PNWA Conference 2013: Part One

What's it like to go to one of those expensive fancy Writer's Conferences?

Well, it's been a week since the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2013 Conference at the SeaTac Hilton. It was my first time attending, and I'm really glad I went!

Everything started way too early, but I knew that. And anyone who knows me knows how rough that is for me. (I am blogging at 4:43 am - and it's not because I've risen and shone! I'll go to bed soon.) All the forums and workshops were at 8 am, 10 am, 2pm, and 4pm, with lunch breaks and dinner breaks, and dessert or dinner and dessert over keynote speakers and the Saturday awards ceremony. 

DAY ONE: THURSDAY

There was this Pitchcraft class with Katherine Sands at 10 am, but the rest of the day was all digital and self publishing forums, in which I had little interest. I read Sands's book, Making the Perfect Pitch, last year and found it very helpful and informative. But, of course, I had stayed up till at least 4 am Wed. night writing, so I was tired at 8, when the alarm went off, so I slept in till 1 and got to the Hilton around 3. I got my registration packet, full of little slips of paper, my name tag, the program book, a pen and post-it note pad, and some stuff for next year's lit contest. Also got a lime green messenger bag to put my stuff in. Yay!

I sat in on the 4 pm Amazon Publishing forum with John E. Fine, and took notes, mostly for a friend who's interested in pursuing that venue. I ran into a writer friend and we hit the Pitch Practice room for a while, where I began the first of seven revisions to come. Other writers came and went as well, and it was fun to hear others pitch their books. It's always easier to critique others than yourself! 

I forgot some meals were included (The Hilton does a great job!), but the first day's option was pizza. Half a personal pizza? About the size of a parlor slice, with some bits of unidentified veggies on it (I think it was olives or mushrooms). My gluten-free, dairy-free friend was presented with an even smaller slice (quarter of a personal pie) of thin gluten-free crust with a layer of tomato paste. Kinda sad. 

At 7:30, we had the dessert reception and Keynote Speaker, Greg Bear. Bear has many sci-fi writing credits to his name, and he was also one of the founders of the San Diego Comic-Con. He was very personable, and told some great tales of wallowing in the geek-genre trenches, as well as rubbing shoulders with some other true legends of the field, such as Isaac Asimov. He was, and is, a visionary, and I enjoyed his speech. 

I didn't touch the chocolate layered cake, and was allowed to swap it for a bowl of mixed berries. Never be afraid to ask for what you want! And as it turns out, I sat at a table full of fun and funny people. 

DAY TWO: FRIDAY

So there was some stuff in the morning. Apparently, it included free bagels. I managed to get there by 9:20am, after some emotionally charged dealings at the body shop where I was swapping my slightly damaged second rental car for my own. But that's another story.

I caught the last five minutes of the Editors Panel; not enough to know who any of them are. My loss. But at least I was there for the 10am Agents Panel, where each agent was introduced and spoke a little (or a lot, depending on the person) about who they are, what they are looking for in authors, etc. 

Unfortunately, I missed the noon panel on St. martin's and Thomas Dunne Publishing. I think I had gotten caught up in the Pitch Practice room with a group of writers. My loss, again, but I did have fun and learn a few things for my pitch.

2pm - 3:30 There were about four different workshops I wanted to attend, but decided on Margie Lawson's "A Deep Editing Guide To Making Your Openings Pop". I learned about the psychologist's approach to writing, and the importance of "power words" and rhetorical devices. None of the given examples were taken from anything I'd ever actually read, but it was still useful. Margie's voice was a tad soporific, with its soothing tones and soft timbre, but I managed to stay awake, and even connect with another writer sitting near me, after. 

4 - 5:30 Again, several simultaneous panels and workshops that all (mostly) sound enticing. I went with "Memoir: Make Them Care", presented by Lynn Price, since I've tried my hand a few times at it but have found it extremely challenging. I think I picked up a few tips and thoughts to keep in mind when writing from life. I heard the Introduction to Speculative Fiction was also very good, which would have been my other choice.

At 7:00, we had dinner. Sitting at a front table with some of the cool kids, we were among the last served. Hence, cold cheese ravioli with a side of baby asparagus. I didn't mind; I was a waitress for 15 years. Hot food was an urban legend for years. 

The Featured Speakers were Deb Caletti, Stella Cameron, Robert Dugoni, and Gerry Swallow. Authors who have made it through the wilderness, and lived to tell the tale and light the path for the rest of us. Pretty interesting, pretty casual and conversational, despite being sat on a raised platform, facing all of us. 

