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| Sarah Whitney, Publicity Chair |
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| Tricia Sanders, VP and Conference Chair |
It’s not uncommon for writers to attend a writing conference based on who will be speaking or taking pitches during the event. For the past few months, this blog has spotlighted the faculty of the 2012 “Write Time! Write Place! Write Now!” Annual Conference. I hope they’ve given you a sense of what to expect this coming April. Check the "Look Who's Talking" tab at the top of this page for feedback from previous conference attendees, former chapter presidents, former guild presidents, and former speakers.
Speakers, however, are only one part (albeit a big part) of planning a writing conference.
For this last couple of days, leading up to the deadline for
early bird registration, I am providing a sneak peek behind the scenes of the
making of this year’s “Write Time! Write Place! Write Now! Conference. When it
comes to having the inside scoop, there’s no one better to interview than
Conference Chair Tricia Sanders.
Tricia, Vice President of the Guild, has been working hard
to plan this year’s conference since almost the minute last year’s event ended.
She’s booked the hotel, lined up the speakers, found keynote speakers, made
sure the conference content would appeal to writers of different experience
levels, figured out networking events, and the list goes on.
Tricia: Thanks,
Sarah. In some respects it feels like I’ve been working on this conference
forever, but in others it seems like yesterday that I sat down and started the
process. April will be here before we know it.
Sarah: You’re right about that. It’s hard to believe
2012 is already here. To get us started,
Tricia, could you give us a brief
background on how you became involved with the Missouri Writers’ Guild and how
you became the conference chair?
Tricia: I joined
a local chapter (Saturday Writers) around 2003 and started hearing about the
guild. Saturday Writers’ has had three members who eventually became presidents
of MWG. I joined the guild in 2006, I think it was. Since then, I’ve been
attending conferences and a couple of years ago I started wondering what kind
of conference I would put together. Who would be the speakers? What would they
talk about? I really dug in last year and helped Deb Marshall, so it was pretty
much a given that I would do this year’s conference.
Sarah: When you found
out you would be organizing this year’s conference, how did you react?
Tricia: Well, it
is a volunteer position. No one twists your arm. (Not too much anyway ;) I was
excited for the opportunity. It really has given me some great networking
opportunities that I would never get by just attending the conference. Since
June I’ve been constantly in contact with our speakers, so I feel like I know
most of them.
Sarah: So what
exactly goes into planning a writing event like this?
Tricia: If you
take it in small bites and start early, it’s pretty amazing to watch it all
come together. I did a lot of analyzing on which dates would be best to avoid
other conferences and Easter. Once I secured the location, I started contacting
agents and potential speakers. I have to admit that I had a few of the folks in
mind long before I volunteered to put together the conference. Some of them had
even been suggestions that I had written down on previous conference
evaluations.
Sarah: Why did you bill it as the “Write Time! Write
Place! Write Now!” Conference?
Tricia: So many times, we put off writing because we
don’t have time or aren’t in “our writing place.” Most successful authors will
tell you they write while they wait in line, are on hold on the phone, sitting
in doctor’s offices or wherever they happen to be. In fact, one of our
speakers, Claire Cook, wrote her first novel in a minivan while her daughter
was in swim lessons, at five in the morning, no less. “Write Time! Write Now!
Write Place!” is the motto I’ve adopted for myself. I’ve decided that wherever
I’m at, whatever I’m doing, I’m going to carve out time for my writing.
Sarah: I think it’s a
great motto to adopt – especially for the New Year. I’ve always struggled with
getting my butt in chair to write as well. Speaking of struggles, what has been
the most difficult/best part of being conference chair?
Tricia: I’d have to say getting volunteers is the
most difficult part. There’s a lot that goes on and it takes people who are
willing to step up, take the responsibility, and run with it. So, that said if
anyone wants to volunteer, email me at mwgconferenceinfo@gmail.com. I
still need shepherds, folks willing to pick up our speakers and drop them off
at the airport, registration table help, people to fill goodie bags, make name
tags. The list is endless. The best part is getting to know the speakers. And
if you’ve already volunteered, thank you so much. I’ll be getting with you
about possible assignments.
