It’s only fifty weeks until next year’s Florida Writers Conference. That may seem like a long time, but we’re already starting to plan for next year. Work’s already started on attracting some top-notch agents and publishers–and we can unofficially confirm that we’re shooting to have a lot more of this next year than ever before.
We’re also shooting to improve the conference with our faculty selections, course offerings, and the Thursday fundraiser for the Florida Writers Foundation, not to mention a number of other areas.
That’s where you come in.
We’ve got a great group of nearly 1000 members in the Florida Writers Association, and it keeps growing every day. The secret behind sites like Facebook and LinkedIn is that your network isn’t just the list of people you know, it’s also the list of people your friends and contacts know.
So we’re asking you to put your network to use to help us with next year’s conference. If you know someone you think might be a great addition to next year’s conference, just let us know! Drop us a line with contact information and we’ll take it from there. If you have a personal connection with the person you recommend, we may ask for your help in recruiting.
We can’t promise that we can make it work for all the people who are recommended, but we’d certainly appreciate your help in lining up some possibilities. We’d especially like to know if you can recommend potential conference sponsors and exhibitors. The revenue from these valued business partners helps to underwrite the cost of the conference and keep our prices as low as possible.
Thanks for your help! We’re looking forward to seeing you next year (if not before)!
For me, one of the most useful sessions in the conference was Saturday morning’s session of writing to a prompt. The promise of working with Woodstream Writers Workshop founder Jamie Morris was enough to drag several dozen people out of bed at an ungodly hour of the weekend.
Her prompt was to write about an object that you or your protagonist has that was received as a gift, stolen, or inherited. The exercise itself was outstanding. Personally, I never thought of using this method to add freshness and life to my prose. Typically, I’m much more linear than that. Her simple writing exercise opened up a new writing method for me.
So with today’s post, we’ll make a small attempt to pay it forward. Go someplace where no one can bother you (and that includes the Internet). Take a second to collect yourself, then write about the best accomplishment in your life or your protagonist’s life. Take twenty-five minutes. (You should use a timer of some sort. Counting one-Mississippi 1500 times might take away from your writing.) See what you come up with.
If you’d like, share it.
This year’s Florida Writer’s Conference had a bigger slice than ever before talking about social media and marketing what you write. With the advent of tools like blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube, you have more opportunity than ever before to get in front of your readers and help them help you build buzz about your book.
There are even people who can help you with your marketing. We’ve had some of them at our last two conferences and some haven’t appeared with us (yet).
Here’s a partial list of some resources you can use to help you get the word out, without spending a mint on your marketing efforts:
- Sandra Beckwith appeared at this year’s conference, where she did a couple sessions on social media and marketing your work. See her website at http://www.sandrabeckwith.com/index.htm and her blog at http://buildbuzz.blogspot.com/.
- Penny Sansevieri was at last year’s conference and targets authors with many of her marketing approaches. She’s also active using Blogtalkradio (her Publishing Insiders show airs periodically and is always available in archived episodes). Her website is http://www.amarketingexpert.com/index.html.
- Almost Savvy’s Irene Koehler doesn’t gear her web presence to authors, but she understands how to exploit the new tools to your advantage. If you’re looking to exploit Twitter or LinkedIn, Irene can help you learn the basics quickly and easily.
- Problogger is a great site if you want to learn how to use a blog to maximize your visibility. This site is aimed primarily at people who want to make money blogging, but it contains some great tips for those who want to maximize the strategic use of your blog.
What sources do you use to help you market your work?
I never cared for John Denver music as a kid. It was country when country wasn’t cool and, to boot my mom liked John Denver a lot. When you’re a teenaged boy if your mom likes a performer, unless his last name is Van Halen, you probably won’t like that performer.
Then Thomas Magnum got shot in a warehouse and Looking for Space started to play. This was in the aftermath of Miami Vice, when music became a character in hour-long dramas, but this wasn’t a trendy song. Its lyrics, however, struck me and it’s been one of my favorites ever since–even though John Denver sang it.
Ever since, I’ve looked to song lyrics to help me crystallize the themes in my work. Last month, I got to see U2 at Raymond James Stadium. U2’s been a favorite for a long time. It’s Christian rock good enough that it isn’t marketed or thought of as Christian rock. A few years ago, when I was struggling with something, the lyrics to Stuck in a Moment (You Can’t Get Out Of) resonated with me. Considering the struggles my protagonist faces, it suits the mood of my novel well, too.
