Comments for Radine's Weblog http://radine.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:52:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Publishing? Here’s my story…. by Maryann Miller http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/publishing-heres-my-story/#comment-159 Maryann Miller Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:52:11 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=159#comment-159 Interesting journey for you Radine, and I liked the examples of the different folks you know self-publishing. I don't think there is an absolute right or wrong when it comes to that. Each author has to decide for herself, or himself, what direction to go. But if an author wants to sell beyond a small audience of friends and family, it would be beneficial to have the book edited. There are too many people out there who have a good story but aren't experienced enough at the craft of writing. Interesting journey for you Radine, and I liked the examples of the different folks you know self-publishing. I don’t think there is an absolute right or wrong when it comes to that. Each author has to decide for herself, or himself, what direction to go. But if an author wants to sell beyond a small audience of friends and family, it would be beneficial to have the book edited. There are too many people out there who have a good story but aren’t experienced enough at the craft of writing.

]]> Comment on Publishing? Here’s my story…. by radine http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/publishing-heres-my-story/#comment-158 radine Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:49:40 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=159#comment-158 I should add that, at all three publishers, I am fortunate to have had wonderful editors with all that the word "wonderful" can mean. In each case I consider the four editors I have worked with best friends, and they treat me as a good friend as well, even though, in the beginning of each relationship, we hadn't met face-to-face. I am so grateful for these happy associations. From what I read, a majority of other published authors have the same experience. In the case of choosing my third publisher, the fact my potential editor was someone I was very comfortable with certainly factored into my decision. I signed a contract with this firm in August. I should add that, at all three publishers, I am fortunate to have had wonderful editors with all that the word “wonderful” can mean. In each case I consider the four editors I have worked with best friends, and they treat me as a good friend as well, even though, in the beginning of each relationship, we hadn’t met face-to-face. I am so grateful for these happy associations. From what I read, a majority of other published authors have the same experience. In the case of choosing my third publisher, the fact my potential editor was someone I was very comfortable with certainly factored into my decision. I signed a contract with this firm in August.

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Carol Buchanan http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-156 Carol Buchanan Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:18:33 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-156 My main reason to attend is writers conference is to meet agents who might be interested in what I write. Four times in the past 5 years I attended conferences to meet agents & editors. Four agents and two editors asked for my work. I sent what they wanted, and they did not buy. Both a short story and a rejected novel went on to win a national award -- after I self-published it. My conclusion: writers conferences do not make business sense any more for me. The writers conference is just one part of an outmoded publishing model. My main reason to attend is writers conference is to meet agents who might be interested in what I write. Four times in the past 5 years I attended conferences to meet agents & editors. Four agents and two editors asked for my work. I sent what they wanted, and they did not buy. Both a short story and a rejected novel went on to win a national award — after I self-published it. My conclusion: writers conferences do not make business sense any more for me. The writers conference is just one part of an outmoded publishing model.

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Poison Pen's First Ever Virtual Mystery Convention | Market My Novel http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-154 Poison Pen's First Ever Virtual Mystery Convention | Market My Novel Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:10:27 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-154 [...] Radine's Weblog has an interesting discussion going about why conferences are dying, possible reasons for it and how the landscape must adapt for the future. [...] [...] Radine's Weblog has an interesting discussion going about why conferences are dying, possible reasons for it and how the landscape must adapt for the future. [...]

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Tony Burton http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-153 Tony Burton Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:54:03 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-153 Michael, Wish I had been there when you were presenting. I presented at HAWC in Athens twice, and had a blast both times. Harriette is a dear person, and I quite frankly don't know how she keeps going! Michael,
Wish I had been there when you were presenting. I presented at HAWC in Athens twice, and had a blast both times. Harriette is a dear person, and I quite frankly don’t know how she keeps going!

