NETWORKING AT THE ANWA WRITERS CONFERENCE

As an employment missionary, I've begun to notice the similarities between hopeful authors and job seekers. This post helps answer the questions "What do I say? What do I do?" for both.

The ANWA writers’ conference is nearing. It’s time to lay a plan to make this event work for you. To do that, you should think of it as a networking opportunity. The best, actually.

How often do you get the opportunity to speak with 100 or more writers/authors/editors/agents under one roof? Don’t be afraid of those ‘more published’ than you. Don’t shy away from the editors and agents. Take a deep breath and remind yourself, they are here to meet you.

It takes a bit of the pressure off to remind yourself that they are also human. So, don’t sit back in the shadows. Go out and make a few contacts. Meet some new friends. Enjoy the company of ‘old’ friends. And remember the rules of networking:

Smile

State your name clearly

If you shake hands, don’t be a limp fish.

AND, do not monopolize the time of others no matter how fascinating you find them.

Visit. Don’t be overlooked, but don’t be pushy or aggressive. In other words, treat them as you would wish to be treated if you were in their shoes.

 

ME IN 30 ... WHAT?

As many years as it’s been around, the Me in 30 second statement (a.k.a. summary statement) is still gaining ground. Most people we talk to have never heard of it.

All it is, is a few prepared sentences about yourself that are focused on your prime objective.

It’s a simple thing. Really. Then why does the mere mention of it elicit terror?

I’ve decided there are several reasons. One reason may be that we don’t really know our for-real-and-true prime objective. To get a job, sure, but doing what? Most people we talk to could be equally successful doing any number of things.

And, that’s the great thing about the Me in 30. We can have more than one! Yay! And then, depending on who we’re talking to, we can say something different. The Me in 30 is to keep us from babbling, and to help us sound intelligent. Heh.

NOW, IN THE WRITER’S WORLD:

We already have an idea about saying things in the least amount of time. We have several names for it. The Elevator Speech, a Tag Line/ Log Line/ blurb—they’re all a little different, yes. But, they are each meant to help us get right to the point.

Our goal is similar to that of the unemployed; we want our book published/ they want a job. Learning on how to focus on our facts is an important part of sounding publish/ job worthy.

SO, HERE IT IS IN A NUTSHELL:

1. Give a brief introduction. Include your objective/ genre

“Hi. I’m Tina Scott, and I write Historical Fiction with a romantic twist.

2. Share a few specific examples of your accomplishments in that regard/ or how you are qualified. Basically, let them know why they should care.

“Many of my ancestors are from Denmark, and I feel their life stories are interesting. According to the 2009 census, there are over 1,500,000 people with Danish ancestry living in America. I believe my books speak to this often overlooked part of our population.”

3. Share a few things that set you/your book apart from the others.

“Since there are many popular books on pioneers in America, my books are set mostly in Denmark or aboard their immigrant ship.”

These brief statements are meant to whet the appetite of your listener; to get them to ask more. So, be sure to have more prepared and ready to share if the opportunity arises.

Good luck, and happy networking!

 

 

A WRITER'S CONFERENCE IN THE CLOUDS

I say in the clouds because I came home on cloud nine--me and about a hundred others. I promise that the results of my attending the ANWA writer's conference were similar to other's.
I did not get an agent interested in my fairy story, but that's okay. My asking about it was last minute. I like the story, but it's a cross-genre type of tale and agents have a tendency to shy away from that sort of thing.

What I did do is put myself out there. I talked to agents and editors. Not to try and sell them on my book, but perhaps just to get them thinking about me in a possitive way. Having no pressure to "sell" was a freeing experience. "Hi, I'm Tina. What kinds of things are you interested in?"

At other conferences, the pressure to "sell" myself or my book paralyzed me. I could barely breathe let alone carry on a conversation. This time I introduced my sister and my friends, and also had time to share a bit about myself and my writing.

It was an intense two and a half days of learning the craft of writing and self promotion, and stealing moments here and there to go write an inspired thought or two. From sunup to sundown we were living and breathing our writing dreams.

And, BTW--I WON FIRST PLACE IN THE ROMANCE CATEGORY OF THE BOB (BEGINNING OF BOOK) CONTEST!!!!! Funny, because that particular entry was sent in as an after thought.

The conference was life-changing in more ways that just my winning a contest, however. I plan on this being a year of changes. And it all started with my going to a writer's conference.

Way to work on your dreams, Tina! Good job!
See you next week. (figuratively speaking, of course.)

LOGLINES

In a moment of delirium, I signed up for an agent-pitch at the ANWA writers' conference. It must have been delirium that made me think I could sit face-to-face with an agent and talk coherently about my work.

It's one thing to write enticing loglines for your novel, it's another thing all together to remember it when someone asks about your book. However, in anticipation of the conferoence and the agent pitch looming in my near future,I have written a logline for each of my novels.

You think I'm a gifted writer? You want to read more? Why, yes, I happen to have copies of all five of my novels here in my purse.--This is the way a writer dreams--it's the way I do, anyway.
Here are my loglines. I'd love a comment on what you think.

Farewell, My Denmark:
A Danish convert reluctantly joins the 1863 Mormon pilgrimage to America. She gets more adventure than she bargains for when thieves catch her searching for stolen heirlooms, and she fears she may not live long enough to open her heart to love.

My Sweet Danish Rose:
When her family immigrates to America, a Danish girl stays to care for her aging aunt, but is left on her own when the aunt is sent to the poor house. In order to escape the home of the tyrant who has taken her in, she must decide whether or not to forsake her religion for love.

The Almost Missionary:
A young man sets out on his mission hoping, but not believing that he can defy his family genetics and be a successful missionary. It isn’t until after his father’s heart attack, and he almost goes home early, that he learns what it means to be the Lord’s servant.

Fairy Dust:
A menopausal woman wakes to discover she has fairy wings and a fairy mission to perform. She must master the art of flying, solve the fairies dilemma, battle pixies, deal with a hateful neighbor, and turn her family into believers—all while keeping the house clean and having dinner ready on time each night.

East of Eden, a ghost story:
A young man has a strong attraction to a beautiful ghost who haunts him. It’s through recurring dreams that he’s his great-grandfather, a man who was involved in Arizona’s biggest unsolved gold heist, that he learns the identity of the spirit and gains the strength to battle the demons in his own life.