Most of my experience with lyrics has come from watching the integration of music and story on TV, especially when the lyrics fit the mood perfectly. A episode of Lost did this perfectly a few years back, as Hurley and Charlie decided to drive a VW bug down a steep hill to pop the clutch. When they did, the eight-track tape in the van’s player started playing Shambala. As the scene shifted from the van starting and running to everyone going back to camp, the Three Dog Night version faded out and an orchestral version with swelling strings took its place.
Music and lyrics can help you frame your story and add, their meaning catching the moment in a way no other medium can. U2’s In a Little While is written as a promise from Bono to his family, but Joey Ramone listened to it on his death bed. And if you listen to the lyrics, it could also be used in connection with someone facing certain death.
What lyrics provide inspiration to you? What singers or bands help you clarify your thoughts and the themes of your work?
Now that you’ve lived the 2009 Florida Writers Conference, why not bring back the memories by looking at some of the huge number of pictures our conference photographer, Karen Lieb, has snapped? (Digital photography is a wonderful thing!) Conference volunteer Frank Ridge has also added a number of pictures.
Here’s a sample.
2009 Royal Palm Literary Award Winners
People enjoying the conference
More people enjoying the conference
Agent Brandi Bowles with a cup of joe
Desert
To see the complete set of pictures, check out Karen Lieb’s Flickr site.
Why join the FWA Network?
It’s all summed up in the theme song from the old television show, Cheers. You remember it; sing along with me!
Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name. — “Cheers” theme song
The FWA Network is like your neighborhood hangout. It’s your own little corner of the wild, wooly, web and you’re sure to find friends and good conversation there. In the Network you can relax, be yourself, and share the ups and downs of the writing life in a safe, supportive environment.
There are many, many reasons to join the FWA Network, but here are the 10 best:
1. It’s a benefit of FWA membership. There is no additional charge.
2. It’s private. Only members in good standing are allowed to participate or even view the site’s contents.
3. It offers many features you can use to connect with other writers or express your creativity: personal pages, blogs, groups, discussion forums, events calendar, live chat, photo & video sharing, and more.
4. You can experiment with the technology in a place where you’ll receive guidance. You can’t break anything! And much of what you learn to do within the Network will be applicable to other social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or blogs.
5. Similarly, you can create and hone your online image while you’re among friends. It’s a great place to practice and ask for feedback.
6. You can connect with others writers in your geographical location or writing in your genre, and you don’t have to leave your house or get out of your pajamas to do it.
7. You can discuss writing and publishing with others who, unlike your family, never get tired of talking or hearing about it.
8. You can share your successes and challenges with people who truly understand what it takes to be a writer.
9. You can benefit from the advice of others, share your expertise, and make connections to support your writing career.
10. You can share and learn about events, calls for submissions to magazines or contests or other news of interest to writers.
And it’s fun! Join the conversation in the FWA Network, where everyone knows your name and we’re always glad you came! To sign in or sign up: http://FWANetwork.ning.com I hope to see you there soon.
This is the first of a series of posts about the FWA Network. Leave your questions in the comment section, and I’ll respond in future posts where I’ll discuss Network features in more detail.
Guest post by: Mary Ann de Stefano. Mary Ann owns MAD about Words (insert link to company name, please: http://MADaboutWords.com ) which offers editorial services, workshops and creative writing classes facilitated by published writers, and a free motivational newsletter, MAD’s Monday Muse. Mary Ann created the FWA Network, volunteers as its administrator, and also serves as the FWA eNews Editor.
Creating all kinds of outstanding blog content takes a long time. I’ve got a couple things in the can by other contributors and they’ll appear in the next few days. (Thanks very much.)
If you would like to submit to this blog, please let me know.
In the meantime, I’ve gone fishin’ (not really) for the day. With the holidays, we may have another fishing day or two between now and the end of the year.
Some people can write incredibly well, effortlessly painting word pictures your can feel more than you can see. Some can speak with clarity and meaning, making difficult concepts crystal clear. And once in a lifetime, you might find someone who can speak–ad libbing–and tell a story as beautifully and poetically as the best writers. Speakers like this can help us be better writers just by listening to them, turning the seemingly mundane into a thing a beauty.
Vin Scully started calling Dodger games during the Truman administration. During his time as voice of the Dodgers, he’s seen six World Championships, three home ballparks, a Montana-to-Dwight Clark miracle touchdown catch, a Bill Buckner error, an thoroughly improbably Kirk Gibson home run, and a Dodgers come-from-behind win fueled by four consecutive home runs and a three-run blast in extra innings to give the Dodgers a September lead in the NL West. It was Vin Scully’s call of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run that most truly captured the meaning of the event:
A black man is getting a standing ovation in the deep South for breaking the home run record of an all-time baseball idol.
