Mixed Feelings on Writer's Conference Experience

First off, what an exhausting day it was!  I crammed in 14 hours of learning and attempting to sell myself (well, my ideas and my writing).  By the end of the day, I was beyond beat.  I was mentally and emotionally drained.

I thought I was going in more prepared than I had been previously and in some ways that is true because this time I went with four completed manuscripts to pitch, whereas before (when I went a decade ago) I had ideas but few completed works.  However, my idea to create a pitch page (which had my contact information, a photo, and four paragraphs offering blurbs to describe each of my four young adult novels) was a disappointment.  I had spent so much money making copies of these (and of the first chapters of each novel) in the hopes of passing them out to potential editors and agents.  I had scoured the faculty listing for ones interested in young adult manuscripts and checked off ten individuals I might approach.

Alas, when I arrived at the conference, I discovered that a single-day attendee was only allowed to sign up for one slot with a faculty member.  Plus, the Tyndale House editor who deals with young adult manuscripts was out sick for the day - sigh.  So I signed up with an agent I know doesn't accept unsolicited queries.  Then I noticed that there were loads of openings, since most people had signed up earlier in the conference and gotten these little meetings out of the way.  A sign indicated that after Wednesday, I could sign up for another one if there was room.  I probably broke the rules, but I signed on with four individuals, even missing the first half of one of my classes in order to meet with these individuals and pitch my manuscripts.

Most of the agents and editors looked over the sheet but didn't wish to take it or even take any of the chapter samples I offered.  I got the general impression that they didn't wish to be inundated with four different ideas at one time.  They all seemed to want me to select one which I feel most passionate about (as if you could choose one of your children that you think stands out above the others).  I found myself really discouraged that I had put the time and effort into preparing something to pass out, which they obviously didn't want to see or take.

Some of the meetings went very well and others, well ... I'll get to that in a minute.  The first meeting, with the excellent agent whose blog I've followed for writing and publishing advice, was a bit disappointing, but she was very kind.  She explained that stories told in letters and journals don't appeal to her and that she probably wasn't a good fit for any of the ideas I was pitching.  But, she did say they were sound ideas and had potential, just not with her.

The second and third individuals were both very positive and encouraging.  The second one kept my pitch paragraph sheet and even accepted each of the four first chapters I had to offer.  She asked me to send the first three chapters and a synopsis for each one.  The third editor also requested the first 3 chapters (saying she really liked my "voice" and my ideas), in addition to a synopsis and a book proposal.  The third editor even sent me to linger near a different editor (she was convinced he might be interested, as well) until he had an opening.  I seized the moment just before lunch to check in with him and he expressed an interest in my Dream-catcher and the Frog-Kisser manuscript.  He even grew quite animated as he envisioned how the novel would end and different plot development ideas (which didn't exactly coincide with how my novel actually goes - an example of where an editor has a different vision for your manuscript than you do).  Still, he also requested the first 50 pages, along with a synopsis and a book proposal.

As I talked with these three editors, I was both excited and overwhelmed.  It was a great feeling to hear their enthusiasm for my ideas.  But, I've only had experience writing one synopsis, and I believe I did that one incorrectly because I found something on-line which said you list chapter-by-chapter what happens in the book (a model more for a non-fiction book - fiction is generally a one to three page condensed version of what all happens in the novel).  Moreover, I've never written a book proposal and that is most daunting of all.  I will definitely be buying Michael Hyatt's book on writing book proposals.  I think it was tremendously overwhelming because even though I've come a long way from where I was a decade ago, it was clear that I still have so far to go and am still quite green about this whole exhausting process.

My two afternoon classes were both very informative and enjoyable.  The first one, taught by the agent mentioned earlier, talked about building a platform by using Google to find readers for your book.  The second class, taught by the agent who requested my Dream-Catcher and the Frog-Kisser manuscript several months ago, moved me to tears.  She was trying to encourage writers to change lives by writing books with powerful messages.  She read aloud from several examples (this is where the tears came in) and I was deeply moved and challenged.  I thought to myself, "if only I could write a novel with the depth of meaning held in these examples." (One of the examples was The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and another was Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers.)  I loved the agent's encouragement to "write what God wants you to write" and "you can blatantly preach in your stories, but you cannot be preachy."

