Evolutionary Plume

Note's from Viable Paradise

Schedule was busy -- daily critique, writing exercises, group dinner, lecture and Q&A plus some game time and meeting group. Afterward, you did your critiques of about 80 pages and wrote on the writing exercises.

In addition to the general group critique, we had one-on-ones with Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden and James MacDonald and Debra Doyle. I wished I had more written on my 2nd novel which I used in the sessions. Basic feedback -- metaphorical, poetic language is more consistent with fantasy -- they need to go with science fiction. My voice is more mainstream and needs to be more genre oriented -- think tech talk, I'll see. Debra Doyle had good suggestions about organizing the overall story flow. The big issue was conveying 16 years in a more immediate, energized form. Her suggestion to let my main character speak was also helpful, I was delaying it to see where I was going. One of the exercises -- right bit based on an object pulled out of a bag got me the start for her first scene, and a hook practice brought me scene starts for several characters. Patrick answered many of my questions about order -- publisher handles blurbs, promotion, copy-editing. It's not necessary to hire a professional editor, they're looking for good active stories, things that stand out. He wasn't aware of the UW's commercial/popular fiction certificate program.

Big messages: money flows to the writer, the groups manuscripts would be in the top 5% of slush pile, to get published you need to be in the top 2%. They get 6000 manuscripts a year. This is confidence building.

Lectures: emotional difficulties -- the ups and downs of going between your logical and creative self -- boy did I know this one in depth, but it was nice to know I was the only one. Research -- lots and lots. State of the industry -- science fiction has done well with the move to big box booksellers -- they're getting much more shelf space and sales. Short story markets -- start at the top and work down, keep submitting.  I can't find my notes so I'll add more on this topic later.

Write on the Beach Conference Day 2

Arrived to welcome session to find out my agent meeting was to occur with Barbara Gislason at 10:45, so used the welcome session to prepare my thoughts.

Morning session with Susan Davis Browne on "Facing the Blank Page"

The key to facing the blank page is to banish your inner editor -- dare to be dreadful, experiment, try to write as badly as possible, plan to experiment.

When critiqued, always keep a list of nice things said about your writing nearby so you remember your good qualities.

Start by writing down the germ of your story. Then take 7 minutes to write everything you know about your story.  Then do a cluster diagram on your protaganist to get a visual representation of that character.  I had to leave for my appointment at this point.

Appointment with Barbara Gislason

Barbara surprised me by not wanting to know anything about my story, especially the characters but insisted I explain the technology I was working with. She explained that only the latest technology was of interest to readers. We spent sometime discussing remote sensing, the level of science to include -- she suggested at the Phd level, but explained in a readable format. She did however agree to let me send my manuscript after I spent a couple months ensuring my technology was up to speed.

Afternoon session with Andrea Hurst www.andreahurst.com on "How to Prepare Your Manuscript to Send to an Agent"

First suggestion of use -- always tell an agent or editor to please recycle and use the correct postage.

What goes inside -- a query letter that always reminds who you were since they seldom remember names without a face, and always put the name of your book. In the letter, remember to sell them again on your novel, be respectful and tell if it's a simultaneous submission. Synopsis length always depends on who you send to -- she prefers a 2 page synopsis which highlights story while paying attention to craft and tension. 1st 100 pages or first couple of chapters -- be sure anyone will love it based on these pages.

Especially for non-fiction but if you know for fiction -- Include some ways you will help market or sell your novel including any endorsements. Only send when your manuscript is complete. Things to include about marketing : your website, how many sites link to yours and how many you link to, any subscription base, any lectures, workshops or presentations planned at x dates (give the schedule), any magazines published in and any awards recieved. Re:endorsements use : my plan is to contact (list), send with order form and how to follow up. Re:tours my plan is to appear at (list bookstores). Re:articles : my plan is to submit these articles to (list). Give a list of readings and book signings planned. Give a list of organizations you plan to give a discount to. If any statistics used, plan to send free graphs to (list). Re:postcards provide a number planned to send especially to libraries. Give a list of tv and radio interviews you might participate in especially locally. Provide a list of potential book reviewers. If of interest to education will it interest parents, teachers and students equally? Provide career plans and any spin offs.

Evening session with Barbara McMichael on "How to get a Book Critic to Review Your Work" Barbara write reviews for the Seattle Times, and with her www.bookmonger.net for the Olympian, Sequim Gazette, and the Bremerton Sun.

Main point : 4-6 weeks before publication, provide the dates you will give readings, since a critic will often try to provide a review in their paper to help get an audience to that reading. They like acknowledgement of their work, no argument over their review, and a thank you after they review your work. Your media kit should include a scannable ISBN on cover, perfect bound book, title. Be sure to plan for the cost of all the books sent.

Evening play "Detour" by Joyce Holt, winner of the playwriting contest and directed by LeRoy Smith.

Cast of the play was students from the Ocean Shores Elementary School was delightful in this play about young adults and their difficulties. The play had suitable conflict and was amusing but ended happily for all. A real treat.

Following the play, Bob and I went to the Casino and tried our luck at craps and the slot machines while listening to a live band.

Write on the Beach Conference Friday Jan 28th

Registered for the conference and recieved my information pack. Peter Holman-Smith helped review my agent appointment. 

Evening session by Jennie Shortridge covered how she broke into print with her first novel.  She works half-time on her novels, half-time as a freelance writer. One of her short stories was published in ByLine. She worked as an intern for an agent and learned how to submit, this agent read her second novel and found her a publisher. Her main difficulty was a saggy middle that lacked in conflict, which she fixed. 

Evening session with Andrea Raines Waggener on developing a "Successful Writer's Mindest" was helpful by providing a number of hints and a worksheet to use on your own.  1) Identify a clear specific intention 2) Visualize your success 3) Focus on your strengths instead of weaknesses -- get your weaknesses out of the way by writing them down 4) Make your vision concrete -- one suggestion to create your writer scrapbook seemed promising 5) Expect success so you act successful 6) Associate rejection with treats so you take it in your stride ( I liked this idea ) 7) Keet conduit to yourmuse, inner wisdom open.  The winning end to this session was a bottle of water to drink at work labeled smart, etc.