Today, I officially took office as Treasurer on the Board of the Heart of Caroline Romance Writers!! I'm super excited about finally giving something back to an organization and a chapter that has meant so much to me. I'm a little nervous about the responsibility and organization required, but I know I can handle it.
It was such a fun day hanging out with other writers. Writing is often such a solitary thing. Sure, we have our online friends and all-day twitter and facebook and email chats, but there's nothing like sitting down and having a cup of coffee with someone who loves books and story-telling just as much as you. Plus, the perk of our Raleigh chapter is having so many amazing published authors like Sabrina Jeffries, Claudia Dain, Deb Marlowe, and a dozen or more others. It's inspiring to be around people who have made writing a full-time career.
Then again, it's also great to sit down and talk to someone who is still in the trenches, fighting to create a career for themselves. It's good to share war stories about agent pitches and rwa conferences. I love the diversity of our group. And even though I don't write strict romance, I get a lot out of being a part of this group. If you're a writer and you don't belong to at least one writing organization, I highly recommend joining RWA and your local RWA chapter. It was one of the first decisions I made as a new writer, and I have never regretted it.
Treasurer!
The Value of Critique Groups
For a new writer, joining a critique group can be one of the most important decisions you make to advance your writing skills. Shortly after I first joined RWA two years ago, I also met my first critique group. They have taught me more about my writing than I ever could have learned so quickly on my own. I probably would have learned it eventually, but there's nothing like having almost weekly feedback on what's going wrong and what's going right in your current work. Recently, I joined a second critique group that is (if it's possible) even more awesome-cakes than my original group. I am member of both right now, but what I get from the two groups is two very different experiences and critiques.
Here are my top 5 tips for making a critique group work:
- Make sure you get along with the people in the group. If you don't get along or have anything to talk about, eventually you might find yourself bickering or getting your feelings hurt. You might start to dread the entire experience if you can't get along with the group and learn to trust them.
- Give your critiques the time they deserve. Most of the time, you get what you put into something. If you only give half-effort critiques, how can you expect the people in your group to spend effort and time on your piece? If you want them to put a lot of time into your pages and give a detailed, constructive critique, then you should do the same for them every time.
- Be honest. If someone says something that hurts your feelings, let them know right away. Do it in a non-confrontational way, but don't hold it in. Believe me, I know this from experience. If you hold it in, then what happens the next time they hurt your feelings? And the next? Eventually it builds up, and that can lead to an argument or worse, the breakup of the group. Critiques should be helpful and everyone in the group should be supportive. It's all about working together to make sure that the group is successful and that people reach their personal goals. If a comment hurts your feelings or is presented in a way that seems ugly or personal, speak up! A simple, "The way you worded that hurts my feelings. In the future, if you could try to present that in a different way, I would appreciate it." might save the group.
- Be clear about your goals and what you want from the group. Let your critique partners know what you are aiming for. Just want to finish a dang book for a change? Brainstorm ways they can help encourage you to keep moving forward. Looking to polish the first fifty pages and enter that contest you've already dreamed about? Let them know they're going to be micro-critiquing those pages for the next month. Stating your goals and putting them out there where you can find support and be held accountable goes a long way toward actually reaching those goals.
- Find people with similar goals and writing time. If someone in your group is writing 100 pages a weeks and you only have time for 10 on a good week, you might not work as the best critique partners. You'll end up spending hours on their work and only getting a small amount of critique in return. Also, if your goal is to get published and to be a serious author, but your group members are writing for fun and without any serious goals, you might find that they don't take the critiques as serious as you do. Find people who have the same goals you have and want the same things out of the group that you want. You'll all get so much more out of it because in the end, you all want the same thing.
Have a wonderful Friday everyone! Hope you had a great week and an even better weekend!
Pitching at Conferences
Pitching face-to-face with an agent or an editor is one of the best ways to get your material on their desk. With the experience fresh in my mind, I thought I would share some tips about how it works, what you should wear, whether or not you should be nervous, and whether the stress is worth it.
First things first. Before you even sign up for an appointment, do your research! Make sure the person you are meeting with represents or publishes the type of novel you are pitching. Also, make sure your book is finished. Pitching an unfinished book about a serial killer to an agent who only represents sweet historical romances is only going to waste her time and will get you nowhere in your goal to become published.