Sarah: I can see how getting to know the speakers
would be the best part. You’ve done a fabulous job building a first-rate list
of conference faculty including Jane Friedman, Christina Katz, Claire Cooke,
Christy Craig, Michelle Mortimer and more. How did you decide who you wanted to
invite?
Tricia: Some of
these folks have been on my radar for a while. I met Jane Friedman at a
Writer’s Digest workshop, Christina Katz at another conference. Jane was there,
too. A friend on Facebook posted about Karen Docter’s approach to plotting. For
folks who don’t know, Claire Cook signed up to follow Sarah’s Twitter feed, so
Sarah did some investigation, found out who she was and set up the initial
contact. I met Patricia Lorenz over 20 years ago at a writing conference. I also wanted to showcase some of the local authorities and talent St. Louis has to offer like Susan McBride, Paul Lesko, Shawntelle Madison, and John C. McManus. When
I started looking at agents, I made a list of genres and topics I wanted
covered and used several online sources to seek agents who fit those needs. When I contact Ann Collette of the Rees Literary Agency she suggested her client Carol K. Carr who lives in Springfield, Mo. Finding a children's writer was difficult. Several authors wanted to come but had schedule conflicts. I was ecstatic when I found Linda Gerber and she agreed to come. It’s like putting together a big puzzle, you just keep fitting the pieces
together until you get what you want.
Sarah: It seems like
who will be speaking at a writing conference is always the biggest puzzle
piece, but what other areas have you found writers consider when deciding which
conference to attend? How does this year’s MWG conference stack up in those
areas?
Tricia: I can’t speak for others, but for me, it’s
always about the agents who will be taking pitch sessions. If there isn’t an
agent who is looking for my genre, I usually will pass on the conference.
That’s why I tried to cover a lot of subjects with the agents I chose. I also
look for networking opportunities with other writers. Is there enough time to
socialize without having to miss sessions? We have a built-in networking
session on Saturday. We also introduced the Open Mic last year and it’s back
this year as well as an expanded Agent Reads the Slushpile. I dispensed with
the standard agent/editor panel this year in favor of an expanded Slushpile
Read. Our conference also has the in-depth
master classes for those who want “a little more” and who aren’t quite ready to
go home.
Sarah: Could you
explain how the agent pitch sessions work?
Tricia: Sure, when you register for the conference
you can choose up to three agents to pitch your manuscript to. Just because you
choose them doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to get one of the agents, but the
earlier you register, the better your chances are to get your first choice. It
also doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to get three pitch sessions. We ask for
three choices in case your first or second choice is not available. There are
only so many hours in the day and we are limited in the number of pitches each
agent/editor can take. This year our agents/editors taking pitches are Debra Hess from Highlights for Children, Rhonda Penders from The Wild Rose Press, Sarah LaPolla from Curtis Brown LTD, Ann Collette from the Rees Literary Agency, Ann Behar from Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Michelle Mortimer from Darhansoff & Verrill, Kristina Makansi from Blank Slate Press, and Katharine Sands from Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.
Basically, if you get a pitch session you have 7 minutes to
tell the agent about your work, sell them the idea and allow them an
opportunity to ask questions. It’s a good idea to practice in advance. Do some
digging on the web for what an agent wants to hear in a pitch session. Many
agents have blogs where they give advice on how to pitch them at conference.
Follow their advice!!
If you are pitching fiction, be sure your manuscript is
finished. Most agents don’t want to hear about a project unless it is finished
and ready to go.
If it is non-fiction, it’s usually okay that it’s not
finished. You’re typically presenting an idea, but the agent will still
probably want an outline and sample chapters finished.
A little do and don’t advice-
Don’t expect an agent or editor to take your full manuscript
with them.
Do bring a first chapter, just in case they ask.
Don’t take up more than your allotted time. When you’re
asked to leave, leave.
Do treat it as a business proposition. Dress and act the
part.
Don’t track down agents and ask them to look at your work.
