Backspace Writer's Conference -- Day 1

Well, here I am sitting in the world famous Tick Tock Diner waiting for my delicious BBQ Ranch Burger to arrive.

(Side note to Kim: the waitstaff is as friendly as ever.)

I've just finished my first day of seminars at the Backspace Writer's Conference, and I am just drained--but drained in a good way. With all apologies to the good folks at Context, I have to say this is the best writing conference I've ever been to. I can't decide if I am just in a better place as a writer now or whether things are just being explained in a different way, but so many times today I just felt myself "getting it" as the speakers of the different panels made different points. I have a feeling it is mostly my mindset (being in a much more confident place now with my writing) but the caliber of speakers probably has a bit to do with it too.

(For those keeping score at home, my mozzarella sticks just arrived. What, I didn't have time for lunch today! Our 11:00 seminar ran way long.)

I won't go on about all the things I've learned today. To be honest, there really aren't too many things I could quantize into a list. It's more like a fluid bursts of understanding about the different aspects about what I am trying to do and what I need to do to write the way I know that I can. Really it's all information I've heard before...but for some reason I was just able to truly understand it this time instead of just write it down in my notebook.

As as example, let me give you this anecdote from my last workshop today (which I left all of 53 minutes ago):

The workshop was basically about forming your "elevator pitch." For you non-writers, an "elevator pitch" is you uber-eloquent, no-more-than-three-sentences, pre-prepared sales pitch for your book. The idea is if you ever find yourself alone in an elevator with a big time literary agent or editor--as might happen at a writing conference--you can do something besides mumbling incoherently when she turns to you and asks, "So, what are you working on?"

Anyway one of the workshop attendees was an established writer (her fourth book is due out next spring) who had led one of the morning workshops. As things got going, she volunteered to stand up and give her pitch--which we would then all critique.

Now keep in mind that this woman is an established writer, pitching her fourth book--a book, again, which she already sold to a major NY publisher.

As she stood up to give her little speech she shuffled around nervously for a few seconds, gave what I have come to call the slightly embarrassed yes-this-book-is-fantasy-but-stay-with-me-because-it-is-actually-not-lame shrug, and then started to quickly tell us about her book--looking to her feet quickly as she briefly described the "super powers" each of the characters had. Most of my friends can probably recall me striking a similar pose as I described my own book to them.

I was just amazed. I mean this woman is published--four times!--and if her talk that morning is any indication has written some very creative and very awesome books. And here she is, still slightly nervous to talk about her work in a room full of "pre-published" guys like me.

I wanted to grab her and say, "Hey, you don't need to be nervous! You're a successfully published fantasy author. Everyone in this room is looking up to you right now. You are our hero!"

(Side note for anyone planning to blog at the Tick Tock Diner: soda refills are not free)

I guess in a way, it settled my own nerves a bit to see her slightly rattled in the same way I was. While I certainly don’t put myself on the same level as her writing-wise, it was incredibly reassuring to see that someone like that still shares the same paigns of self-doubt and worry when standing up before a crowd and declaring what she does. In a strange way, I feel like less of an outsider from the writer's club.

All right, time to find my super friendly waitress and pay the check. It's my last night all alone in the big city, and I probably shouldn't spend it blogging in a crowded diner.

Comments

[Kim]

I wish I was with you at the Tick Tock... It is so special :) Outstanding service..... great quality food and super low prices!

Glad you enjoyed your present I always want to make you happy!