How does a pitch appointment work? There are probably lots of different kinds of pitch appointments, but so far in my experience, a one-on-one pitch lasts about ten minutes and is given sitting down at a table with the editor or agent. Like in this photo of last week's pitch room at RWA's National Conference, pitches are often given in a room full of agents and editors, rather than in a private room. Be sure to arrive at least fifteen minutes early in order to sign in and find your seat. At RWA, a volunteer was there to line up all of the people who had appointments at a specific time so that we could walk in an orderly way to our respective agent or editor's table. Personally, I like to sit in the waiting area for about thirty minutes thinking about my pitch and getting my mind in the right place. (Translation = giving myself a pep-talk and saying things like "you're awesome" and "everyone wants to read my book!")
Once you sit down with your agent or editor, you have about ten minutes. It's a good idea to introduce yourself and ask how their conference is going or if they are having a nice morning. Compliments are always nice, especially if you have done your research about this particular agent and you love some of their client's books or have been following their blog for the past year, just be careful not to ramble! A lot of times, the agent or editor will then ask you what your project is about, at which point you should launch into your pitch.
"The Pitch" is best kept to around a minute. That way, the editor or agent has plenty of time to ask questions about your novel and to judge whether this particular project sounds interesting to them or not. Having notes in front of you doesn't seem to be a problem most of the time, just try to remember to look up from time to time and make eye contact. As far as what to say in your pitch, I personally have had a lot of success with simply telling them about the inciting incident that pushes the story forward. What's the hook of your story? What's that first thing that sends your character into a new world? A pitch appointment is not the time to tell the agent or editor the entire story all the way to the end. Think back cover blurb or query blurb, not synopsis!
As far as what to wear, keep it professional. Be comfortable and most importantly, be yourself. Jeans and a tshirt is probably not the best choice for a professional meeting, but in the end, what really matters is your story. Write the best book you can. Period. I just think that dressing nice shows an editor or agent that you respect them and that you take the opportunity seriously. This is a first impression scenario, so make the most of it!
Try not to be too nervous! I know, this is a tough one! I get nervous too, of course, but try to remember that editors and agents are people too. The reason they are taking pitch appointments in the first place is that they are looking for new authors. They want to find a book that they can sell or publish. They are rooting for your book to be the next story that touches their heart or keeps them up late at night turning pages. Deliver your pitch, answer questions slowly and speak clearly, and chances are, they are going to ask to see something from you. Most of the time, it's a partial - like the first 30 pages or the first three chapters and a synopsis. Sometimes, they might even ask for the full manuscript! Outright rejections at a pitch appointment are rare unless you didn't do your research and are pitching your novel to someone who simply isn't interested in your genre or sub-genre.
Most importantly, follow up. If someone requests your manuscript, send it! This is your chance to bypass the slush pile and get your work in front of someone who can potentially change your life! Don't let that opportunity pass you by simply out of fear of rejection or because you weren't prepared. One question people ask a lot is how much time after the pitch do you have to submit? I think the answer is different for everyone, but my advice is the same no matter what - send it in as soon as possible. An editor might still look at your partial manuscript six months down the road, but by then they might have already acquired a book like yours and no longer have room on their list. An agent might have truly been interested in your hook and excited to read your pages, but if you wait three months to send it in, you're allowing that interest to cool and pass away. Send your pages as soon as you can, preferably within the first week after the request was made. That alone will put you way ahead of the game.
Pitch appointments are always worth it as long as you are ready to submit and are looking for an agent or an editor. It's great experience talking about your novel and answering questions, and it's the fastest way to get your work on an agent or editor's desk with the words "Requested Material" on it. Take the chance to pitch every single time you have it, just make sure you aren't wasting anyone's time by pitching something you might never finish or send. Now, I'm off to finish reading through a final polish of my novel so that I can send requested pages to both an agent and an editor I met at RWA last Saturday! Wish me luck!
RWA 2010 - Heart of Carolina Pictures
A fun time was had by all at the RWA 2010 National Conference in Orlando! Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite pictures from this year's conference, featuring the beautiful and talented women of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, the Raleigh, NC chapter of RWA.
I tried to get by and say hello to all of our authors at the signing, but somehow I missed taking pictures of Alexandra Sokoloff (who was looking so good in her sparkly top btw) and Beth Williamson. Also, I could have sworn I had pictures of our fabulous Deb Marlowe, one of our very own RITA finalists this year, but alas, there aren't any pictures of her on my camera. I'm not sure what happened, but it makes me sad. She looked so good and so happy. I might have missed a few others too, and if I did, I'm so sorry! It was a great week, and I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing chapter!
An Amazing Conference
I had an amazing time at the RWA National Conference! Of course, I got home yesterday and crashed for about five hours, then slept like a baby last night in my own bed, but it was worth any loss of sleep! I met some amazing authors, fellow YARWA members, spent time getting to know people who have the same dreams as me and are working to get published and also talked to writers who are in the position I WANT to be in someday. It's an amazing networking opportunity and I am so happy I went.