Six AM approaches. Off to bed, am I. Part Two coming soon. 

Upcoming PNWA Conference

The Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference is in one week, and despite having months to prepare, I am living up to my reputation as Master Procrastinator, once again. 

Things I have ready:

• Business cards ordered
• New outfit to wear

Things I have to have ready this week:

• Completed 3rd Draft of Novel
• Memorized "Elevator Pitch"
• Printed One-Sheets (Bio, Resume, Novel Synopsis, Stats)

No sweat. 

Ahem...

Well, I'm planning on continuing draft revisions tomorrow (Friday 7/19) & Saturday. Also Sunday and Monday nights after work, if need be. Depending on that, I will work on the pitch and summary. I actually wrote all that up last year, so I just need to find it, tweak it, and memorize it. 

Wish me luck!

Chapter One

Whilst embarking upon the third draft of my novel, "How I Spent My Zombie Apocalypse", I thought to myself, "How would it be if I were to begin at a different point in the history of my tale?"

As it stands, my first chapter starts with our main character, Kat, on roof watch of their post-ZA safehold, six months after the outbreak. She spies a station wagon approaching, and the newcomers are brought into the fold, so to speak, even if just for a while. One of the arrivals is injured, and there is some debate about the situation. But, Kat, being a nurse, leads the rally to save the stranger.

This is a somewhat slower opening to the book, but the reader should get a strong sense of who the characters are, especially Kat.

My Alternate Opening #1, "Hospital", begins as Kat arrives to work at the ER, amidst a chaotic kerfuffle of impending quarantine. This is a serious look at the progression of events in a classic medical context.

Alternate Opening #2, "Costco", is a much funnier first chapter, filled with ultra violence and absurdities. It is set with the first few days of the outbreak, and while there is a definite sense of each character, their stories and personal inventories are not so clear.

I've had a dozen or so readers of all three versions, and it's pretty even as far as votes go for 1, 2, or 3.

So, my dilemma now is to choose which introduction I want to use, rewrite and polish, and add it to the work-in-progress that I am HOPING to have done by next Monday.

Got my work cut out for me.

Oh, dear! It's been three months since I've posted a thing here. And I so meant to blog at least once a month...

Well, I've been spending my writing time transitioning into editing mode. After writing several new short stories, polishing up a few older ones, I've finally started the Third Draft of my novel, How I Spent My Zombie Apocalypse, written in late 2011. It's been staring at me for a year, awaiting my broad changes and minor tweaks. I hope to get it in good shape by the end of the first week in July. That's how I am planning to spend my Independence Day weekend - writing & editing.

I edited a YA fantasy novel from a fellow writer and a collection of horror short stories from another last month. I now feel like I should have a hip holster, holding a giant comma in place of a gun, for how fast I am at adding them.

When I want to catch up with somebody, I find myself most curious about where current influences and interests lie. So, here's my past few months, in a nutshell:

• What I'm watching: March/April - watched all of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes (Yay for NetFlix) and recently began season one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Immersed myself in the world of Joss Whedon's Firefly and Serenity for a few weeks. Also rewatched all of the Arrested Development episodes, including the new fourth season exclusive to NetFlix. And this week, I finally watched Season Five of True Blood. So much better than the last season or two! Love love loved it. Also, loved listening to the episode commentaries, which included a lot with the writers.
  
  I've been to the cinema to see Mama (which was excellent!), Evil Dead (stick to the original), Star Trek Into The Darkness (fun), and This Is The End (Which was mostly funny and enjoyable). Tomorrow is World War Z, because I have to see it despite how short it may fall from the book.
  
• What I'm reading: I finally read that first novel from Rob Brezny (known for his syndicated column "Real Astrology"), Televisionary Oracle. Published in 2000, it was a lengthy poetic prose work, espousing a lot of Bohemian Punk New Hippie Proto-Feminism, that frankly, just didn't speak to me. I also read Lilydale by Christine Wicker, a journalist exploring the history and lore of America's only Spiritualist Community. Read some anthology horror, a "Bizarro Fiction" book, an LGBT humor book, and Why Women Earn Less by Mikelann Valterra. Currently finishing Book Two of the Abarat series, from my favorite author, Clive Barker.
  
• What I'm listening to: A little bit of everything, as usual. I got to see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds recently, which was my first time seeing him live. He and the band were amazing. I'm also listening to William Shatner lately. And I put my iPod on shuffle very often, so that gives me an eclectic mix of Nina Simone, L'Arc~en~Ciel, Thompson Twins, Radiohead, Parliament Funkadelic, Sezen Aksu, and a slew of others. Nothing obsessive at the moment. But I am looking forward to finally seeing Gogol Bordello live in August!
  