I left those classes feeling super-charged and, still, a little bit intimidated.  Then, I approached the fourth editor for a pitch session.  This editor was from a very conservative university publishing house.  I should have realized that it wouldn't be a good fit before scheduling it, but it did say YA on the sign-up sheet and I thought I'd give it a shot. 

This was the most demoralizing experience I've ever had at a writer's conference.  She was negative and demeaning through the whole ten minute encounter.  After reading the very first paragraph, she turned and said, "You obviously didn't read our guidelines, or you would have known that we don't handle any manuscripts with time travel or elements of magic."  My bad and entirely warranted.  Then, she picked apart my novel about a young girl who finds forgiveness for her father through a correspondence with an elderly aunt.  It was the way she said things that felt so wounding.  "Do you remember, from your English classes, the diagram of plot development?  You have to have an action that propels the story upward towards the moment of climax.  All you have here is a character with an emotional response."  Finally, she looked at my If Bones Could Speak blurb and shot it down with "There's a girlfriend in this!  Our readers won't tolerate any form of boy-girl attachment in their novels.  These are home-schooling families who don't want to introduce their teenagers to that element or idea."

It certainly would have been nice if she could have found one encouraging thing to say to me during our interaction.  Instead, I left feeling like I had just been attacked by a pit bull.  I went to dinner and considered just abandoning the evening session and the critique group.  Thankfully, I plugged on.

The key-note speaker, Bob Hostetler, got up and expressed exactly what I was feeling.  The highs and lows of emotion, the exhaustion, the feeling of "Who am I kidding?  I'll never make it."  But, he charged us with three things: read, pray, and write.  He acknowledged that writing is hard and will test you in tremendous ways, but in the end, if you can't help but write, then it is entirely worth it.  I picked myself up out of the doldrums and renewed my pledge to do whatever God wants with the talent and ideas He has given me.

The critique session was encouraging, as well.  The other five or six people in the group were very positive in their comments and suggestions.  I was able to read samples from two of my books.  I was thrilled when I heard them comment that I nailed the voice on the main character in Dream-Catcher and the Frog-Kisser.  They loved the title, but wondered if it shouldn't have a "The" at the beginning.  I'm not sure how I feel about that suggestion.  Still, I appreciated their input and they even taught me how to eliminate the pesky extra space which keeps showing up after each paragraph in my Word documents.

So, I came away with a great deal of learning, some encouragements, and some discouragements.  The positives outweighed the negatives, but I still felt overwhelmed.  It was a good, but hard, experience.  Now, I have to follow up on the requests and learn a thing or two about writing synopses and book proposals.

Heading to a Writer's Conference

I am moments away from leaving to attend one day of a four-day writer's conference in Wheaton, Illinois, called the Write-to-Publish Conference.  I have gone twice before and netted no greater results than camaraderie with my writer's group in attendance, encouragement to keep writing, and a chance to meet a few other writers.  I am hoping for great things from this visit.

For one, I am taking a class taught by the agent who holds one of my manuscripts (it is even an appropriate class for me to take since its focus is on not boring young readers).  I think this will be a wonderful opportunity to give her a face behind the manuscript and provide her with evidence that I've prepared more than just one YA novel manuscript for consideration.  I have made up a page of pitch paragraphs, condensing each of my novels down into one paragraph, complete with my contact information and my photo.  I hope to pass this out to as many agents and editors as I can while there and am hoping that my photo will help them to remember me long after the dust of the conference has settled.

I have also printed out copies of the first chapter (or first ten pages) of each manuscript, in case one of the agents or editors expresses an interest in seeing a better view of my actual writing ability.  Sadly, our toner cartridge went on our printer prior to my need of these copies, so I found myself at a copy shop this morning, paying an exorbitant amount to bring along this ammunition.  I hope that I am able to discharge every cartridge (hand out every manuscript sample) and that some of the shots hit their desired target.

I am also hoping that I can manage to pack the benefits of the full conference into the single day I selected (I couldn't afford to be away for all of it).  I am bracing myself for a day of over-stimulation.  I will, no doubt, crash and burn tomorrow night.  Thankfully, I have friends who have offered to put me up, so I was able to forego the expense of accommodation.

All this to say, I am on pins and needles as I prepare to pull out of the driveway on my little jaunt.  I am praying that God will work out the connections that He sees fit to make in my time there.  I have placed my writing in His hands.  Now, I'm off to sell myself and my writing to the best of my ability.

