Sorry this post is REALLY late everyone, but I was on the road today for fourteen hours driving to Florida and I forgot today is the first Wednesday of the month... Sorry Alex.
As you all know I was at the SCBWI conference in NYC this weekend. You can read all about it, if you missed it by just scrolling down to my previous posts.
Well, one could just imagine how hard it is to walk into one of THE BIGGEST conferences held all year. The SCBWI winter conference is HUGE... Writers and illustrators from all over the world attend. Publishing royalty abounds... What does one do? FREAK of course! But after that you MUST pull yourself together.
It is not as scary as you think. I was TERRIFIED I would have no one to talk to and that I would never be able to pitch my novel even to another writer ... let alone an AGENT! I am sure this thought terrifies most of us. It did for me too, but only for a millisecond.
For those who hadn't read my posts on the conference, I had met a wonderful steampunk writer named Lila Black... awesome name/awesome girl! We met the second I entered the elevator. By the time we made it to the ballroom we were the best of friends.... This is what conferences do.... brings awesome people together to share their passion:Writing and illustration as well. Almost half of the attendees were illustrators.
Needless to say despite my fears, I ended up meeting a wonderful friend, had requests for my novel and learned tons. If I had let my fear get to me, then NONE OF THIS would have happened.
So my dearest of dear friends, take that first step. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Meet it head on. IT is SO worth it!
Even with your writing, don't be afraid to try something new. You just never know, your new style might hit the jackpot. I am mostly a m/g, y/a fantasy writer. In a blog challenge I had stepped out of the box and wrote a few pages of an edgy y/a. To my SHOCK, six weeks later I had the first draft of THE BLINDED GARDENER, which now has requests from a few agents and editors... Who knew?
Now it's time for me to get over the next hurdle and shove the fear of sending out BG to those agents and editors. But first ... ONE more edit. It's amazing how we ALWAYS find something to tweak.
I hope you all had a good Wednesday and please scroll down for more details on the SCBWI conference it you have missed it.
As you all know I was at the SCBWI conference in NYC this weekend. You can read all about it, if you missed it by just scrolling down to my previous posts.
Well, one could just imagine how hard it is to walk into one of THE BIGGEST conferences held all year. The SCBWI winter conference is HUGE... Writers and illustrators from all over the world attend. Publishing royalty abounds... What does one do? FREAK of course! But after that you MUST pull yourself together.
It is not as scary as you think. I was TERRIFIED I would have no one to talk to and that I would never be able to pitch my novel even to another writer ... let alone an AGENT! I am sure this thought terrifies most of us. It did for me too, but only for a millisecond.
For those who hadn't read my posts on the conference, I had met a wonderful steampunk writer named Lila Black... awesome name/awesome girl! We met the second I entered the elevator. By the time we made it to the ballroom we were the best of friends.... This is what conferences do.... brings awesome people together to share their passion:Writing and illustration as well. Almost half of the attendees were illustrators.
Needless to say despite my fears, I ended up meeting a wonderful friend, had requests for my novel and learned tons. If I had let my fear get to me, then NONE OF THIS would have happened.
So my dearest of dear friends, take that first step. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Meet it head on. IT is SO worth it!
Even with your writing, don't be afraid to try something new. You just never know, your new style might hit the jackpot. I am mostly a m/g, y/a fantasy writer. In a blog challenge I had stepped out of the box and wrote a few pages of an edgy y/a. To my SHOCK, six weeks later I had the first draft of THE BLINDED GARDENER, which now has requests from a few agents and editors... Who knew?
Now it's time for me to get over the next hurdle and shove the fear of sending out BG to those agents and editors. But first ... ONE more edit. It's amazing how we ALWAYS find something to tweak.
I hope you all had a good Wednesday and please scroll down for more details on the SCBWI conference it you have missed it.
17 comments:
Glad you conquered your fear and had such a wonderful time. One step in front of the other always gets you out of the elevator :)
glad to hear it. It's always such a huge step doing something out of the ordinary, and when you do you fine yourself wondering why you didn't do it sooner. Well done you x
One more edit and then you go for it!
And no problem with being a little late. Road trips are awful and draining.
I do think writer's conferences are completely worth it. And that's so true about freaking out and then pulling yourself together. Be brave. After all, what do we really have to lose if we don't try?
You really are an inspiration. I love the way you make the most of your opportunities.
Oh I'm so excited for you, Michael. I can't wait to read about your success as you tell us of the agent that you land as a result of your conferences :)
So glad you are in the midst of an upward movement these days! The conference must have been a wonderful experience. I just ordered a course on writing from The Great Courses catalog. It is meant to stimulate appreciation for good writing and reading and to understand what it is about a sentence that makes it appealing, rather than a lot of emphasis on just grammar and sentence structure. I have always been a half decent writer but have long felt I was winging it too much and not understanding what I was doing or wanted to do. Should be fun if nothing else.
There is always something to tweak. Hears to your last tweaking before a contract is handed your way! :)
Hi Michael:
Wonderful news, you must be excited. May I suggest that you send off the chapters that where requested to an editor. I use Heidi Thomous, and for some reason my brain won't spell her name right today. She's very good.
Email me if you need her contact information. Also I have something to run by you and I lost your email. My server won't let me access it off your site. Go figure!
Nancy
gillael@aol.com
That is so cool. I have to read your previous posts (I'm a bit behind!)
It's wonderful to hear you had a great time and the connections were made.
SO glad to hear you had a great time, and met new friends. That's one of the best parts about attending conferences. And wise words, we can't be afraid. ;)
I knew you'd ace the conference Michael :)
Have a safe trip.
.....dhole
Fantastic, Michael! I remember my first conference - I was shaking! Like you, it ended up being a fabulous experience.
Glad you made it safely to Florida.
This is such an amazingly inspirational post. Well done for having such an amazing time!
Love to you
Laura x
It sounds to me like your conference experience was brilliant, and...maybe you'll be back next year ;) I'd love to attend some year if I could!
You were late, and this month I didn't show until now!
Enjoyed the read. I felt all those strong emotions you described, with the elements of suprise!
Sometimes, you really do just need to turn up and go with the flow!
I agree Miss, "Jacqueline Howett " Sometimes, you really do just need to turn up and go with the flow! Thank you for sharing....
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