Fiction Scribe

I’ve heard people go back and forth a bit about whether writing conferences and the like are worth going to if you are a new writer. Conflux 5 earlier this month may have been the second major writers conference I have been to, but I could have told you after going to last year’s Conflux that writer-focused events are nothing but positive experiences for writers. (With minor exceptions like getting a pie in the face. Thankfully you can’t see me sitting there in shock with my mouth open.)

If you are unsure about whether you should go to a conference or not, here are just a few of the benefits I have experienced:

1. Meeting people. This is by far the most beneficial. I have met many fantastic people who have been part of mutually beneficial relationships.

2. Story inspiration. It’s almost annoying how many story ideas popped into my head over the course of the conference. (If only I had the time to work on them all!) There is nothing quite like a gathering of writers that can get my mind going.

3. Work! There are people there from various parts of the industry and you might find yourself with some work. Some of that work might just be paid as well.

The thing about writers conferences and other writer events is that they often come at a price. Therein lies the huge argument/question about going – is it worth paying the cost?

Here are a few quick tips for saving money at conferences.

1. Book early. All of the conferences I know of have early bird pricing specials.

2. Get to know people beforehand to share the cost of a room or find someone with a place you can bunk at. (Gillian was kind enough to provide a space for me and Mr. JM this year.)

3. Save up! I know it may seem kind of silly to day, but most conferences are once a year or even less frequent than that, so save little bits here and there.

Ready to go to a conference but not sure where to find some? Introduce yourself to Google…

I’m back. Scary, isn’t it?

Before I do anything else, I would like to thank the generous authors who donated their time and writing to keep this site alive while I was gone. I appreciate it.

As you have probably guessed, today is not my first day back. However, I had the Scribes Carnival to put up so I didn’t want either post - the carnival or the “I’m back” post - to trump each other, so I left my hello for today.

I am safe and sound back from Conflux (and the holiday after that). I was (and am) so inspired by the beautiful landscapes I’ve seen that I have made what is probably only the first of many calendars. Southeastern Australia is a beautiful place to live.

I have a lot of conference notes, quotes and other such fun stuff to share with you, but I’m still getting organized (and am procrastinating a bit). So while I get my behind in gear, I’ll share with you a few interesting tidbits I’ve come across.

What I’m Reading:

*Blogging on a Holiday - This is actually something I have been thinking about because a company I work for will be shutting down over Thanksgiving… and I no longer observe Thanksgiving. I’m also planning on taking off Melbourne Cup Day, Australia Day, etc, but do I need to let people know that…? James makes some good points with this one.

*Kiva - Not actually something to do with writing, but an interesting site where you can sponsor up and coming entrepreneurs. It’s something you could do for Blog Action Day.

*Six Things I Never Want to See in a Query by Literary Agent Janet Reid - Pretty self-explanatory.

*Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Conquering Stress Addiction at Write From Home - At the moment I am trying to get my life straightened out to a point where I will be less stressed and more happy. It’s interesting to read other people’s views on being a stress addict.

That’s it for today. Have a good one.

I usually leave Scribe Notes for Mondays because Mondays are usually the days I feel a bit too scattered to settle down into a traditional post. However, I have so many random tidbits running around in my head that I feel the need for a notes day today.

*I’m finally on the Wordle train and have created a fun graphic for Fiction Scribe. You can click on the picture and it will take you to the bigger version. I am amused about “Frank” and “Treasure”. Awww.

*I am pretty much covered for guest posts while I’m away at Conflux at the beginning of October. However, I am more than happy to have more guest posts. Let me know if you’re interested. The deadline for getting posts to me is the 22nd, as I’m going to have a monstrous amount of things to do the week before I leave.

*Speaking of Conflux, someone - obviously in a drunken state - has decided that I would be good on not only one, but two panels. Not only that, I’ve been asked to chair one of the discussions. So book your flights for Canberra now if you would like to see me sitting in front of people feeling terrified.

*Having never been in a Starbucks myself, I’m curious - how many of you are Starbucks writers?

*You’re too late to register for The Muse Online Writers Conference, but if you have already signed up, let me know. I’m curious about what everyone is looking forward to.

*And finally, here is a video featuring novelist Amy Tan at the TED Talks. In this video she talks about the creative process, where creativity comes from, her experiences and how they translate into what she has written, and more. Enjoy.

FictionScribe: Hey JM.

FS: Okay. You’d better.

Yes, my sites and I have conversations like that with each other. Really.

Anyway, yes, I have been taking a bit of a break here and there from my sites, but I am back and ready to write once more. Especially after a particularly inspiring night at the pub. (Not what you’re thinking; I’m not even allowed to drink coffee until next month, let alone alcohol.) Today I’m back with a few announcements about things here and there. The usual level of fangirl screaming excitement.

First off, I am being published. No, not my novel. That’s still sitting in printed off form in my bad feeling bruised and battered after an especially vicious editing session. No, I’m talking about poetry.

The Oddville Press has decided I can write a decent poem and will be publishing my poem – Coffee Shop Poet Wannabe – in their first edition online magazine. Sign up at their site now if you’d like the ezine delivered straight to your email index and don’t forget to submit some of your work as well while you’re there.

More good news of a publishing nature: My dear friend Lyndsey D’Arcangelo – former writer of Lez Keep it Real – is getting her novel published. The Trouble with Emily Dickinson will be released autumn 2008 and is now available for pre-order at the Alpha World Press site for a discounted price.

Congratulations Lyndsey!

Keep checking in at the Chicken Soup for the Soul site. There are quite a few deadlines that are coming up at the end of this month (if they haven’t gone early) so make sure you get your true stories in soon.

Don’t forget to submit your entries to the Scribes Blog Carnival using the submissions page. The next edition will be going up September 1st.

Also don’t forget that I am looking for guest posters to write for me on all my sites while I’m away at the Conflux writer’s conference at the beginning of October. Email me if you have any questions or post ideas.

That’s all for now. This got a bit longer than I had originally intended. I hope you all have/had an excellent start of the week.

You’re invited to a daylong writing conference in Fairfield with three top authors!!

WHO: Alice Mattison, author of the New York Times Notable Book In Case We’re Separated: Connected Stories, among other works, and an instructor at the graduate writing program at Bennington College

Sandi Kahn Shelton, fiction and non-fiction writer whose contemporary novel A Piece of Normal was selected as the Target book of the month Leslie Connor, whose works include the much-acclaimed young adult novel Waiting for Normal.

Together, the trio has published literary fiction, short stories, contemporary fiction, non-fiction, magazine articles, essays, poetry, children’s books and young adult books.

WHAT: The authors will share writing tips, strategies and stories in a morning roundtable, then split up to conduct three hands-on sessions. Lunch is provided for an additional fee for your convenience.

WHERE: Connecticut Audubon Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield, 314 Unquowa Road. Presented by The Writers’ Workshop of Fairfield.

WHEN: Saturday, April 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHY: Jack-up your writing. Strengthen your skills. Learn from these enthusiastic and knowledgeable authors.

Sign up now, as the conference is limited to only 40 participants. Send a check for $99 (or $114, if buying lunch), made out to The Writers’ Workshop, 2490 Black Rock Turnpike, # 360, Fairfield, CT 06825, or bring payment to The Birdcraft Museum prior to March 15. Payment postmarked after March 15 is $125, plus $15 for lunch (optional).

For information, call Carol Dannhauser at 203-374-8343 or e-mail Dannhauser@aol.com.