Do hang out in the bar and offer to buy an agent a drink. In
this case, don’t bring up your work unless they ask. They will.
Do be polite, even if you get a rejection.
Don’t be upset if you aren’t asked to send your work. There
are plenty of agents to query.
Do send your work promptly, if pages are requested.
Do remember that our agents and editors are our guests.
Please respect their privacy. If they are on the phone or talking to another
conference attendee, do not interrupt them.
Sarah: That is all
great info. Thank you for sharing it. So, what kind of networking opportunities
will there be outside of the regular breakout sessions?
Tricia: There are always opportunities between
sessions, the networking social on Saturday, the luncheon and banquet, our Open
Mic. Last year I was asked to provide a list of attendees and their contact
information to all attendees. I didn’t feel right doing that without asking
everyone’s permission. This year I’m going to have some sort of voluntary list.
In other words, if you want your information shared, sign the list and we’ll
share it. If you don’t want your information shared, don’t sign it.
And bring plenty of business cards to hand out. They are
cheap to make on your home computer or you can order them at vistaprints.com. I
always come back from a conference with tons of business cards.
Sarah: Last year, Agent Kristin Nelson did a
breakout session called an “Agent Reads the Slush Pile.” Attendees submitted
the first two pages of their MS and she read through them, just as if she were
reading her slush pile. It was very popular. You mentioned that you’re bringing
it back this year? Can you give us any more details?
Tricia: Yes, everyone loved that. It’s back in an
expanded format this year. Most of our agents will be participating. I don’t
have it all ironed out yet, but we’ll have a great time and plenty of room for
everyone to attend.
Sarah: Multiple
agents? Sounds great! Hopefully that will mean more chances for your pages to
be read. So, I have to ask about our Keynote Speakers. Why did you select
Christina Katz and Claire Cook? What makes them so good?
Tricia: I’ve been a fan of Christina for several
years. When I first started talking to her about being a keynote speaker, I
told her I wanted to end the conference on a high note. A lot of times we hear
gloom and doom about publishing at conferences or how few people really get the
big contract. When Christina told me she had a keynote about “Never a Better
Time to be a Writer,” I was sold. I want our attendees to walk out the door on
a positive note, ready to go back home and make it the “Write Time and Write
Place to Write Now.”
Claire was a no-brainer. She wrote and published her first
book at 45. I’m a bit past that age, but it gives me hope that I can do it to.
I’ve read all of Claire’s novels and they all carry the theme of reinvention.
I’ve found myself thinking, “what if…” a lot. What if I had written my novel 20
years ago or what if I had enrolled in that MFA program instead of the MBA
program. We can second guess ourselves, but unless we do something about it,
what’s the point? It’s my hope that the folks my age who listen to Claire come
away with the fact that it’s not too late and the younger group will come away
with the fact that they can live their dream now.
Sarah: It sounds like you’ve made some excellent
choices, but I’m sure planning everything hasn’t been all roses and candy. Do
you have any cool stories or unusual missives regarding conference planning
that you could share?
Tricia: Oh boy, I could get myself in trouble, but
I’ll take the high road. It’s been a great journey.
One I would not have wanted
to miss. I’ve met some great folks in the writing business and hope to maintain
the friendships that I’ve gained through the experience. I think probably the
coolest thing is reconnecting with someone I met over 20 years ago at a
writers’ conference.
As far as unusual, well, publish your email address on the
Internet and in a major magazine and you can just imagine the kinds of emails
I’ve received.
Sarah: Oh my. I can only imagine. Your inbox and
spam folder must be an adventure all of their own. So, next question. As a
writer organizing a writer’s conference, what have you done to make sure
writers of all genres and skill levels will benefit from this year’s conference?
Tricia: One of my main goals was to have as many
different genres and/or writing-related topics as possible. It took bringing in
a lot of speakers, but I think I’ve done it. We have several writing technique
sessions such as plotting, researching, character motivation, evaluating your
first page. I’ve also worked hard to cover poetry, non-fiction, children’s
writing, humor, women’s fiction. Then I made sure I to include the
business-side with copyright, crafting the non-fiction query, synopsis creation,
writer to speaker, the impact of Google/Amazon/Apple on your career and many
more.
