Midwest Writer's Workshop

Announcement

The Midwest Writer's Workshop

July 28-30

Muncie, Indiana

Look who's on the program!

Cathy Day — novelist

Patti Digh — nonfiction author

Libby Fischer Hellmann — crime writing novelist

Mike Lawson — political thriller novelist

J.T. (Jen) Dutton — young adult novelist

Dennis Hensley & Holly Miller — faculty for Manuscript Makeovers

Kathleen Ortiz — Nancy Coffey Literary and Media Representation

Jessica Sinsheimer — Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

Roseanne Wells — Marianne Strong Literary Agency

Lois Winston — Ashley Grayson Literary Agency

Dana Kaye — Kaye Publicity

Jane Friedman — industry authority on commercial, literary and emerging forms of publishing

Gary Hensley — tax specialist

Matthew V. Clemens — novelist and publisher

David Slonim —banquet speaker, author and illustrator of children’s books

Additional Presenters: D.E. Johnson, Cathy Shouse, Karen Lenfestey

Review: Kentucky Women Writer's Conference

I attended the Kentucky Women Writer’s Conference this weekend – my first ever writer’s conference! Full of expectation and yet expecting nothing at all, I went with an open mind with my spontaneity sensors all tuned up and shiny.

I can’t tell you yet specifically what I learned because I’m still swallowing it; it isn’t yet mine. Only when it is truly mine can I give it away. I can, however, turn to what Heather Sellers refers to as “the decoy” – the story I can talk about.

1)    1)   A two-part session with Heather Sellers titled Page After Page: Inspiration Meets Craft: 10 tips for finishing your book was serendipitously exactly what I needed to hear. Some of her tips are already a part of my writing ways and hearing them validated was both encouraging and energizing. I especially loved #3: “You won’t find time because Time isn’t hiding, you are”. In discussing this one, she commented that if you are creative enough to write, you can be creative enough to find time, or rather, use time creatively. Entertaining as well as relevant and real in a raw kind of way, Heather is an awesome presenter who made the conference well worth my hard-earned cash and precious time.

2)      2) Agent and publicist Erin Cox was the other great gem of the Kentucky Women Writer’s Conference for me. I was ready and ripe for words from the inside of the publishing world.

Kudos to the conference organizers and supporters! The Kentucky Women Writer’s Conference is a great conference – not too big; not too small; not too long and not over-packed. My first writer’s conference experience was tremendous and I would definitely recommend this one to other aspiring writers. Look forward to next year’s conference and be sure to register early so you can participate in small, specialized workshops because they fill up quickly!

Muse Online Writer’s Conference

I just registered for the Muse Online Writer’s Conference! It is scheduled for October 11 – 17.  Because it is online, you don’t have to pay for hotels, transportation, food, etc.

There are workshops, pitch-sessions, presenters, even a book store – all the things you get at a physical real-time conference. It looks pretty cool, so check it out. If you are planning on attending, let me know because it would be nice to connect with other writers before the start date.