Blog Archives
Conference countdown and happenings in the garden
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Six days to go. We picked up the last few items for the baskets we’re donating to the Chinese auction. Two of the baskets are on my kitchen table. My conference roommate has the others at her house. I almost pity the person who wins the one basket. They’ll need someone with a strong back and a weak mind to carry it to their car. Um, Dave? Did I just hear you volunteer?
DH has his cart charged and claims he is ready to handle the dogs. I bet that by the end of the first day, the dogs will be handling him. BTs are like that. Give them an inch they’ll take a mile.
For a change of subject, there’s a very noisy wren building a nest in a little birdhouse in the yard next door. It’s hard to believe that such a loud song can come from such a tiny bird. A pair of cardinals are busy constructing a nest in the chocolate vines and ivy on my shed. It’s a good thing they waited until the frogs left. We had one attempt to climb up the vines one night. After the frog fell from about three feet up DH dubbed him George of the jungle.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
10 days to the Pennwriters conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m starting the countdown now. Even though the Pennwriters conference isn’t until the 14th I leave in ten days for Lancaster. (We like to get there a day early.) This means I have nine days to make sure everything at home is ready for my four-day absence.
I also have a few things I need to purchase before I leave. Things I want to take along with me. Bottled water sold there is expensive my roommate and I will bring our own. I take a small cooler along. Extra coffee, sweetener, and creamer are other must haves. Snacks—have to have them too.
My roommate and I need to pick up a few small items for our Chinese auction baskets. We donate several each year. One of ours this year is a real doozy. I can’t wait to see the reaction it gets.
Hey Dave, I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Are you ready to get rowdy?
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
New to writers conferences?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Volunteer, it’s the best way to learn. When I went to my first conference, I felt a bit overwhelmed at the session choices we had. I soon found my way around, relaxed, and enjoyed myself. At one point I was asked to help when someone had to leave early. I did my first volunteer work at a conference. It was fun.
I offered to help wherever they needed someone at my second conference. I had a blast introducing a few of the speakers in the sessions. I gave other people breaks so they could go to a session they wanted to attend.
At my third conference, I volunteered to go along with the hotel van driver to meet the train and bring some of our speakers, agents, and editors back to the hotel. Can you imagine having all those people to yourself for a twenty-minute ride? It was a hoot.
I was a frequent volunteer for several years and did a variety of things. One of my favorite things to do was be a timekeeper for agent and editor appointments.
The last few years I’ve attended without volunteering. Why? I’m tired. The conference has become my yearly vacation where I go to recharge my batteries, learn more about the business of writing, socialize with friends, and meet new people. I don’t want to have anyone depending on me since I get that enough at home.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
What to pack for a writers’ conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s a good idea to have a supply of business cards on hand. I usually print up several business card stock pages worth and pack them in my suitcase. Pens, a writer can never have too many pens. I always carry several notebooks of varying sizes. You never know when you’ll need one.
If you have a finished book, bring along a synopsis and the first two chapters. You might get a chance to pitch it. Speaking of pitching your book, make sure you have your ‘elevator pitch’ perfected. You use that one when someone asks what your book is about, if you can crunch your synopsis down to one sentence, you have it.
Comfortable shoes to wear because you’ll do a lot of walking between sessions. Good clothes, you do want to make a good impression on people.
My roommate and I make sure we have snacks and bottled water because bringing our own saves us big bucks. I print out envelopes marked ‘housekeeping’ to put the housekeeping tips in each day. Do remember to tip, skimp somewhere else, but don’t skimp on tips. Remember these people work for minimum wage and they work hard. Don’t forget the wait staff, bartenders, and bellhops too. They remember those who tip them well.
Posted in My blog
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writers conference, Writing, Writing conferences
Before the conference…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Before I leave for what I call ‘my annual four-day working vacation’ I have to prepare the home front. DH is no longer capable of cooking meals other than heating things in the microwave. Therefore, I’ll be making and putting up frozen dinners for him.
The dogs are sometimes too much for DH to handle alone. I’ve arranged for friends to stop in and take them for walks so they are good and tired. That way they won’t be their normal handfuls. I’ll make certain that their food is in good supply and they have plenty of cookies.
Then I need to print out my works in progress so that, if I find time, I can work on them at the conference. I will do the writing on my Alphasmart and can transfer everything to my computer when I get home. However, I need to have the printouts to work from since the Alphasmart doesn’t hold the book files. Yes, this is where a laptop would be a very handy thing and would save my aching back from schlepping a lot of paper. I dream of having a nice one, one of these days…
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writers conference, Writing, Writing conferences
What to do at the conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I was looking at the PW conference schedule in the last newsletter. It seems I won’t have a problem with conflicting sessions. I’ll have trouble finding a challenging session for each hour. I’m not complaining mind you. The sessions look great and I highly recommend them.
However, I’ve been to many similar ones. Therefore, I see six sessions that I will attend and several others that are debatable. The newsletter states that the schedule is subject to change. I am hoping for a few surprises (No, Dave not that kind.)
Then again, if I’m not in a session, I am free to socialize with others. This is how I met my agent long before she became my agent. Actually, I met her husband first and then he introduced me to her. We were friends for a few years before I had a ‘writers’ conference’ interview with her. Whereupon in the allotted ten minutes, I pitched my book to her. She told me to send her my manuscript t, cover letter, and synopsis. I did and she called me and asked if I wanted to sign with her. I signed.
Take advantage of free time at a conference to meet people. You never know what will come of it.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: agents, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Writer, Writers conference, Writing, Writing conferences
It’s almost time for the Pennwriters conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The May 14th-16th date is fast approaching. Now I’m beginning to think about what clothes I will wear. I go through this every year. I spend most of my time in jeans, t-shirts and flip-flops. This isn’t what you wear when you’re trying to make a good impression on an editor or when you’re networking with other writers.
I’ve been digging around in my closets hoping I can find appropriate clothing. We’ll be at a resort hotel with fancy restaurants. My dog tattered t-shirts and raggedy jeans won’t work. I’ll have to wear shoes too and dang it I hate shoes.
I also need to brush up on my French for Marie and Pierre. We met at the conference two years ago and became fast friends. I can understand more than I can speak it and I think it would be nice if I practiced a bit.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to bag a few activities to keep my costs down this year. Even sharing a room, as I do each year, the hotel is more expensive. I had to cut expenses somewhere and it came down to the banquet, luncheon, and the costume party, which, all together, was the cost of one night at the hotel.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: agents, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, editors, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, networking, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Writer, Writers conference, Writing
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