Greetings;
How does one define a cultural and educational experience? One definition is a writers’ conference. Amazing instructors, re-visiting friends from previous conferences, saying goodbye to dear friends, who are moving away- Jacqueline Loring and family off to New Mexico—but the major event is the learning itself. Three dozen instructors, editors, publishers, and speakers on hand to impart knowledge to fellow writers for a week!
God bless the organizers of this year’s fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Cape Cod Writers Conference. On Sunday evening a cocktail party was held to say hello to the week’s speakers and organizers. Conference participants picked up individual packets explaining each person’s particular week’s schedule. (A huge job of organization. Thank you, Moira.)
From Monday through Friday, writers attend classes all day at the conference center in Hyannis across from the Melody Tent. For those of you, who were unable to attend, plan for next year’s August conference. Over 220 writers in attendance; imagine the amazing discussions and camaraderie shared around the lunch and dinner tables. What fun! In the evenings, from seven to eight, authors, editors, and publishers add to our education on writing with programs like how to “pitch” one’s book to an editor in sixty seconds. Not easy; they’re also called “elevator pitches” meaning if a writer steps into an elevator and finds a publisher there, he or she has about one minute to “sell” a manuscript. Time yourself; can you get across story plot, marketability, your bio, and “Voice” in one minute? It’s a good exercise.
Handouts are numerous and will be read more thoroughly, once we writers recover from the surge of new information shared with us all week. I like the one titled, The Proper Care And feeding Of Agents. Unique title—the hook that keeps one reading further. Important points: When sending a query—that one-sided sheet of paper asking if a particular editor will consider your work—use #20 plain white paper and standard 12 point font. Please have someone check it for errors before you send it. Your SASE—self-addressed, stamped envelope—should be the peel and stick kind with your name and address clearly printed on the front. (On the reverse side, I add in small print at the bottom, title and date sent for my own record-keeping because some are not returned right away.) Always affix stamp; if left in envelope, it can be lost, and the publisher isn’t going to stamp it for you.
When sending out a manuscript or a proposal, DO NOT send them as requiring a signature. Agents and editors are busy people, and don’t appreciate being interrupted. It’s also a waste of money to send then express mail.
On book proposals: Non-fiction and memoir need a book proposal sent before an editor will ask for the whole manuscript. (Fiction doesn’t need one.) It can range from forty to over one-hundred pages because each chapter is summarized, marketing techniques must be explained, audience listed, who will consider buying the book, and the writer’s educational biography explaining why you are the one qualified to write such a book. For examples, check out books written on how to write a book proposal including samples to follow.
Important note: If you’re pen name is other than your real name, or if you list yourself as F.E. Forest, state your real name in the query, and then let the editor know if you’re writing under a pen name or with initials.
Enough knowledge for now. Until next time, keep writing and do consider attending a writers’ conference in the next year; you won’t be sorry. Be well. Linda