Posts Categorized: PENCON

Returning from a Writer’s Conference

Posted by Christi McGuire

You’ve just returned home from your first Writers’ Conference. What. A. Trip! It was everything you hoped and nothing like you planned. Perhaps it exceeded your expectations, perhaps you experienced some disappointments — either way, your mind has been going a million miles an hour, your face hurts from smiling, and no matter how much of an extrovert you usually are, you’re ready to crawl in bed and stay there for a week.

Like coming home after summer camp when you were a kid, the days following a conference are naturally going to feel pretty dreary. You are likely exhausted both emotionally and physically. You already miss your new writer friends who totally “get” you like no one else does! Here’s a few things to keep in mind as you ease back into your regular routine:

Allow for some down time. Plan for a down day or two to unpack and regroup. Sleep, eat well, and rejuvenate your body.

Take the time to say thank you. Go through your notes and the business cards you collected and follow up! If any agents or editors requested additional material, send it to them asap. Or simply write a short thank-you note letting them know you appreciate the time they spent with you.

Network, network, network! Log in to your social media accounts and follow all the people you connected with — build your platform and network! This will be invaluable to you later on.

Create an action plan. Go through your notes and conference materials, and create an action plan or to-do list of the things you want to do, complete, and accomplish. Then give yourself some deadlines to stay on track.

Pace yourself! Ease back into “real life,” and remember, you don’t have to catch up on everything you missed all at once.

But you can start planning for the next conference you’d like to attend, now that you are an experienced conferee!

 

My next conference will be PENCON, the only conference in the Christian industry for freelance editors. Register at https://penconeditors.com/register/. I hope to see you there!

5 Tips for Preparing for Writers’ Conferences

Posted by Christi McGuire

You’re going to a writer’s conference! You’ve got a dream in your back pocket, and you’re ready to make it happen. Soon you will step inside a crowded room full of other writers, editors, agents, and publishers, and you’re going to take the next step toward your publishing dream.

It may sound intimidating (okay, well, it sort of is, the first time) but there’s plenty you can do to prepare for your first conference. Besides the basic stuff, like, wear deodorant and check your teeth after eating salad, keep in mind the “5 Ps” to ensure you make the most of your conference experience.

  • Plan. Conferences can be pricey—between registration fees, accommodations, and travel—so be sure to maximize your investment by planning ahead. Is this conference at a fancy urban hotel or rustic retreat center? How will you get there from the airport? Will you be schlepping your own bags, or will there be bell service available? What will the other conference attendees be wearing? What time will your body think it is when you get up the first morning? Spend time looking over the schedule, plan what you want or need in terms of clothing (and can carry), arrange for ground transportation, and be aware of (and plan for) adjusting to time changes.
  • Most conferences offer many classes and sessions concurrently. Some even offer schedules, or tracks, especially designed for new writers, fiction or nonfiction writers, etc. Take time to review the course schedule and decide in advance where your time will best be spent. Review the faculty list and decide with whom to set appointments or meetings, and do so ahead of time, if possible.
  • You’re at the conference to get noticed, so prepare to be scrutinized! Make sure you have plenty of business cards and multiple copies of other documents you may be presenting, such as your manuscript, one-sheets, etc. Practice your elevator speech and your pitch in advance; better yet, do it with a friend. Ask (and accept) feedback, and practice, practice, practice!
  • Professional. While this may seem like a vacation or weekend escape, remember, this is a business trip. You may or may not get that meeting with the editor or agent you’re dying to meet, but you never know who else you’ll cross paths with at this event. Be professional at all times! I can’t stress this enough—even after hours, because you never know who might be rooming next door. Be courteous and outgoing when meeting others. Use every opportunity to network with fellow conferees; be courteous and interested in them and not only yourself. Most importantly, don’t be annoying! You may have a hard time getting in front of that agent or editor, but you’re not doing yourself any favors if you stalk them all weekend or follow someone into the bathroom (yes, this has actually been done before).
  • Pace. You might be the most outgoing extrovert on the planet, but meeting so many people and engaging constantly is emotionally and physically exhausting. Don’t pack your schedule so tightly that you are constantly on the go. Pace yourself, drink lots of water, fuel your body with wise eating choices, get plenty of rest (even when you want to stay up late and chat with friends), and schedule downtime for yourself. Ensure that you’ll have the physical and emotional energy to finish strong and that you’ve maximized every encounter and opportunity available.

Finally, plan to have fun—this may be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, or it may just be the next step in your writing journey. Take advantage of all your conference has to offer, but also know you’ve done your best and what happens is meant to happen. Enjoy the experience, glean everything you possibly can from the people you meet and the classes and workshops you attend, and keep moving toward that publishing dream.

Join me at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, or PENCON!

 

 

Sneak Peek: AP vs. CMOS

Posted by Christi McGuire

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PENCON 2015 starts tomorrow! I am so excited about this convention! It is the second annual freelance editorial convention of The Christian PEN—and the only conference of its kind in Christian publishing.

The speaker line-up is amazing; experts in the publishing industry from all over the US are convening in Austin, Texas, to teach, encourage, inspire, and collaborate with one another. I am teaching two workshops: “AP vs. CMOS: When Style Guides Conflict,” which I am co-teaching with the wonderful Kathy Ide, and “Building Client Relationships.”

Here’s a sneak peek of a few key points from the “AP vs. CMOS” workshop:

COMMAS

CMOS: In a series of three or more elements, separate the elements with commas. When a conjunction joins the last two elements in a series, use a comma before the conjunction.

For example: I love apples, bananas, and grapes.

AP: Leave out the comma before and (or another conjunction) in a series unless doing so would cause confusion or ambiguity.

For example: I love apples, bananas and grapes.

DASHES

CMOS: No space before or after em dash (—) or en dash (–).

(Note: the em dash is made by pressing shift+option+hypen; the en dash is made by pressing option+hypen.)

For example: No matter what—she always got her way.

AP: Space before and after dash (—). AP does not use the en dash. (Use a hyphen instead.)

For example: No matter what — she always got her way.

NUMBERS

CMOS: Spell out whole numbers one through one hundred, and spell out round numbers (hundreds, thousands, millions). Spell out times of day in even, half, and quarter hours.

For example: There are ninety-nine reasons I love you!

AP: Spell out whole numbers below 10; use numerals for 10 and above. Use numerals for measurements and spell out the words inches, feet, yards, etc. Use numerals for time of day except for noon and midnight (10:30 a.m., 5 o’clock).

For example: There are 99 reasons I love you!

Stay tuned for more info, news, and reviews of PENCON 2015.

I hope to see you there!