Monday, May 9, 2011

Hooray for Conferences

I had the opportunity to attend a really great conference this weekend. And it's not just because I won third place in a contest (although that was very cool). I learned about character bibles, writing great queries, and how to have a great blog (thanks Elana!)

I also got to brainstorm with the wise and uber-talented, not to mention really nice, Sydney Salter Husseman. It means a ton of work for me, but it was still full of awesomeness. I met two new writing friends there, too. Hi Sally and Janice!

I pitched FREE BREAD GIRL to Sara Crowe. I liked her and not just because she was interested in looking at my ms.

The best part of it all was hanging out with fabulous writing friends who I adore.

Conferences are full of awesomeness.

What are some of your favorite conference memories/experiences?

16 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a great weekend. That's so great! I'm sad I couldn't go. Hopefully next year!

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  2. Oh, I loved the part where three ladies were in an elevator after I called an agent by the wrong name. I was telling them my embarrassing story, and then two of them got off. Trying to be friendly, I turned to the woman left and said, "So, what do you write?" She stared at me for a moment and said, "Actually, I'm an editor from ___." Sure enough, there was a big ol' nametag on her shirt that screamed EDITOR. She didn't ask about my work :)

    In all seriousness, though, I loved the conference and can't wait to go back this year. I'm hoping to pitch to Sara Megibow too!

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  3. Woohoo, Shari!! Congrats on placing in the contest. That is so awesome and well-deserved. And good luck with Free Bread Girl. Let me know how it goes.

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  4. Oh no Jess! Is it bad that I laughed at your story?

    And I'm so happy you had a great time Shari! I liked the conference a lot, I'm just sad that I didn't really get to meet/talk to a lot of people.

    But congrats on the positive pitch with Sara!

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  5. It was an awesome conference. I came home all happy. I had so many positive things happen. Too bad the hotel staff can't ever figure my food allergies out. Sigh!
    Congrats on your win, that's awesome!

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  6. I'm sooo jealous!!! I've never been to a conference but am planning on attending some this year for sure. Thanks for posting about how awesome it was. . I can live vicariously LOL!

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  7. Sounds like you had a great time this weekend. I am heading to my first conference in a few weeks. Congrats on you win!

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  8. I so missed out on the fun conference. I know I'll go next year. SO happy you were able to pitch your book. Best wishes!

    *hugs*

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
    Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
    YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming soon!

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  9. Ooh you're so lucky to have gone to a conference! And brave for pitching! I would have been so scared...

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  10. Shari, I'm so jealous. I've yet to go to a real live conference.

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  11. I'm not sure which I love more: conferences or writers' retreats. conferences: networking, absorbing, insight, pitching. Retreats: brainstorming, exercises, networking, connecting.

    Sounds like you got both! Looking forward to one I'm going to in Sept.

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  12. Awesome! I am uber-jealous, Shari. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I would kill to attend an Elana J. workshop! :-)

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  13. First of all, I'm completely jealous. I wanted to go to LDStorymakers so bad. Why do I live so far away? Oh well. That's awesome that you got so many amazing experiences while you were there. Thanks for sharing.

    By the way, you won a critique on my blog today.

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  14. I don't have any yet, but this weekend is scbwi of the Dakotas, and I'm pumpt.

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  15. Hmm... watching the Stop-watch gang critiquing a story live at the Ad Astra convention is a pretty fun memory! It wasn't called a writer's conference, but Ad Astra shared some elements with them - a lot of the panels were writing-themed, and those were mostly the ones I attended.

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  16. I'm glad you had such a great time! Elana is awesome! :)

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