In Praise of Writers’ Mini-Conferences

From time to time I hear about one-day writers’ workshops and mini-conferences given in local libraries, churches, and bookstores. I try to go to at least one a year. Even if I think I already know everything that’s going to be discussed, it’s rare that I don’t learn something new.

The Saturday before my hip surgery, Changing Hands Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Phoenix, offered a conference for YA writers. The presenters were local authors (and some are also professional writing instructors) Stephanie Elliot, Abigail Johnson, Bill Konigsburg, Tom Leveen, and Amy Trueblood. I’d met most of these lovely people before and knew how knowledgeable and talented they are.

Some things I never knew that I learned at the conference:

On YouTube, there are BookTube channels where people talk about books they’ve read. There are also AuthorTube channels where authors talk about their books, their writing processes, and their publication journeys. Am I the only person who’s been writing for decades who didn’t know that?
Comicons offer writers’ workshops. I thought Comicon was an opportunity for comics fans to dress up and nerd out on comic artifacts and superhero actors. Apparently, it’s so much more than that. Who knew?

Content ideas for author newsletters:

Writing tips
What I’m reading right now, or lists of favorite books or authors
Musical inspiration for stories, or writing playlists
Short stories using book characters
Warning: if your newsletters are nothing but sales pitches, readers will unsubscribe or delete them without reading

Things I knew, but appreciated being reminded:

Write a quotable first line. (Don’t worry about this on your first draft, or you’ll never get started. Even the second or third draft is too early—a lot can change. But when you’re getting ready to query, look back at the first sentence. Can you do better?)
On the very first page, what’s unique about your story must be apparent. (For example, if your main character is a flea who lives on General George Washington’s horse, that needs to be revealed on page one. The parenthetical notes on the previous hint apply to this one, too.)
Is the story happening to the character, or is the character making the story?
Add external conflict to make your story a page-turner.
All dialogue should have a purpose.
If you’ve made up a world with unusual names, a pronunciation guide is a helpful resource for your readers. So is a glossary of terms which might be unfamiliar.
Description should flow from the character’s point of view.
To help your reader connect to the scene, use your emotional memory. When did I feel as my character feels now?
If you’re a pantser (or even if you’re a plotter), write a 10-page story synopsis before you start. It may change, but for some reason, it’s easier to write a story from a synopsis than to write a synopsis from a story…
Get to know your local librarians. Many consider regular patrons’ requests when buying books for the library. Many also give priority to local authors. You can call libraries and ask if they have your book. You can also donate copies to the library.