Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler

“Think of the readers who will love your story and believe that you already have everything you need to get your story to them” Tayari Jones, Author of Silver Sparrow and closing keynote speaker for The Writer’s Digest East Conference in NYC, 4/7/13

Writer’s conferences are a wonderful way to learn your craft, update yourself on industry trends and network with like-minded people. I usually find I get out what I put in and what I found in New York City at this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference was magical. Since this is my third WD conference, I went  prepared to hone in on my specific needs–memoir revision, pitching, networking and listening to agents and publishers speak to ever-changing publishing options.

Two main take-aways:

1. Traditional and self-publishing are here to stay and can work together in peaceful coexistence with the emergence of hybrid publishing developing where an author chooses the combination of publishing options.

2. The changing role of the literary agent where “new routes to productivity and profit need to be explored” (Kristin Nelson, Literary Agent for Hugh Howey, Author of Wool. )

For a detailed discussion of this, please see Porter Anderson’s Ether for Authors, “Who is Pitching Whom”

In the end, it seemed to all boil down to putting your energies into writing a good story. Writing is the only way you will get published.

Here’s a few nuggets I gathered to share with you:

*  “When doing a reading of your work, create curiosity in the reader by reading from a point of high drama. Honor your work by letting it speak for itself.”  Journalist/Critic/Writer/Speaker Porter Anderson, Public Speaking for Writers: How to Turn Reading Into Book Sales Boot Camp

*  ” Be an author entrepreneur. Agents are partners with writers. The role is shifting and there are no gatekeepers.” Panel on The Future of Publishing

*  ” Break into the market by pitching smaller magazines before pitching big magazines. Do a few short items first to establish credibility. Try online. Don’t pitch a story idea ,write a brilliant essay.” Panel on How to Write for Big Name Publications.

*   ” Write from your true self–get in touch with that self. You are a river that is ever flowing and craft is the riverbank. Marry craft to self.” Author and #1 Bestselling Writing Coach James Scott Bell , Opening Keynote Speaker

*   “Readers need to bond with and care about the protagonist in the first paragraph; set up the protagonist’s character traits within the first five pages.” Literary Agent /Author Donald Maass, Creating the Greatest Characters of Your Career

*   ” In revision, ask: what is the story? the theme?do the scenes tie in with the theme and move the plot along? What needs more work? Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Editor, Cheryl Klein

*    ” Generate your own work by listening to your own voice- only 2% comes from authentic self; count words; don’t try to organize at first. Think Scene, Series (meaningful repetition and variation) and  Theme.” Author/Founder, Book Architecture, Stuart Horwitz, The First Draft- Revision Demystified

*     “Become a servant to your reader. Your story is waiting to be read. Get it done- no excuses.” Author Adriana Trigiani, Central Keynote Speaker, Your Writing Life.

*     “Three things you need to write a successful memoir: Strong writing voice; Narrative hook –Remember SMILE- shocking, memorable, inspiring, loving, entertaining– and Author platform.” Literary Agent /Author Regina Brooks, Serendipity Literary Agency LLC, You Should Really Write A Memoir

*    “We live in a 140-character world. Your first ten pages have to sing.” Literary Agent Paula Munier, The First Ten Pages.

***

Questions agents asked during the Pitch Slam where we had two minutes to pitch our story to literary agents and one minute for their response:

How is your story unique in the market?

What is your author platform?

What is your narrative arc?

What is your purpose for telling your story?

Why would I want to read your story?

Who is your audience?

What is your marketing plan?

***

I left the conference feeling motivated and committed to keep writing as well as uplifted by the efforts of all in the publishing industry to keep moving forward, despite the digital disruptions and unknowns ahead.

 

How about you? If you’ve been to a writer’s conference, what take-aways do you have to share? Please leave your comments below~

 

Next week: The Face of Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Memoir Moment