I have a feeling it is going to take a few days to recover, haha. Laundry is piled up, my sweet dog is hungry for attention, and I really missed my husband. Plus, I have a couple of requests for the first three chapters of my novel, so I want to go over it one last time to make sure I'm sending in the very best opening I can. Today or tomorrow, I will post copious amounts of pictures from the conference, so stay tuned :).
Congratulations to all of the RITA and Golden Heart winners! Especially want to give a shout-out to Erica O'Rourke, the YA Golden Heart winner. You go girl!!! Can't wait to read your book when it comes out! Also, a huge congrats to fellow YARWA member, Simone Elkeles. PERFECT CHEMISTRY is an awesome book and you totally deserve the award. As one last have-to-mention, my amazing fellow chapter-mate Sabrina Jeffries did the best job as emcee! She looked amazing up there! Plus, she was super fun and well-spoken. Great job Sabrina!
RWA National Conference in Orlando
Laptop? Check.
iPod loaded with a brand new audio book to enjoy (Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You!)? Check.
Super cute business cards? Yep.
Hello Kitty notebook so I can make tons of useful notes during workshops? You betcha.
I am so excited about heading out to the RWA National Conference in Orlando! I've been packing all weekend, making sure laundry is done (both mine and my husband's - not sure he would even know how to do his own laundry anymore. He's so spoiled :p), downloading a new audio book for the trip, working on my pitch, going over any last minute revisions. I feel totally ready to go, and I know that this year, I'm going to make the most of it.
Last year was my first time at RWA Nationals, and I have to admit, I was nervous. I barely knew anyone, I was sharing a room with two others and ended up sleeping on a rollaway (ugh), and I basically had no idea what I was doing. Things have changed for this year. I'm much more confident in my writing, I have an actual completed book to pitch that I love and truly believe in, and this year, I have my very own bed in the hotel room. Well, not MY bed exactly, but it's mine for five nights and I plan to enjoy it!
My plane leaves in the morning, so I'm not sure how often I'll get a chance to update the blog this week, but if anyone reading is heading to Orlando, feel free to email me if you want to get together! (It's times like this I really wish I had an iPhone or a Droid or some other email-enabled phone. /sigh.) And if you're going to Orlando, I hope you have an amazing time. I will write all about it when I get home!
Monday Excitement: Agent Appointment Signups
I know it's only Friday, but my eyes are already turned towards Monday's Agent and Editor signups. RWA's National Conference at the end of July holds many exciting moments I'm sure, but the most important from where I stand is the agent appointment.
Last year, I wanted to pitch my contemporary series romance to the editor at Silhouette Desire. I got my wish. She had time available, I pitched to her, and she asked for a full manuscript! That's why I'll be attending RWA as a PRO this year instead of a general member (one step up from last year). Even though she ultimately rejected my manuscript, the important thing is that the conference pitch gave me the opportunity to get my work in her hands as requested instead of having to wait until she found time to wade through the slush pile.
This year, I'm aiming at a completely different genre. And instead of setting my sights on a particular editor, I'm looking at an agent. A dream agent, actually. She's taking appointments this year, and I'm so anxious to see if there are still times available Monday morning or not. Please, please let her have some slots available still by the time I can sign up! See, sign ups are staggered. People who finaled in the Golden Heart this year got first dibs. Then Golden Heart finalists from previous years. Now, this Monday, it's PRO and PAN members, starting at 8AM Central Time. That puts me a full week ahead of the General Membership, which is where I was last year. I can only wait and see if that's enough to get my appointment with my dream agent.
Of course, I know that just getting an appointment isn't enough. I still have to figure out an amazing pitch. And even then, she may not be interested in my book. I get that. I also know, however, that whether she likes it or not is out of my control. All I can do is write the best book I can and get it in front of people who could take it where it needs to go. Until Monday's signups, I have a feeling I'm going to feel butterflies in my stomach!
My "Series Bible"
Saturday at the monthly Heart of Carolina Romance Writers' meeting, some of our published authors talked about tips for writing a series. Since my current work in progress is being written with the intention of making it into a trilogy (at the very least), I was extremely interested in what they had to say. One of the things they mentioned that stuck with me was that every writer needs to make a 'series bible'.
What exactly is that? Well, it's a notebook or a file or a folder where you keep all the important information on the series. Stuff you'll need to remember in order to write the subsequent books. Character biographies and descriptions. Photo inspiration. Floor plans of the houses. A timeline of events, birthdays, etc. Secondary characters and their role in the book. If something is true in book one, it still has to be true in book two. That means that if a minor character's wife died in book one, you can't suddenly have her alive and well in book two - unless you explain it somehow!
