While I am very excited to attend my first conference this month, I am also a little nervous. First of all because I have no writing experience. Writers go to writing conferences. Am I a writer? I would like to be a writer, but I don't even know if I am any good. How's that for confidence?! Well, I figure you have to start somewhere, and the sooner the better. Luckily I started subscribing to a few blogs and recently Robert Lee Brewer posted 25 Ways to Rock Writers Conferences with tips for making the most out of your next writing conference. I printed it out and will be going over each point to make sure I am prepared. Since I am a SAHM and dress VERY casually most of the time, I went out this past weekend and bought a couple outfits that I am hoping will pass for business casual. My best friend is coming over tomorrow for lunch to check them out and I am crossing my fingers she will give me a thumbs-up. I like them, which is a good start.
One of the tips Robert mentioned is to know how to talk about yourself. He says to "think of how to explain yourself as a writer and your current projects in one sentence answers." So here is mine: "I am a stay-at-home mom working on my first manuscript, which is a middle grade, realistic fiction chapter book along the lines of Judy Moody or Clementine." And then ideally if anyone wanted to know more I would throw out my one-sentence pitch... which hopefully I will have ready by the conference. However, since the book is not finished, I am having a hard time figuring out the ending to my pitch, as I am not sure of it myself yet.
One of the conference faculty is Bonnie Becker, whose book A Visitor for Bear, is in my kids' library. I mentioned to them that the author of this book would be there and they right away asked me to bring the book to get autographed. I will have to pick up another in the series while I'm at the conference since they have enjoyed this one so much!
One of the tips Robert mentioned is to know how to talk about yourself. He says to "think of how to explain yourself as a writer and your current projects in one sentence answers." So here is mine: "I am a stay-at-home mom working on my first manuscript, which is a middle grade, realistic fiction chapter book along the lines of Judy Moody or Clementine." And then ideally if anyone wanted to know more I would throw out my one-sentence pitch... which hopefully I will have ready by the conference. However, since the book is not finished, I am having a hard time figuring out the ending to my pitch, as I am not sure of it myself yet.
One of the conference faculty is Bonnie Becker, whose book A Visitor for Bear, is in my kids' library. I mentioned to them that the author of this book would be there and they right away asked me to bring the book to get autographed. I will have to pick up another in the series while I'm at the conference since they have enjoyed this one so much!
It was great to see you there, Julie! It is such a small world, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your comment about clothes. That was my problem, too! I borrowed clothes from my sister-in-law. ha ha!
And your pitch was great. You acted like a seasoned pro at our lunch with Jenny Bent! :)