There was no excuse for me to miss last year’s annual Association of Writers and Writer Programs Conference held in Washington, DC. It was only a few Metro stops from my home. But Chicago in February is another matter. I’ve been there many times for medical and legal meetings, covering the proceedings as a journalist, getting my nutrition from media room donuts and happy hour eats. Going there on my own volition and my own dime in February is testimony to the value of the AWP meetings for writers, especially those of us who are trying to break in the field.
The conference offers non-stop sessions from early morn till dinner and beyond. Sessions range from the power of social networking, to the fine points of copyright law. Panelists are loaded with the kind of credentials writers deem important, namely talent and experience, in addition to gobs of advance degrees and amazing lives. The pace is so non-stop that there are neither lunch nor snack breaks. No one seemed to mind. The sessions were too good to trade for a Subway sandwich or fancier bite in or near the Hilton and Palmer House.
What is particularly stimulating is the sense of camaraderie among conferees. In my own case, I have two novels under my belt and am completely focused on getting representation. Not only did I pick up valuable tips from authors, agents and editors who were panelists in sessions I attended, but I got equally good info from people manning the exhibit booths and others cruising the exhibit hall like myself. When you’re looking for an edge, you can’t get too much street wisdom.
It can be daunting to meet author after author who has published six, twelve, thirty or more books, and some of those becoming movies. But likely as not the next person I meet has just started her memoir, or is halfway through a collection of poetry. I tell them I’ve finished two novels and the look on their faces is a distinct, Holy cow! I don’t think it’s so holy cow, but honestly it’s nice to run into someone who does. We’re all on the continuum somewhere, taking and lending helping hands as we go.
I heard a lot of buzz about the value of publishing in the many excellent literary magazines there are out there. I did all that, about a hundred years ago when I was fresh out of college. These days I have been writing novels. But the literary magazine trail makes sense. Everyone in the academic sector is feeding great contemporary literature to the magazines. Ergo, agents devour them looking for those new voices they talk about on their websites. So, after all these years (and there have been many) I am writing short stories again and submitting them where I see a fit. Fact is, I really enjoy it. I’ll let you know if I get any action on the stories.
After attending three or four sessions on websites, blogging and social networking, I now have a website up and running (you’re on it) and am posting to my brand new blog (you’re reading it). I am excited about the different ways I can promote my own work and connect with you, my peers, through this no-worries dialog called the blog. I have a formidable to-do list for the site and blog. I’m hoping to see huge progress before we convene next year in Boston. Again, I’ll sign up as an early-bird so that I can stay right in the heart of the action, wasting no time going to and from the hotel. I hope to see you there so you can tell me about that memoir, or collection of poetry.
Till later, Ken