The same is true for eye color, past events, locations, descriptions, etc. Even down to the color of the couch in the living room of a certain character. For my books, the magic system is going to be important. It's not something I'm likely to forget, but I want to make sure that I stay consistent. A quick reference sheet on the magic system will make remembering a lot easier. I'd rather flip through a notebook than have to read the entire book again when I'm on a deadline (God willing).
Maybe it's wishful thinking to start a series bible, but I did exactly that yesterday. I printed out pictures of actors who will serve as inspiration for my characters. Here are some of the things I believe will be important to include in my series bible:
- Character descriptions, biographies, and photo inspiration. How each character's magic works and what their character arc is going to be both in each book and in the entire series
- Timeline
- Plot outline for each book
- Zombie information (such as what they look like, how they sound, how they move, whether their bite is going to turn you into a zombie, etc.)
- Magic system rules (how does their magic work? Who has what abilities? Good vs. Evil)
- Details on the guns and other weapons used. If Crash is using an AK-47, I want to have a picture of one and understand the ammo. I want to know how heavy it is and whether you could attach a strap and sling it over your back.
- Rules and descriptions of the Otherworld.
Swan and Dolphin Resort - the New RWA site!
Whew! I was so nervous when I heard that the Opryland Hotel had flooded and they were going to have to cancel the RWA conference for this summer. I was worried that RWA might not be able to find a new location. We are, after all, talking about thousands of people and some very specific needs. At the conference, there are over a dozen workshops taking place at any given time, so there needs to be at least that many meeting rooms available. Also, there have to be enough rooms with two doubles or two queen size beds to accommodate the group. Not to mention the dinners where they need to be able to seat and feed 3,000 people in the same room. Yikes! Not an easy task to find a hotel that can do all that and actually be available for the exact dates of the conference this July. Somehow, though, maybe thanks to a downturned economy, the RWA was able to do it.
So our new location is the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Disneyworld in Orlando!! Yipppeee!! I am so excited! They really could have moved it just about anywhere and I would be excited just to still be going. It's worked out great for me since I booked Southwest Airlines. They don't charge a fee to change my tickets, so I was able to book a new flight to Orlando and only pay the difference in airfare - which luckily was a mere $4! I am excited about the new hotel also. It looks fun and beautiful.
Now if I could just finish this novel....
Opryland Flooded!
This morning, I heard the news that the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville is flooded! Yikes! Six feet of standing water is what one news article said. Possibly closed for months, said another. The RWA National Conference is scheduled for the last week of July, so hopefully the hotel will be repaired and open for business by then. All we can do is wait and see.
Of course, the most important thing right now is the safety of the people of Nashville. Apparently, thousands of homes have flooded and many people have been evacuated. I read on one site that over 19 people have been confirmed dead from the floods. I can't believe it! Thankfully, I heard from my friend Katy that their condo is okay for now and they are safe. My prayers go out to the people of Nashville and surrounding areas as they deal with this horrible flood. Isn't it crazy how something that can happen so fast can change your life? Things like this always make me think back to my house fires and how much one day can change things forever. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes and many of their belongings in this flood.
RWA National Conference Already on my Mind
It's crazy, but I find myself thinking about the RWA National Conference several times a day. And it's still something like 12 weeks away! I know from going last year that this is not a make or break event when it comes to my career, but I also know that it can open up doors that might be harder to open elsewhere. That's why I have my sights firmly set on getting this novel completed by the time I go.
7,000 words a week should do it. And still give me time to revise and polish the manuscript before I go. I guess the reason I keep thinking about the conference is because I've set a writing goal that directly corresponds to when I leave for Nashville. I know I can meet this goal, it's just going to take keeping my eye on the prize. And if I do? It will be the first time in a very long time that I've really met my goals head-on and been prepared ahead of time. That may not sound like a big deal to some of you, but for me, it's a huge deal. Epic, really.
Basically, I'm just plain excited about the conference. I check the updated agent/editor list every few days. I've looked through the workshop descriptions. I've even looked over the hotel restaurant menus for goodness sake. I'm determined to make the most of my time there this year, and I really feel that amazing things are just around the corner. Now, I just need to take that positive energy and use it to reach my goals.
Writing Goals
Online talk about RWA's National Conference in Nashville is starting to heat up, and it suddenly just occurred to me that I only have 13 weeks to finish my novel and get it ready to pitch. Well, okay, so I realized this last week, but the shock and panic is still there now!
