The conference was held at Sam’s Town and Gambling Hall, and enormous complex that looked like it sounded, Old West with the Casino players over 50—different strokes for different folks blossomed all over Las Vegas.
The conference was great, the people friendly and informative—I met a couple of women I love, one writes like an angel. If an agent or publisher doesn’t pick up her book, I’m going to smack them.
Okay, what did I learn?
First there are three rules for writing a novel—the trouble is no one knows what they are...
I learned some good stuff, like word count, and that a memoir is treated like a novel, how long it should be, you know, all that jargon. Some say to call a memoir Fictional Narrative or Creative Nonfiction.
Regarding being published, 90% of manuscripts are rejected IMMEDIATELY.
There are three stacks of queries in a publisher’s office, one for agented material—they feel obligated to read those. A second stack is from authors they represent already. Recommendations from friends are also in that stack. The third, the largest, contains the holy unwashed—the rest of us. Time line is 18 to 24 months.
Most publishing houses are based on the “Good Old Boy’s” network—if you don’t know someone you don’t get in. On top of that most major publishing houses are closed to submissions now. Is that discouraging enough?
However, one presenter encouraged writers to give traditional publishing a chance—not to get so tired of looking at your work, thinking about it, that you say “*%$# I’ll publish it myself.” But, she emphasized, expect 90 to 100 rejections.
Mechanics are important, presentation, the cover letter. There is no excuse for submitting something unpolished. [Brother, I never know when it’s done. It gets done, undone, redone. And mechanics, I swear I can read through something I have written and ALWAYS find a mistake. Now that’s where I need an editor. Remember, though, according to one presenter, “There will never be a time in your life when you don’t say, ‘I could have done it better.’”]
Okay, bottom line: PERSEVERE. Most Conference attendees were there to pitch an agent. I attended to learn about pitching, and whatever else was pertinent.
And surprise, I came home with new eyes regarding my manuscript and couldn’t wait to get back to it.
Now that’s a good reason for going to a conference.Daughter Darling, Baby Darling and I loved, loved, loved The Mandalay Bay Resort. I got an excellent rate for the booking. The Shark Exhibit is located in that hotel which was one reason we choose it, so DD and BD could visit the sharks, the crocodile, the boa constrictor, the octopus, and walk to places while I attended the conference. The hotel was better than we anticipated. The pool was exquisite, the best we have seen since leaving Hawaii. It included a wave pool, and one quarter mile of “Lazy River.” The river has a current of two miles an hour, two water falls drop onto one’s head like bricks—great massage down the back though, and you could avoid the falls if you want. And no chlorine smell! They must treat the water with something else. The river was about four feet deep. Baby Darling rode on Daughter’s back as we coursed the river, round and round, squatting slightly due to the depth, and when our legs turned to noodles we got out.
That afternoon we walked on those noodle legs until mine were worn off at the knees, then we collapsed in the hotel, grew new legs and began again the next day.
Bed-time story by Baby Darling: A princess came upon a bee’s nest, she couldn’t tell the color of her dress because it was transparent. She found a door at the back of the bee’s house . It opened. There was a kitchen. In the kitchen she made toasted cheese sandwiches with tomato and onion, and a mosquito helped her. (Now all we need is a threat to the bee’s nest and the princess saving the day.) Hum, who’s going to be the writer?
Charge ahead!Joyce
www.kevinbparsons.com
