Showing posts with label writers conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writers conference. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The South Carolina Writers Association announces The "Big Dream" Conference, October 27-29, 2017





The South Carolina Writers Association SCWA (formerly SCWW) is thrilled to announce The BIG DREAM Conference held at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort October 27-29. Learn from Agents: Kerry D’Agostino, Annie Hwang, Michelle Johnson, Peter Steinberg. Editors: Kate Gale, Timothy Green. Authors: Jessica Handler, Emily Lavin Leverett, Luke Whisnant. Add-on pitch/synopsis critiques opportunities. There is also a scholarship available; deadline for the scholarship is 9/15/17. For more information, please visit: http://www.myscwa.org/2017-conference/



Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Why Should You Attend?

Why should I attend
A Day for Writers at the Jackson County Library, May 6?

  • To learn more about my craft from experienced and highly rated authors
  • To meet and talk with other writers in my field and increase my community of writer friends
  • To sell and sign my books with City Lights Books
  • To learn of other opportunities for me as an author
  • To enhance my brand as a writer and author
  • To learn more about publishing and marketing my books, my articles, my personal essays, my short stories and poetry
  • To meet leaders and members of NCWN-West from all over the southwest mountain region
  • To get answers to any questions I have about writing, publishing and marketing
  • To enjoy a day with like-minded people in a beautiful venue near my home
  • To attend, near me, a writing conference with unusually low fees provided by NCWN-West through hard work by volunteers who care about the literary community in the mountain area
  • To get inspired to go home and write more
We write alone, but need a community and NCWN-West is providing that for writers and poets in the far western part of North Carolina, North Georgia and western South Carolina. Because of the cost and time it takes to travel long distances for writing conferences in large cities, our goal is to bring in highly qualified authors and writers who can share their experiences and knowledge with us.

Such writing events are necessary to all writers who want their names, their books, to be recognized. Introduce yourself to the presenters, write them a note when you get home and let them know what you liked about their sessions. You will be building a community of people who will recognize you and your work. As writers we need to help each other in any way we can.


Friday, April 5, 2013

Blue Ridge Writers Conference in Blue Ridge Georgia - Friday Night Reception


Tonight I sat with Robert S. King and Carole Thompson at a book table upstairs in the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Center in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The room was small, but besides our long table loaded with Robert's many poetry books, copies of Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Now Might as Well be Then, my poetry chapbook and Carole’s new book, I think 8 other writers were displaying their novels.
Glenda Beall, Scott Owens (standing in back) Robert S. King

I found that several of them were new in the area. I used this opportunity to tell them about NCWN and NCWN West. I gave out brochures with the application form on them, but the phone number for NCWN on the brochure is incorrect. We need to update our literature.

I feel sure we will soon have three new members. One of them is an author who lives in Macon County NC. I had friended her on Facebook. (Friended- what a weird word) Her name is Linda Rue Quinn, author of The Cyrano Game and another book soon to be in bookstores. She is trying to get some writing events started in Macon County, and I hope she will soon be a member of NCWN West.

Linda Rue Quinn and her husband
Another lovely author who is new to our region, only been here a few weeks, is Sharon. She has a novel and I’ll tell more about it tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I am in bed trying to get rid of the terrible headache I developed from sitting near someone who wore perfume. Having MCS makes it very difficult to attend writing conferences.

I am also ready to get back to Southern Fried Lies by Susan Snowden. So far, I am really enjoying this novel.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Netwest Represented at the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference

Writers filling seats for afternoon session
I am taking a break from working on taxes to post about the Blue Ridge Writers Conference in Blue Ridge, GA last weekend. A number of Netwest members were there and one, Robert S. King, presented two sessions on publishing.


I have attended all fifteen years since this event began and have never come away feeling I didn't get my money's worth. This year I went to the Friday night reception and met some writers from Atlanta. Robert Kimsey and Robert S. King were both there and both were speakers on Saturday. Because I was particularly interested in Jessica Handler, having seen write ups about her online, I attended both her sessions and bought her book, Invisible Sisters. I am reading it now and find it fascinating.

Amy Greene, the keynote speaker, held us all spell bound with excerpts from her novel, Bloodroot, a best seller. She writes with a pure Appalachian voice. Maybe that is because she is from East Tennessee. Her characters will grab you, and you can't put the book down. I heard some say they had read all night because they couldn't stop until they finished. Carol Crawford, who heads up this conference each year, warned me to keep the tissues handy.

Nancy Knight from Atlanta was a founder of BelleBooks, a publishing firm that many of us recognize. Kathryn McGendie has published three novels, I believe, with them. Nancy is also an agent and was chock full of valuable information for writers. I was so happy when she went through a list to tell us the recommended word count for most popular genres such as mystery, thrillers, romance, science fiction, westerns and others. That is a question I hear from my students and I simply have never researched to find the answer.

Linda Ray of Curiosity Books in Murphy, with her assistant, Laurie, did a fine job of managing the book sales. How nice she was to let us local writers keep the full sale price of our books. She took no commission for selling them. Thanks so much Linda.

Echoes sold well at conference

The following is from Carole Thompson, Netwest Representative for the Georgia counties. She said, "Of course, seeing fellow writers and friends again was one of the best things about the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference. Our hosts were gracious, and the food was excellent.
Keynote speaker, Amy Greene's, review of her wonderful book, "Bloodroot" almost made me believe in "Haints". What was outstanding, was the wide variety of subjects covered by the speakers.
Quinlan Lee helped me understand the role an Agent plays in getting your manuscript to large publishing houses, plus hints to make any of your writings more dynamic to the reader, especially as it relates to children's books. I attended both her workshops.
Robert King discussed the advantages /disadvantages of self-publishing, and gave all of us a clearer idea of how the world of online publishing works.


Robert Kimsey
 Once again, Robert Kimsey kept us riveted to our seats as he illustrated through his own poetry why we need to make OUR poetry witnesses to events that burn themselves in our memory.
My final conference hour was spent with Stellasue Lee, a brilliant writer and editor, sharing her knowledge, through her own life-changing experience, of how it is possible to "Say the unsayable" in our poetry. I am sure the other speakers made a good impression, also, and I am sorry I couldn't hear them all."

Like Carole, I wish I had been able to attend every presentation, but was limited to four. I couldn't stay for the last hour, but I know it was just as good as the others. I advise all writers, poets and those who want to write, and who live within driving distance, to make plans now to attend the Blue Ridge Writers' Conference next year. It is usually held in March. Find the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association online and check to find the date for next year.