I know that the world will not end and the sky will not fall if I don't have this novel finished. But I just don't want to let the opportunity to pitch this go by. Especially when my #1 Dream Agent is accepting pitch appointments! There's no guarantee I'll be able to meet with her, but every day, I send up a silent prayer begging God to make sure there's still a slot open for me by the time I can sign up.
In order to meet my goals, I really need to stick to a very strict 7,000 words a week for my rough draft. Now, if I hadn't thrown away my NaNo WriMo version of the story, I'd probably be almost finished with this thing, but since I started all over at the beginning of the year, I'm only 20,000 words into the novel. Yikes! That's not even close to halfway yet. On a good note, I think I have most of the plotting figured out, so now it's just a matter of getting the story down on paper as fast as I can. 7,000 words should do it and still give me time to revise and polish some before the pitch.
So, how am I doing this week? As far as my goal is concerned, I decided to set a Monday - Sunday schedule, with each Sunday being the deadline for the 7k words. Since it's Friday, I only have today and two more to get the full word count down. Right now, I'm sitting at about 3500 words, which honestly isn't too bad. There's no reason I can't write another 3500 words by Sunday night, right? It's going to mean a "working weekend" , but as a writer, that's the way it should be every weekend. I'm going to work hard to reach this goal each and every week. I just have to take it one day (and one word) at a time.
Agent / Editor List up For RWA Nationals
I have already signed up and bought my plane ticket for the Romance Writers of America National Conference in Nashville, TN! I even have my room at the Opryland Hotel booked (a hotel I have always wanted to stay in!). I can't wait! The conference is at the end of July, and a list of editor and agents who will be taking appointments and pitches just went up online!
I'm sure some people will be added to the list as it gets closer to the date where people can sign up for times, but I am already extremely happy with the list. My number one choice for a dream agent is on there - Kristin Nelson, as well as the other agent from her agency. They would both be a dream come true as agents. I already feel like I'm biting my nails, praying that one of them will have a slot open for me by the time I get to sign up. There is a set order for signups, starting with current Golden Heart Finalists, then previous GH finalists and PAN members, then PRO status RWA members, and finally the general membership. I am one step ahead of where I was last year since I am now PRO, but will that be enough? I imagine Kristin Nelson is in such high demand that people will be rushing to sign up with her. I can only pray that there is still a slot or two left with either her or Ms. Megibow when it opens for PRO's.
As far as editors, there's not quite as much excitement. For the most part, the list is dominated by Harlequin editors. So far, I only see one editor that would look at YA and that is an editor from Tor Books Teen division. I definitely will be hoping to get in to pitch to her unless someone from another big house's Teen/ YA department is added. I am definitely excited to be going to Nationals again this year. Now, I just have to make sure that my manuscript is finished and ready to pitch!
Golden Heart Entry
Today, my Golden Heart entry goes into the mail. It has to be in Texas by the 2nd, and I'm not taking any risks by sending it any later - especially with the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up. Last night, I sat down before I printed the final copies of my partial manuscript so that I could go through the check-list, check for grammar and spelling mistakes, and make sure I ended with a "hook". At 55 pages max, the partial and synopsis need to really grab the reader, so a hook at the end can't hurt, right?
It's been just over a month since I mailed my full manuscript out to Silhouette, and I haven't even looked at it since. So last night when I printed out a copy to read through, I was mortified. "Oh my God, this sucks!" That was my initial reaction. I underlined cliche's and awkward sentences. I cringed at wording that I thought I'd changed. I was feeling pretty sure that a rejection letter was on its way from Harlequin. By about the fifth page, I stopped. The first few pages were marked to hell, and I thought, surely, I didn't send out a manuscript with this many errors or things I would want to change.
So, I went back to my computer file and looked. Sure enough, I had opened a pre-final-edit copy of my novel! Whew! What a relief!
When I found the right copy, the one I actually DID send to Silhouette, I was so happy. The more I read, the more I loved it. I was so proud of myself for the changes I'd made and the strength of my voice. The characters started to come alive. The dialog was fresh and witty. There was humor mixed with sexuality and passion, but there was also conflict and story questions. My spirits soared. It might not be a Golden Heart Finalist, and it may still receive a rejection letter, but at least I can hold my head up high and be proud of what I've written.
With a 6 page synopsis and a partial manuscript that comes in a 47 pages, my Golden Heart entry is a near-max 53 pages total. I have 6 copies printed and bound together with a black binder clip, and today they will begin to make their journey to Texas. Then, they will be sent out to the GH first-round judges. 5 different authors from around the country will read my partial, rate it, and by March 25th, I will either be a finalist... or not. Either way, I'm proud of myself for trying.