On the other end of this link is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever ad libbed. It’s Vin Scully’s call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.
Here’s part of Vin Scully’s call of Kirk Gibson’s home run to win game one of the 1988 World Series:
All year long, they looked to him to light the fire, and all year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically unable to start tonight—with two bad legs: The bad left hamstring, and the swollen right knee. And, with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice… this is it. If he hits the ball on the ground, I would imagine he would be running 50 percent to first base. So, the Dodgers trying to catch lightning right now!
Gibson, shaking his left leg, making it quiver, like a horse trying to get rid of a troublesome fly. 2-and-2! Tony LaRussa is one out away from win number one. … two balls and two strikes, with two out.
Sometimes you can learn about great writing by reading someone’s words. Every once in a while you can learn by listening to someone’s words.
A veritable plethora of information for you today, all of it outstanding!
Sheila Greene to lead the Gainesville Writers Group
Sheila Greene of Diana Kay Publishing and Sea Crest eBooks is taking over the Gainesville writers group. You may have met Sheila at the conference. She was around talking to people and also had an exhibitor table. Diana Kay publishes four editions of their iMagazine each year, available in an online, interactive format and as a downloadable PDF. Visit the Diana Kay website for more information, as well as submission information for short stories and poetry. We’ll be hearing more about Diana Kay in upcoming blog posts.
Also, thanks to April Fitzgerald for her great work leading that group!
RPLA Award-Winner Wins Books Awards and Hospice Newsletter Review
James Weinsier, the RPLA second-place winner for published childrens books has some great news. International Hospice has selected his prize-winning book Where Do We Go? to be reviewed in their newsletter. USA Book News as selected Where Do We Go? as a finalist in both the Mind/Body/Spirit and Death and Dying categories of its 2009 Best Book Awards. After losing his father, son, and grandson all in the space of a year, James wrote his book, an invaluable resource for explaining the unexplainable to children.
RPLA Winner Featured in Florida Book News Blog
Another RPLA winner, Bette Lee Crosby, has been featured in the Florida Book News blog. Bette’s book, Cracks in the Sidewalk, took the RPLA first place award for published womens fiction. Cracks in the Sidewalk is the story of Claire McDermott’s courageous struggle to locate her missing grandchildren and rebuild her life. Only by clinging to faith and helping others in need will she discover the true meaning of family.
If you have news that the rest of the FWA, your friends and family, and all the blog readers should see, please drop us a line!
If you don’t know who Seth Godin is, you should. Seth’s book Tribes provides a great model authors can use to build a loyal fanbase, among other things. Seth’s daily blog is typically very short, but filled with wisdom and tidbits that get you to think. In a recent post, Seth discusses the truth that some customers are just better than others.
If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Wal-Mart has taken to selling best sellers at a loss, with the reasoning that people who buy hardcover books also have money to buy other things, as well. By using the books as a loss leader, Wal-Mart is enticing people who will buy other things.
In addition, people who buy Kindles tend to read more than others. Publishers might want to cater to these customers because they’ll buy more product than a guy who buys a paperback a couple times a year. In the ongoing battle over whether e-books should cost less than paperbooks, publishers might want to consider dropping prices and making the difference up in volume.
Publishers might also want to consider allowing you to sample books for free (maybe even by downloading a PDF) before buying the entire thing. Many authors do this, but why not have the publisher allow you to download the first 50 pages. What better way to hook you than to let you get thoroughly invested in the character and action, then making them pony over the money?
As a reader, I would see value in this because it helps me sample an author before I plunk down my money. It also gives authors and publishers an increased incentive to produce top-quality books, even beyond the first 50 pages. By putting the first 50 pages out there, the author is creating a contract of sorts with the reader that the rest of the book will be as good. If it’s not, word of mouth will kill that author as a phony, who produces just enough to get your money. That kind of deception might work once or twice, but in an era of instant word-of-mouth, it will inevitably fail.
A number of incredible opportunities to tweak the business model haven’t been uncovered yet. The companies that find the most successful ways will still be around in 50 years. The ones who don’t will be the TWAs and Circuit Cities of publishing.
As authors, these opportunities apply to us, as well. Within a year or two, someone will figure out how to use a blog or YouTube or Twitter to entice enough people to buy their book, and they will sell beyond anyone’s dreams. Those opportunities are there for all.
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