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Follow through on that New Year resolution to build a stronger online presence... Internet ACE: Building Your Online Self-Promotion Platform with Gregory A. Kompes — learn how build, brand, and expand your writing career using Internet Technology during this 10 week, interactive, online course. Begins May 5, 2008. $147. Register Today! |
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How's the weather where you are? Most of the country is suffering through late winter with snow, sleet, and rain. During times like these it may be good to have something to look forward to. How about attending a writer's conference in the spring? This week's article and recommendation will help you search and prepare for attending your next writer's event. ~Gregory |
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February 14, 2008 |
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Gregory A. Kompes, Editor |
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ISSUE #165 |
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February 23 — Book Fair — 2pm-4pm
Writer’s Pen & Grill (Las Vegas, NV) is a social networking evening for writers. Meets the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Open to all. Visit http://www.PenandGrill.com for location and details. |
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The two main reasons to attend conferences and workshops are education and networking. Of those, networking is the most important. The agents and publishers I met during my time as coordinator of the Las Vegas Writer's Conference said most of the new clients they pick up are among those they met face-to-face at a conference or writer's event. I also frequently meet people to interview for projects at conferences. Most writers have or have had lives before they became writers. This expertise can prove invaluable. In addition, it's not uncommon to end up with my own speaking gigs and new projects because of the people I meet. Finally, I've learned a lot about the craft of writing by attending conference sessions and workshops. While those hour sessions aren't long enough to learn everything about a new topic, having your appetite whetted will expand what and how you learn when you get home. Decide how you'll take advantage of the opportunities and prepare using these five tips: 1. Prepare your 30 second elevator speech that describes you, your work, and your current project. It's the perfect response to the common questions: "What do you write?" and "What are you working on?" 2. Talk to and meet everyone you can (faculty, event coordinators, and attendees), you never know who will be a perfect contact; everyone has the potential. 3. Sit next to someone you don't know at every session and meal. Don't just sit next to someone unknown to you, talk to them. For an ice breaker, use the questions from #1. 4. Hand your professional looking business cards everyone you meet. 5. Likewise, collect every business card and handout you can and write notes on them about the person you got it from. When you get home, send a note or thank you card (physical, not email) to everyone you met. |
Shaw GuidesMy favorite online location to hunt for writer's conferences and workshops is Shaw Guides. In recent years, they've gotten into selling space on their site, so scrolling through the list is now cumbersome. You have to get through several pages of paid placement before you arrive at the alphabetical listings. But, the search feature, state listings, and monthly listings, keep Shaw Guides at the top of my list when I'm looking for writer's conferences and workshops to attend. |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I was running out of options in a small town in Northeast Florida I decided to join the Marines. I chose writing as a career field because I knew I didn't want to do anything else in the Corps. I mean, there's not much of a civilian job market for rifleman or tank driver. I was horrible when I first started writing. For two years, I was yelled at, firmly coached and I did more pushups than the law should allow. I made it through hell and ended up being named the 1998 Marine Corps Print Journalist of the Year. I left the Corps in 2003, and I currently don't have a job in writing, but I continue to write. 2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) Defense Information School, Ft Meade, MD. I completed the basic print and broadcast courses, as well as the editors course. I also did 2 years at Chaminade University in Hawaii, but I never finished my degree. 3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? When people wanted me to coach writers instead of be a writer. 4. How would you describe your style of writing? First of all, I try to write common. I don't need to use big words to look smart. I mean, most people are educated beyond their own intelligence levels anyway. I love writing commentaries. I'll tackle any subject, from the Don Imus circus earlier this year to why I think space travel is stupid. I know I'm not a poet or a fiction writer. I just write about what goes on around me. 5. What is your writing process? I just do it. There's not much to it. I do talk to myself while I write. People think I sound crazy. 6. What was your path to publication? I was published in military newspapers and websites. 7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? I don't know. I don't get paid to write, so I don't guess I'm qualified to answer that question. 8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? I love the people I've met. I love their stories and I feel honored to present these pieces of people's lives to my readers. 9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? I look to the events around me to find material to write about. If I think MySpace is ridiculous, I'll write about it. If I think the president is screwing up, I'll write about it. I write to get the frustrations of life off my chest. |
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10. What is your proudest writer moment? Knowing that people enjoy what I write. Who am I? I'm just another schmuck like everyone else. When someone gets a laugh or some insight about something I bang out, that justifies your hard work. I think that's what it's all about. 11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? The first hard and fast rule of writing: There are no hard and fast rules of writing. 12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? The first two years. 13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? None. I do it for free as a hobby. 14. What is your writer life philosophy? Follow your heart and passion at all costs. 15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? I kill kittens and steal car stereos. Oh, I also like spending time with my children, playing sports, and playing guitar. 16. Who do you like to read? No one in particular. 17. What’s your advice for new writers? Listen to what people are telling you and read as much as you can within your genre. 18. What are you currently working on? I want to be a sports columnist. That's my next goal. I want to quit my day job and be a columnist. |
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ISSN 1554-0804 |
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Are you a published author? Take the 18Q today! |
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Patchwork Path: Grandma’s Choice Deadline: March 31, 2008. Choice Publishing Group is looking for original stories and essays up to 2000 words about and by grandmothers and the choices they make. Each submission will be reviewed and considered based on creativity, originality, concept, and style. Reading will be continuous and submissions will be considered as they arrive. Not all works will be accepted. There is NO Entry or Reading Fee. Queer Collection: Prose & Poetry 2009 Deadline: December 31, 2008. Pays upon publication. Looking for creative original prose and poetry by and for a gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, and queer (GLBTQ) audience. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be considered. http://www.queercollection.com |