This weekend I attended The Write Stuff Writer’s Conference here in Allentown.  I was pretty psyched because Maria V. Snyder, fantasy author, was going to be there and I had a to learn about this genre.  I also managed to squeak in just in time to join a critique group on Friday night and, serendipitously, Ms. Snyder was on my critique panel.  You were only allowed to submit the first page, and I was the 2nd author up.  I thought I did pretty well.  Not sure it was even my best submission, but it felt good to know that I have a hook, it’s a good start, and that my love of language was obvious.  I met a few other writers at the mixer, but was dumb enough not to stay overnight since it was close to home. I won’t do that next year!

Another author, Juilene Osborne-McKnight who writes historical fiction, was also there.  This is another genre I love and am considering writing, but I figured I’d best stick to fantasy this  year. She gave the keynote address.  On that, I CANNOT say enough. She literally transported me back to my childhood, the sweet spot of it, and no one has ever done that to me before.   I went up to her afterwards since she teaches at one of the local colleges.  I have to email her when I get a moment, since she gave me her address.

All in all, I learned a lot.  I will definitely go next year, and most likely, I’ll join the writer’s group that hosted it as well.  I was told by one person that I had “Talent”, that is, not just “I learned the skill of writing”, but I have it.  I believe it, too, well, honestly, I always have.

Things I learned:

• Agent Panel: self- promotion by an author does not make a difference in bringing in the really big numbers. Hm.  I don’t think these agents liked self-promotion, like I’ve been learning, but we’ll see. Also, the publishing market is changing with the advent of audio books and ebooks, but not as quickly as one might think.
• World Building: there was a lot here, like remember to think about your target reader as you build your world.   Great tips on where to get accurate data.  My favorite? Children’s historical books. Going to pick some up.
• Revisions: this was a jam packed session. The author was funny and spoke really fast! I have a whole notebook full of little tips on deep-down line editing.
• Workshop on Genre Crossing: more and more authors are doing it, and it’s less taboo now. We’ve got to make a living I guess.
• Fantasy chat: my novel DEFINITELY could be YA. Whoa!  Hadn’t considered that! Word count for YA is 75,000.  Ms. Snyder told us her publishers told her to drop her novels to 100K (fantasy is usually 110-120K, I believe)  I’m saying “woohoo!” to this because YA Fantasy is hot right now.
• I am a story teller.  I want and need to study my craft more, as in literature, myths, archetypes.

Final reveal?  I’m not sure I can name my genre, I’m not sure pigeon-holing is as valuable as it once was.  But I do now know that what I love in literature and want to write is literary fiction with fabalistic devices, but not too many.  I still think of The Time Traveller’s Wife when I write that, more than Isabelle Allende. I could be wrong.

Ok, wonderful weekend.  Wiped out from it all, but feeling SO GOOD.

Ok, it seems every week I’m learning something as I edit my novel and read or watch more SF/F.  Here’s what I learned this week:

1. We saw Babylon A.D., which struggled to be a good movie (ultimately, hubby and I didn’t think it made it, but this is not Film Critique 1010).  As I watched, I realized it was an old plot, I even recalled what movie it mimicked (though I’ve forgotten).  Basically, hardened man rescues young girl and through many trials encountered on a journey, discovers love. (OK I can see a whole buncha guys throwing their BluRays at the screen, but really, that is how it breaks down for a woman).  I realized as I’m watchin Babylon that my plot is similar.  The romantic interest is not a bad guy, but it IS  a journey story- a classic tale where a physical journey develops your protagonist.  It always was meant to be such, but I forgot along the way.  A bit.  It’ll be stronger.  It also needs more action - on their journey, it would be better if they met with foul play (they don’t at this point).

2. Starbucks is a writer’s heaven.  This is another thing I’ve forgotten.  I’ve been finding alone time to edit late at night (with deep exhaustion and zero motivation).  Saturday late morning, I went to Starbucks, which plays the PERFECT soundtrack for me, and sat with my over-sized coffee.  I got more done in an hour, plus I wrote a poem.  Hm, could it be the lack of children underfoot?  (They don’t sleep well, so even at night privacy is rare).

3. I learned that there is a writer’s conference in Allentown, which is a stone’s throw from my house.  In fact there is a pretty promising looking fantasy author teaching there on, of all things, my nemesis, world building.  If Chris gets his job, he agreed I could attend, so let’s all pull for that!

That’s it, and really, that’s enough.  Ok back to work.