Sarah: I agree. I
would think that any writer should have something they’d be interested in
learning more about in that list. I bet you still get a lot of questions though.
What is the answer to the most common question you get asked about the
conference?
Tricia: The question I’ve been asked the most if do
we have a one-day registration? Unfortunately, the answer to that is no. Since
the registration fee covers 1 ½ days, it would be extremely difficult to offer
either a half day session on Friday or a full day session on Saturday. We also
have contractual issues with the hotel in order to get our meeting rooms at a
discounted price. If we offered the conference in increments, it would be very
difficult to meet those obligations and that would raise the price of the
conference for all attendees.
Sarah: That makes
sense. Last year’s conference chair Deb Marshall hosted a wonderful and well
received event. When you reviewed the conference feedback forms, what was the
most common comment? If it raised a concern, how did you address it this year?
Tricia: Great question. Deb and I looked at every
evaluation that we received and paid close attention to what folks said. The feedback
was extremely positive. Most of the concerns were for things we had no control
over, like the way the conference was split between the hotel and the
conference center last year, the temperature in the rooms, etc.
The biggie that we saw several times was about why we didn’t
provide refreshments like soda, coffee and cookies during the morning and
afternoon. Some even said they would be willing to pay $5 more on the
registration fee for a soda and cookie in the afternoon. Believe it or not, it
is much cheaper for attendees to bring their own drinks or buy them from a
machine, even if the machine costs $2.50. Setting up a one hour break with
soda, coffee and tea costs $10.98 per person.
And that’s just for one break and NO cookies. If we add cookies it goes
to $14.64 per person. If we had two breaks on Saturday it would raise the
registration fee almost $15 per person.
With the economy the way it is, I wanted to keep our prices
as close to last year’s as possible. As it turned out, the price of meals has
gone up considerably, so that is reflected in the registration price and the
banquet price. Probably more than you wanted to know, but that’s the long
answer for why we don’t provide beverages.
This year we are looking for sponsors to sponsor a break or
two, so if you know of a business willing to donate the price of a break for
the conference, please ask them to contact me at mwgconferenceinfo@gmail.com. We have a several different sponsorship
levels with perks for the donor.
Sarah: I do love my coffee, but I understand keeping
costs low is important. Hopefully, we’ll find a sponsor and get the best of
both worlds. My final question is what
are the top five reasons this year’s conference is going to be awesome?
Tricia: Location,
location, location. That’s three, right? We’re in a great neighborhood with
lots of things to see and do before and after the conference.
We have an amazing lineup of speakers. Where can you see
Christina Katz, Jane Friedman, Claire Cook, Christie Craig, Katharine Sands,
Michele Mortimer, Missouri’s first poet laureate Walter Bargen and many more
all in the same place?
Our price is still great considering the number of speakers,
the number of breakout sessions, and two early arrival seminars.
We have David Lucas and Brad Cook hosting our Open Mic.
Again this year, our banquet will highlight the
accomplishments of our members, as well as recognizing the talented winners of
our conference contests.
And we’re doing Nightcaps again this year.
Sarah: The
Nightcaps last year were so much fun and a great networking event. What a good
thought to end the interview on. Tricia, thank you for taking the time to give
us an insight into the planning of a writing conference that potentially helps
so many writers. If anyone has any follow up questions or additional thoughts
to add, please share in the comments.
Leave a comment, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win
a 2012 Conference tote bag. Sharing this blog via Twitter, Facebook, or a blog
post earns you additional chances to win. Just let us know in the comments.
Don’t forget to register. This week is the last week to take
advantage of early bird rates for the “Write Time! Write Place! Write Now”
Conference. Starting Sunday, rates will increase to regular pricing. If you’ve
learned something from reading this blog, please consider attending the 2012 Missouri
Writers Guild Annual writing conference. We would love to see you there.