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Tony Burton http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-152 Tony Burton Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:52:00 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-152 You know, I don't think fans are necessarily DISinterested in things like how we come up with plots, how secondary characters come into being, etc. Lots of fans are so into mysteries that these things fascinate them, even as they say, "Oh, I could NEVER write a book!" I think the primary thing any organizer has to keep in mind is the focus of the con, whatever that may be. Is the purpose, the focus, of the con to allow fans to meet their favorite authors as well as introduce them to some new authors? Then it's a conVENTION, and should be planned as such. If the focus of the con is to help authors meet editors and agents, help authors become better writers, educate each other and network, then it's clearly a conFERENCE. That makes the planning absolutely different, or people will not be happy with the results. You know, about signings at any event: I have twice presented at the Great Southern Book Show in Atlanta. It's a very interesting event, a real eye-opener if you have not seen what happens to hurts and remainders. Most of the attendees are authors, editors, publishers, or wannabes of these persuasions. My presentations were accepted happily, and I always had a lot of audience interaction. But book sales for me were dismal! Why? The attendees wanted *nonfiction* books on "how to" and "what not to do" as regards writing, getting published, publishing and editing. As much as they valued my presentation, they didn't want my novels. It was disappointing, to be sure, but after a couple of times as a presenter I learned my lesson, so I backed away from that one. (Of course, now I could market THE WRITER'S JOURNEY JOURNAL there, but they moved the show up to the Northeast this year, so....) You know, I don’t think fans are necessarily DISinterested in things like how we come up with plots, how secondary characters come into being, etc. Lots of fans are so into mysteries that these things fascinate them, even as they say, “Oh, I could NEVER write a book!”

I think the primary thing any organizer has to keep in mind is the focus of the con, whatever that may be. Is the purpose, the focus, of the con to allow fans to meet their favorite authors as well as introduce them to some new authors? Then it’s a conVENTION, and should be planned as such.

If the focus of the con is to help authors meet editors and agents, help authors become better writers, educate each other and network, then it’s clearly a conFERENCE. That makes the planning absolutely different, or people will not be happy with the results.

You know, about signings at any event: I have twice presented at the Great Southern Book Show in Atlanta. It’s a very interesting event, a real eye-opener if you have not seen what happens to hurts and remainders. Most of the attendees are authors, editors, publishers, or wannabes of these persuasions. My presentations were accepted happily, and I always had a lot of audience interaction. But book sales for me were dismal! Why? The attendees wanted *nonfiction* books on “how to” and “what not to do” as regards writing, getting published, publishing and editing. As much as they valued my presentation, they didn’t want my novels. It was disappointing, to be sure, but after a couple of times as a presenter I learned my lesson, so I backed away from that one.

(Of course, now I could market THE WRITER’S JOURNEY JOURNAL there, but they moved the show up to the Northeast this year, so….)

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by radine http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-151 radine Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:43:35 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-151 Difference between CON vention and CON ference? I don't know, but am guessing most of us are aware the vention one is a gathering of authors and their fans, the ference is, as Tony says, a place for honing our craft and perhaps making important contacts with agents and editors. My own problem with what to call these gatherings comes from the fact that many events have programs fitting both types. There may be agents and editors, talks on some aspect of honing our craft or publicity ideas, and so on. There can also be, at the same event, panels or chats about how we create secondary characters, how exciting locations are chosen, what factor weather has in our novels, or whatever. Anyway, that's the reason I often revert to the term "Con" though I know most may think of CONVICT when I do this. Sorry! Besides, fans would of course be welcome at both types of meetings and I've never been to one that didn't host signings. We authors are also avid fans. Aren't we? Aw shoot, I think I may still say "con" and escape any need to figure out which is what. :-) Suggestion...if you are posting to promote your own, uh, con, it might be a thoughtful idea, given some of the posts here, to mention any restrictions on writer selection for panels or talks. Okay? Difference between CON vention and CON ference? I don’t know, but am guessing most of us are aware the vention one is a gathering of authors and their fans, the ference is, as Tony says, a place for honing our craft and perhaps making important contacts with agents and editors. My own problem with what to call these gatherings comes from the fact that many events have programs fitting both types. There may be agents and editors, talks on some aspect of honing our craft or publicity ideas, and so on. There can also be, at the same event, panels or chats about how we create secondary characters, how exciting locations are chosen, what factor weather has in our novels, or whatever. Anyway, that’s the reason I often revert to the term “Con” though I know most may think of CONVICT when I do this. Sorry!

Besides, fans would of course be welcome at both types of meetings and I’ve never been to one that didn’t host signings. We authors are also avid fans. Aren’t we? Aw shoot, I think I may still say “con” and escape any need to figure out which is what. :-)

Suggestion…if you are posting to promote your own, uh, con, it might be a thoughtful idea, given some of the posts here, to mention any restrictions on writer selection for panels or talks. Okay?

