Writers Conference that eventually led to her first book contract. She sits on the board of directors of James River Writers and is the conference chair for 2014. You can find Lana at http://www.lanakrumwiede.comand at the James River Writers conference every year.

      About the Editor

      Kris Spisak began her career as a college writing instructor. She taught English and sometimes Humanities at the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, and two central Virginia community colleges before shifting her work away from the classroom toward professional writing and editing. To this end, she founded K. S. Writing, a company designed to bolster the literary arts community by connecting professional creative writers with businesses in need of their communication skills, while also tackling editing projects for individuals pursuing their publishing dreams. Kris is a former James River Writers Conference Chair and a member of the American Business Women’s Association. Her personal publications include fiction in Dark Sky Magazine, ghost-written nonfiction, historical research in the archives of the Richmond History Center, and a former column in R Home Magazine. You can follow Kris’s Wednesday Writing Tips blog at www.kswriting.com.

      All proceeds from this ebook will be donated to James River Writers.

      Table of Contents

      One: Why Go to a Writers Conference?

      Two: Finding a Good Writers Conference

      Three: Prepping

      Four: Polishing Your Manuscript

      Five: Preparing Your Pitch

      Six: Logistics

      Seven: What to Bring

      Eight: Conference Etiquette

      Nine: Literary Networking

      Ten: Conference Critiques

      Eleven: Pitching Your Book

      Twelve: Follow-up

      One: Why Go to a Writers Conference?

      A side effect of creativity is an enhanced ability to make up excuses. You can think up a million reasons to stay away from writing conferences: not enough money, not enough time, not enough talent, or not enough caffeine. Set all that aside for a moment, and think about what it means to invest in your writing. You’re sending a message from you to you that you have what it takes to be a writer, that you believe in yourself and you’re committed to your writing goals. You’re affirming your status as a professional, no matter how many publications are in your name. Yes, attending a conference requires effort and planning, but in exchange, you just might get a life-changing experience. The returns on your writing conference investment are plentiful:

      You’ll meet

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