Book Review: The Thank You Room

This was another book I accessed for free through Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.  Honestly, I loved it.  I read it in one sitting.  I love to read memoirs because it is someone else's story.  I get to peek inside someone else's life.  But the really good memoirs are the ones where the story sucks you in and the emotions are provided in addition to the actions.  Serenity Bohon has succeeded on both counts.

Serenity tells the story of her twenty-ninth year, a year when two very important things stretched her beyond herself.  It was the year she discovered she was pregnant with her third child and also the year she was diagnosed with cancer.  She writes candidly about her emotions through this entire year - the good and the bad, the faith-filled moments and the moments of sheer terror.  She wears her human frailties openly and I applaud that.  It gives the reader a more authentic view of the experience of facing cancer.

Perhaps I was more ready for this book, given the fact that my little brother has been recently diagnosed with his own cancer that spread to his lungs and liver.  I can relate to the sheer terror, to the lingering thoughts of the possibility of death and what that would mean to a family with children.  But, more probably, I can relate to it because it is a story well-told and with great poignancy.  The author tells the tale in a series of thank you notes to the people who came alongside and supported her in the struggle.  It is a testament to the power of human connection for strengthening one for whatever battle one must face.

I think the thing I appreciated most in the tale was the author's honest assessment of the trials others face.  At one point, she mentions a friend who was struggling with depression.  She acknowledges the ease with which others rally around someone facing cancer and the discomfort others feel in trying to assist someone with depression.  There are trials far more sensitive and raw where support systems don't fall into place as easily.  Kudos to Serenity for shining a light on those who struggle with the awkward trials and for thanking her tremendous entourage of burden-bearers.  I am thankful for the chance to witness the power of community and God's grace through trial.  So, as a reader, my thank you echoes in her thank you room, as well.

It is available for purchase through Amazon.

Book Review: Gregor and the Marks of Secret

Gregor and the Marks of Secret is the fourth book in The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games.  Of the three previous installments, the third book was my favorite.  This book was full of adventure, but still ranks behind Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods in my opinion.

I guess, for me, the mystery that pulled the characters into quest mode in this book didn't quite hold my interest.  Gregor is returning to the Underland more frequently because his mother is still there recuperating from the plague she succumbed to in the third volume.  He returns for regular echolocation exercises with Ripred, the Rat.  At the beginning, Ripred informs them that they must kill the Bane because he has risen to great power now that he is fully grown.  Gregor is still loathe to do him in, despite his great size and his eagerness for power.  I got the impression the book would be about destroying the Bane, but I was wrong.

Instead, Gregor and Queen Luxa are drawn into a quest to determine what is happening to the Nibblers (mice).  Even though he doesn't want to be drawn into another prophecy, Gregor agrees to accompany Luxa (for whom he is beginning to have stronger feelings) on her search for the mice and the reason for their disappearance.  Once again, they end up going on the quest with the baby, Boots, in tow.  Not sure why this keeps happening, although it always seems to provide more incentive for Gregor to be careful and watch over her during the quest.

In this installment, Suzanne Collins has incorporated story-lines to parallel actual experiences with war.  When Queen Luxa declares war on the rats (even though it doesn't officially begin in this book), the reader is bound to begin thinking about the ethics of war.  Deeper concepts are presented through the use of story equivalents.  This book excels in forcing the reader to make real-life connections and to ponder important issues.

Still, this feels more like a filler book, leading the way to the final book in the series where Gregor will once again be called upon to fulfill his role in an Underland prophecy.  It wasn't a slow read.  Plenty of action and adventure carried the story along, but it did seem less gripping than the previous book.  I am eager to read the final installment and see how Collins has chosen to end Gregor's destiny.  Will he die trying to fulfill the final prophecy?  Will some further ill come to Queen Luxa?  Or will Luxa and Gregor end up together after all, providing a joining of the two worlds, the Overland and the Underland?

Free Books for Review

I've been mentioning recently this new website I've discovered called "Story Cartel."  The idea is that you are able to download books for free as long as you agree to write a review.  I'm super excited because I just learned that Dalaina May's wonderful book, Yielded Captive, is available for free for the next 20 days if you are willing to write a review of the book after reading it.  You can see from my review here that I really loved this book.  If you are interested in reading Dalaina's excellent story of a missionary taken captive in the jungles of Peru, then you can head here and sign up for Story Cartel yourself.  Yippee!