• What I'm creating: In addition to the writing of short stories, flash fiction, and now my novel's third draft, I've been working on a Goal Journal (of my own creation), and a plan for the Writer's Conference in July. I've begun to work with the above-mentioned author, Mikelann Valterra, on a regular basis to sort out my finances and any inherent personal issues thereof. I've also been incubating some big ideas on gender equality and issues, across many platforms. More on that in the future.

My six word story, "How Great Thine Art" a.k.a. "Sketchbook Thief",  has been included in the Penny Fiction section of the Spring 2013 Haunted Waters's eMagazine, "From The Depths." Check it out... there are some great tales there. 

Winter Doldrums

Mid- to late January... I'm usually broke (after holiday presents and unpaid days off of work), tired, and stressed out. I'm actually slightly burnt out after 2012's NaNoWroMo- only managed to write one and edit two stories in December, and January's output thus far is a handful of extremely flash flash fiction. Better than nothing, though!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, winter means the sun is out from about 8 am (I guess - I'm never up that early!) till 3 or 4 pm. It's now extending until about 5pm, but since I get up between noon and two, I'm not seeing much of it. Plus, what sun there is is usually obscured by heavy grey cloud cover, drizzling rainy mist, cold damp fog, and haze. It always looks to me like the great Nothingness from the Neverending Story. Ho hum. 

Don't get me wrong- I wouldn't trade this for the icy blasts of winter I grew up with in Maryland for the world. It's just that my body seems to want to go into hibernation all winter! I'm less motivated to do... well, anything, really. For many, this weather is the ideal cocoon in which to write away the days and nights. But, for some reason (could it be that pesky NaNo project each Nov.?) I've been letting days go by without so much as OPENING my laptop. Very unusual for me, but that's what it's been. Lots of movie and Netflix watching, and reading, and cuddling with my kitties (I adopted a new one- just under a year old- last weekend! He's a long haired dark grey kitty with a slightly silvery nose and pale green eyes. I've named him Frankie Fourpaws, and he's been getting along famously with my two year ole Scottish Fold, Rory Calhoun.)

I think it's a good idea to track the cycles and patterns in your life. If you are a writer or artist, which season is your most productive? Which months? Are there periods of inspiration and idea incubation before output? it makes it easier to stay unworried if you know what your cycles are. I think I may do best in Spring and Summer, and maybe even Fall. Summer is probably the number one season for me all around, because there seems to be so much more time for everything! An illusion, perhaps, but nonetheless, I usually work out more, get out more, write more, and everything else. 

Only another six months to go.

Happy New Year's! 2013 Goals

I hope you are all feeling well, on this first day of 2013! I'm a little fuzzy in the head, myself, but this second cup of coffee should be helping soon.

Resolutions are a tradition, but I find the word sounds hard, to me. Resolve is something some dudley boring middle aged dour man-in-a-suit or woman-in-layers-of-foundation-garments-and-petticoats has. 

I like the word "intention", but New Years Intentions sounds too soft. Like they;re too easy to not get done.

So I settled on "goals" a few years ago. It fits, it's unpretentious, and goals are doable. Here are mine for 2013. (Some are not writing related, but I'm including them here anyway.)

1. Finish Revisions (3rd/4th draft) on How I Spent My Zombie Apocalypse novel.
2. Take HISMZA to the PNWA Conference - buy tickets in March.
3. Send out Query Letters for HISMZA.
4. Send out 12 Short Story Sumbissions.
5. Enter 3 writing contests.
6. Get a kitten!
7. Organize Home...Bedroom, closets, bookshelves, desk, kitchen...
8. The Spare Room.
9. Put together under-the-sink caddy.
10. Get new regional DVD player.
11. Get regular with the workouts.
12. Find a damn dance class that I want to take (Could someone in Seattle please start a Broadway class or an Angie Dickinson 60's Style Jazz class?!?)
13. Continue Language Skills... Brushing up on French & Japanese
14. Start Italian lessons.
15. Start using Juicer again.
16. Work on Non-Fic Massage Manual Book.
17. Submit two articles on Massage/IFR.

Okay, then. I may make adjustments to this list, but this is the list for now. 17 items - I like the number 17, always have. And... it's the number of my favorite tarot card, "The Stars". Destiny, Fate, Kismet... here I come.

Addition: I forgot to update my reading goal!
   18.  Read at least 30 books.