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Beth Groundwater http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-150 Beth Groundwater Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:31:09 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-150 I really don't think the death of mystery cons is a problem internal to our industry. It's just another aspect of the effect of the worldwide economic downturn on the travel industry in general. Travel for both pleasure and business is being dropped or delayed by individuals and companies all over the world with huge impacts on airlines, cruise lines, hotels, etc. We're all tightening our belts, and discretionary travel is one of the easy things to leave out of the budget, compared to food, toilet paper, and keeping the lights on. I really don’t think the death of mystery cons is a problem internal to our industry. It’s just another aspect of the effect of the worldwide economic downturn on the travel industry in general. Travel for both pleasure and business is being dropped or delayed by individuals and companies all over the world with huge impacts on airlines, cruise lines, hotels, etc. We’re all tightening our belts, and discretionary travel is one of the easy things to leave out of the budget, compared to food, toilet paper, and keeping the lights on.

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by carl brookins http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-149 carl brookins Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:03:18 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-149 Tony is right about word usage. Most of us are too careless about using convention and conference interchangeably--a bad idea. But most of us who work on them do know the difference. We could certainly help clear up uncertainty by being more accurate. Bouchercon, Left Coast Great Manhattan, to name just three are, all aimed primarily at fans. They are conventions, not conferences. Magna and Mayhem, two of my personal favs are also conventions. Then there's that one day affair in Muskego every year that pretty much defies definition. Understandable when you realize who puts the thing together! Tony is right about word usage. Most of us are too careless about using convention and conference interchangeably–a bad idea. But most of us who work on them do know the difference. We could certainly help clear up uncertainty by being more accurate. Bouchercon, Left Coast Great Manhattan, to name just three are, all aimed primarily at fans. They are conventions, not conferences. Magna and Mayhem, two of my personal favs are also conventions. Then there’s that one day affair in Muskego every year that pretty much defies definition. Understandable when you realize who puts the thing together!

]]> Comment on Dying Conferences and Conventions…. by Marilyn Meredith http://radine.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/dying-conferences-and-conventions/#comment-148 Marilyn Meredith Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:31:48 +0000 http://radine.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-148 PSWA doubled it's attendance from last year. Because I've gone to all sorts of conferences big and small and enjoy them all, I can tell you that PSWAs is fun because it is small and you get to hangout with everyone. Last year Betty Webb and Sheila Lowe were among our group and both were delightful to spend time with. This year Simon Wood and Michael Black are two of the biggies. I'm not happy with MWAs rules about publishers either. My publisher doesn't give advances but does pay royalties on a monthly basis with an accounting of where the book sold--bookstore, Amazon, e-book, Kindle. I've also heard big name authors make disparaging remarks about the number of writers from small presses being the reason "legitimate" writers didn't show up--which I don't think is really true. I have good friends who are published by "big" publishers and small independent publishers. I don't think remarks like that help anything. I would never badger anyone about being on a panel or where I was on a panel. If they don't want me, I won't come. If I get put on a panel I'm happy with the placement. Mayhem in the Midlands is another favorite of mine. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com PSWA doubled it’s attendance from last year. Because I’ve gone to all sorts of conferences big and small and enjoy them all, I can tell you that PSWAs is fun because it is small and you get to hangout with everyone. Last year Betty Webb and Sheila Lowe were among our group and both were delightful to spend time with. This year Simon Wood and Michael Black are two of the biggies.

I’m not happy with MWAs rules about publishers either. My publisher doesn’t give advances but does pay royalties on a monthly basis with an accounting of where the book sold–bookstore, Amazon, e-book, Kindle.

I’ve also heard big name authors make disparaging remarks about the number of writers from small presses being the reason “legitimate” writers didn’t show up–which I don’t think is really true.

I have good friends who are published by “big” publishers and small independent publishers. I don’t think remarks like that help anything.

I would never badger anyone about being on a panel or where I was on a panel. If they don’t want me, I won’t come. If I get put on a panel I’m happy with the placement.

Mayhem in the Midlands is another favorite of mine.

Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

]]>