Prepping For RWA Nationals

I know many of you are gearing up for the upcoming RWA Nationals and other major summer writing conferences. I do want to take some time to remind you of things you probably need to consider planning for instead of what I am sure some of you are doing.

Yes, figuring out the outfits you are wearing, the sights you want to see around the conference and the party schedule is important, but remember, this is a BUSINESS and PROFESSIONAL conference.

So, here are some considerations:

DO YOUR RESEARCH - This year, RWA is taking the Speed Pitch approach. Personally, this is not one of my favorites, but it is what it is. Regardless, take the time to do the research for who you are pitching to. Know ahead of time what they are acquiring and what their likes and dislikes are. It is not worth the time for you or that editor or agent if you just start throwing things at the person. You will still get rejected. My prediction is there will be more rejections this year than in the past.

PLAN ON ATTENDING WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS - Again, this is a working conference. Plan on sessions that will help you out. I personally recommend hitting those spotlight sessions run by the publishers. Sessions on hearing some famous writer just talk about their career might be fun, but it is not going to get you much as a new author. I would also encourage doing the research to see if the speaker really has a clue of what he or she is talking about. Sorry to say this, but a lot have very little experience.

BE PREPARED TO NETWORK - I see a lot of writers who bring their laptops and plan on writing. This is again a huge waste of time. You have had all year to write. Sitting in your room or in a corner of the lobby is not going to get you the networking that you need. Get out and talk to people.

Along the same lines, I always recommend not traveling in packs. Sit with other people at lunches. Break up you chapter and divide and conquer. When you get together later AFTER the conference, you can share your information you gathered.

TALK TO THOSE EDITORS AND AGENTS - I know a lot of us like to sit out in the lobby and talk to people. Take advantage. You don't need to pitch your story, but engage. If we want to hear what you are writing, we will ask for that information.

DUMP THE ELEVATOR PITCHES - Sorry to say this, but that scripted speech you memorized and practiced with your critique partners in the hotel room do not come across as professional. They sound fake. Just be prepared to tell us the title, genre, word count and basic premise. No more of the "and sparks fly when..." phrases. Too fake!!!!

The key is to be ready to work. These national conferences are exhausting so be aware of that. You can sleep when you get home.

AND ONE FINAL NOTE: When we say to be professional, we mean it. Yes the drinks flow, but so does your reputation. People are watching you. People are listening. Act like a jerk and your career is tanked!
 

One final thought

For those of you heading out to San Francisco, or for those of you already there, I want to give you a couple of final things to think about.

This may be the most important conference of your writing career. At least, this is the approach you should take when you arrive. Keep your eyes and ears open. Talk to people. Listen and learn.

Although there is a big temptation to just party and have fun, you never know what is around the next corner, or who you sit next to. Make the most of it.

Every year that I go, I plan on walking away with something new. It may simply be a new connection, it may be a new writer that I find along the way. It may simply be something new I learn about a publisher. It doesn't matter to me. I walk away with something.

Now, for those of you that couldn't make it this year. You aren't out of it. When your writing partners return, talk to them. They can become your eyes and ears for you.

I've got to go and finish packing now. I'll be off early tomorrow, but I am really looking forward to this conference.

I'll let you know what I gained along the way.

Ciao,

Scott

Be Prepared

This one is going out to all of the writers heading off to those National conferences. Two words... BE PREPARED!

This is a simple thing to do and yet you would be surprised how many writers I meet that are far from ready when they get on the airplane to go. Since these are major conferences and you will be frequently in situations where your career is immediately on the line, you need to be ready for everything.

So, with that said, here are some things to consider:

1) Know the people that are your "targets" - the people you want to meet up with. When I say know them, know who they are, what they look like and all that you can about them.

2) Know how to pitch your story without simply regurgitating your memorized elevator pitch. Many sales have been made simply sitting next to someone at a lunch table.

3) Know all of your stories. Make sure that you are ready to pitch anything.

4) Know where you want to go and what you want to see. I have everything planned out on my OUTLOOK calendar. This includes all of my Spotlights and appointments. If you don't have a plan, you will spend more time wandering and not using your time productively.

5)Plan on working. This is not a play conference, but a work conference. Susan Swinwood from Harlequin and I always joke about this but it is true. From the moment you walk out of your door until the end of the day "you are on."

6) Be professional. Again, this goes back to who you may meet. You only get one chance to make a first impression and too often, although I may have told someone to send me something after meeting them in the hallway, I have already gotten thoughts of rejection in my head.

7. Always have business cards, paper, writing instruments, bookmarks, and any other marketing tools with you. Several favorite writers of mine are always ready to make a sale (although they really don't need to) because of this.

Look, if you want to be a professional writer you have to go and act like one. If you don't believe me, just people watch. I can promise you that you will see careers lost at this conference (hint, the bar is a good place to see this really happen).

See you there!

Scott

Check them out before you go and pitch

Here is your homework today.

For those of you gearing up for nationals, have you done your research yet? I'm talking about finding out all of the information you can about the people you are pitching to. Make sure that you are pitching to the person that you will have the best fit with.

Find out what they like and don't like in terms of a story.
Find out who they represent.
If it is an editor, find out who they recently published and why.
Read their blogs, read all of the articles you can about these people.

The key is to get to know them. The more you know, the better.