Fiction & Fantasy Football: The 2012 James River Writers Conference
Last year I attended the 2011 James River Writer’s Conference full of self-doubt. I was nervous that I wouldn’t fit in with the scholarly, eclectic, and creative world. I’m an Army Officer. I’m not a writer. Could I be both, though?
I had written my first book while in Afghanistan. Big deal, right? I mean this conference was going to be full of serious writers. Surely they would look down on me. For the entire conference I was timid, stressed, and constantly trying to sell myself to possible literary agents and publishing folks.
Last year I had no website or Facebook page. I didn’t even know what Twitter was.
Of course, I was wrong on all accounts. I met tons of great people. I made great contacts that eventually led me to landing an agent. Yes, the 2011 James River Conference led to me getting that hard-to-land agent many writers strive for.
So this year as I drove up Route 64 towards Richmond for the 2012 James River Writers Conference, I listened to the fantasy football channel on my Sirius radio contemplating some lineup changes. I had no idea what agents were available for the one-on-one pitch session. I hadn’t spent hours writing and practicing a pitch for Pitchapalooza. I hadn’t even looked at the conference agenda to see which workshops I wished to attend.
I simply wanted to spend the weekend being surrounded by creativity. I also wanted see my editor and writing coach Ginger Moran and reconnect with the fabulous Book Doctors, Dave Henry Sterry and Arielle Eckstut. Ginger has been with me since the beginning, from editing the first draft to coaching me on the search for an agent to helping set up my website.
What a difference a year can make!
So this is what I learned at the 2012 James River Conference:
- The more you as an author do and are prepared to do to market your book, the better.
- Literary agents command respect when negotiating the sale of the book with publishers. They carry the weight of the agency and all its authors on their shoulders. Agents have established contracts with publishers.
- Independent authors sell an average of 345 books. Independent authors that self-publish have a tough road.
- I need a downloadable Press Kit on my website.
- I can use a lot of the material in Paws on the Ground that I cut in the revision as bonus material someday.
- I should place an actual email address in my contact link. It is easier than the form.
- I need to start collecting blurb commitments for my debut novel.
- (I gleaned a bunch of writing techniques and tips but will share those another time.)
I spent twenty minutes talking to the terrific and talented David Henry Sterry. Last year when I sat down with David I was sweating profusely and full of trepidation as I pitched him my book. This year I received a 20 minute lesson on the publishing world. What I love about David is his energy and passion for authors. He genuinely cares about authors. We discussed strategies to position myself for the best deal when my book is sold. I took copious notes!
One thing that annoyed me at the Conference this year:
I heard countless questions from aspiring authors in varying sessions about how to land representation from a literary agent. I was in their position last year. I understand.
So at first when several relatively new authors were on a panel talking about firing their agent or not signing with the first agent that offered them representation, I was aghast. Here they were on their perch, literally looking down on everyone, telling people who would kill for an agent not to take the first offer of representation. It pissed me off that they were talking about jumping to a new agent like it was as easy as changing dentists.
I say bullshit. I took the first offer and am quite happy.
After learning more about their situation, I understand what these authors meant. Two of the authors seemed to have started this journey with fringe agents. I only sought representation from credible agents from agencies with excellent reputations. That is my advice.
I was amazed when one of the literary agents attending said that she accepts only two new clients a year. She receives 150 queries a week. That is nearly 8,000 authors a year who are hoping she accepts them as a client. Two out of 8,000—those aren’t great odds.
Someone asked me how I landed my agent. Sure I won Pitchapalooza. But that didn’t guarantee me landing an agent. I was guaranteed an introduction only. The rest was up to me.
So here is my advice:
- Make your book stand out.
- Submit a finished product if you’re writing fiction
- Have a plan of attack for seeking an agent. (Here was mine)
- Start building a platform NOW
- Work your ass off and don’t stop
You are going to get rejections. Deal with it. Literary agents that request a submission are probably going to reject you. Deal with it. I kept all my rejection letters and emails. I even have a couple nasty ones that motivate me.
One last thing: You have a better chance of landing an agent when you receive an introduction. I actually had a few introductions from people I’ve met in the industry. What that does is move your manuscript higher in that agent’s slush pile. They will actually get back to you. Again, this doesn’t automatically mean that this agent will sign you.
Also, get your ass to a conference and meet the agent yourself. Pitch them. If your conference has a pitch competition, participate. Ask to pitch agents you aren’t meeting with anywhere except the bathroom. Use your exposure to them to get your project in their face and mind. Don’t be annoying or act like a nut, though.
OK, enough ranting about the Conference and landing an agent. Please feel free to post your link to any of your lessons learned or reflections from the conference.
What have you learn at a writer’s conference that really helped you?
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14 comments on “Fiction & Fantasy Football: The 2012 James River Writers Conference”
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OK, Kevin. What’s a “downloadable press kit,” and when you have one, will you share it with me? I am so clueless when it comes to the marketing end of this business. Clue. Less. I tell you!
-
Kevin Hanrahan says:
Check out Ginger Moran’s Barb! I’ve been checking other authors sites as well.
http://gingermoran.com/about/press-kit/
As I build it (prob this Dec) I will chat with you and share what I learn.