Book Review: You Are a Writer

One of my fellow writer's group writers led me to Jeff Goins and I have been receiving his updates regularly since then.  I read his Writer's Manifesto, but didn't really feel led to write a review.  He recently started a new website called "Story Cartel," which allows readers access to manuscripts for the purposes of reviews.  I decided to check it out and the first book I selected to read and review was Jeff Goin's book, You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One).

I think this book would be extremely useful to someone who is just beginning to follow their dream of becoming a writer.  Every writer starts out not fully believing that they have what it takes to make other people want to read their words.  Jeff provides a pep talk encouraging the newbie to really believe they already are a writer and to buckle down and actually do the work of writing (after all if you call yourself a writer, but never write ... hmmm).  I suppose I already believe myself to be a writer, so the pep talk didn't exactly seem necessary.

Still, I think Goins had great things to say and would be encouraging to the newbie.  He emphasizes the importance of following and writing what you are passionate about.  This is the only way to find your authentic voice and your authentic voice is what the world needs to hear. 

I do think his encouragements are primarily targeting non-fiction writers.  I have no desire to go out there and write articles (apart from my book reviews), but I give myself wholeheartedly to my fiction writing (as he suggests).  The key thing I received from this book was the message to follow my passion, build connections with potential readers, and believe in the art I was meant to create.  On the whole, every writer could stand to hear another pep talk.  While nothing was brand-new to me, it was still encouraging and motivating.

The only additional thing I will add is that there are millions of people in the world who have something to say.  As the Bible says, "of making many books there is no end." (Eccl. 12:12)  I don't think you will necessarily excel as a writer because you put into practice these offered steps.  I think it does come down to timing, your willingness to show up and do what you need to do, and God's desire to make something of those words.  The process could break down in any of those spheres.  Who knows.  The important thing is to show up and be willing to be a vessel.

Book Review: The Redeemer

Jo Nesbo's The Redeemer isn't the kind of book I would normally read.  In fact, it is kind of amazing that I continued reading despite the filth included in this book.  My interest was piqued because the book is about a Salvation Army soldier who is murdered while standing at a kettle at Christmas time in Norway (the author is Norwegian and has apparently been translated into 47 languages).  I think I wanted to see if the author really did his research and got the presentation of Army people correct.

My analysis?  He failed to accurately portray The Salvation Army and their constituents.  He presented a shell of Salvation Army terms and concepts adorned with entirely worldly attributes (lust, greed, corruption, immorality, etc.).  Of the eight or nine soldiers presented in the tale, all but one give in to sexual misconduct or some other form of ethical misconduct.  I think the author saw using The Salvation Army as an interesting device, with little concern for accuracy in presentation.

I can understand the appeal of his books.  He writes well.  In the almost 400 pages of this book, he keeps the reader guessing clear up to the end as to who is responsible for the hiring of the hit man. Although confusing at times, because it jumps around from character to character, the pacing in the book was perfect.  The solution to the puzzle was an interesting premise.  The story carried you along, anticipating the climax and resolution.

The characters, however, were entirely immoral.  The book was full to the brim with casual sexual encounters, lewd homosexual acts, rape, and the like.  The sad thing is that this tale could have been told without all that filth.  The premise was worthwhile.  The thought of a religious organization being targeted is intriguing. The police investigation was gripping.  Sadly, it was all overrun with despicable behavior.

If this author interviewed Salvation Army officers for his research for this book, I can imagine that they would be horrified to know what came of his research.  They would not be happy with his presentation of The Salvation Army.  As a former member of The Salvation Army, I'm disturbed by the images presented in this book. 

Obviously an author has fair game for inventing story lines within any segment of society, but sadly the Army was presented in a bad, completely erroneous light in this fictional tale.  Then again, one cannot expect an author with no religious moorings to portray true Christianity or even a hint of the depth of meaning behind true redemption.  As a crime writer, he nailed his subject, but his religious commentary was far from the mark.  What's sad is that people buy into this presentation as if it is accurate.  For example, a writer for the Daily Telegraph declared it "a complex story, impossible to second-guess, which proves that greed, lust and a desire for revenge lurk within the saintliest of folk."  While I admit that even the saintliest of folk can be susceptible to sin's allure, such attributes are the exception, rather than the rule and Army people, on the whole, are more interested in being a light in the darkness than in acting in the manner this author presents.