-
You are the best writing buddy ever. Hope you and yours are staying safe, dry and on higher ground during the mega storm!
-
Two things. There are independent writers who sell there books and numbers of them have made money via Kindle programs and with aggressive self-marketing programs. But they set up platforms beforehand, etc. Unfortunately, if you have an agent/publisher, unless you are a big name, you have to do a lot of the marketing yourself, anyway and have to share what you have written, marketed, sold with the publisher. That is why Indies I’m in touch with in groups do not want to go the lit. agent route or the publisher route, besides which it is a long process. But the Indie process requires that you do the work or hire people/pay them to help you. So either way there are problems. It becomes a matter of what you are willing/able to do. Anyway, found the information here useful Kevin. Never can get enough info about writing and publishing which is changing by the minute as we speak.
-
As I reread this, I see errors; sorry “their” is a glaring one. I returned from a trip last night during which I received little sleep. I apologize for the poorly edited dashed off comments above and below. I end with the seminal comment that the publishing industry has been greatly impacted by Amazon and epublishing; they are running scared. So writers/authors have more power than ever before, if they only realize it and take authority over the situation. They also need to help promote one another as best they can. Writers are also readers; the industry is evolving and at a crucial point; remain hopeful and above all write.
-
Hi Carole. No worries….my comment replied always have errors. That is part of my charm!
I’d rather not steer the debate to the whole self-publishing/ Amazon publishing discussion. I think both routes have goods and bad. Both are attractive in different ways. Both have challenges. Regardless of which way you go you are so right…….be prepared to market yourself and your books!
I’ve connected with some great author types who I mutually support. I think it is the charm of the business. I genuinely root for authors to be successful and am happy to support them. I agree….we need to support each other!
-
Hi Kevin. I am super stoked to have found you on Twitter and to be getting to know you.
I can relate to this post. I am a new blogger and was told by some friends about this amazing vegan blogger conference called Vida Vegan Con in Portland, OR. I was thinking that I didn’t belong in a conference like that as I was new and I didn’t really have a vegan food blog (I blog mostly about being gay and vegan in the suburbs along with equality and animal rights issues). After talking with several folks I decided that it didn’t matter what my blog was or how new I am to this world. I signed up!
The conference is next Memorial Day weekend and I can’t wait! I look forward to meeting other bloggers and growing as a blogger.
Kevin Hanrahan says: Wow. I just realized that every comment I posted not on my home computer did not post.
Dan, sorry I didn’t respond. I normally always respond to folks that take the time to leave a comment!
That conference sounds great! I really need to hit a blogger conference. I think the networking thing is the biggest part of it all!
Please let us know how it goes!
Ramona says: Thanks for the information above! I have always heard how complicated publishing your book can be but to hear first hand advice is wonderful. You suggested going to a writers conference but do you know a website where they list them by state? Thanks for your help!
Just as you get angry when you hear new authors saying they’d not accept or would fire their agents. I get upset when I hear the old “self-published authors only sell a few hundred books. It comes from numbers that were put out by iUniverse (back in the day) and more recently from the Taleist survey.
The thing you have to remember that there are a lot of bad self-published books just being “thrown out there” and yes they don’t sell well. But the self-published authors that are treating it like a professional enterprise are doing VERY well and are selling tens of thousands of copies. I myself sold 70,000 books (across 5 titles when I was self-published) and I’m planning on returning to self-publishing for an upcoming release. Yes I’m still traditionally publishing as well (I landed a traditional contract after my self-publishing went well). But I’ll make far more money with my self-published books then I will with my traditional ones just because I get such a small % of the overall sales with traditional.
Kevin Hanrahan says: Hi Michael. Congratulations on your terrific successes!
That remark caught me off guard as well. It didn’t cause me to be angry….just confused. I’m new to this whole publishing world and navigating the ins and outs is a bear. That comment made me want to know more about learning the ins and outs of self publishing.
I have friend that are doing just fine selling their self published books. But I also know a couple guys that have sold less than a 100 copies of their book. I haven’t pried into their business model to discern what the keys to success are. But I have no doubt that the professional enterprise you allude to in your comments is quite accurate between the successful and unsuccessful self pub authors.
What do you believe was key to your success when you were solely a self pub author?
Dianna Rostad says: Kevin,
Great post, very encouraging! You were smart to engage an editor and writing coach early. I attend many conferences, but these days I focus on the seminars and go to learn about the industry because my manuscript isn’t ready to sell.
For those who’ve only revised their novel say three times. Don’t submit it. Get an editor, send it out to people who will give you honest feedback–and then go pitch it at conferences.
Hi Kevin,
The main thing I learned from traditional publishing is that somebody made $120,000 from my first two novels, of which I got $6000 in royalties, total. Don’t entirely discount self-publishing. If you’re going to work your ass off anyway, no matter who publishes you, you may want to think about working for yourself. Sorry if that’s a bit cynical. I’ve heard that a few writers recently have negotiated to keep their e-book rights. That sounds like a smart plan to me.
Thanks for sharing your take on conferences. I agree that they are well worth the time and money. The best avenue is to get yourself in as a speaker. Then you have better access to the agents and publishers.
Whatever the avenue, your books are going to do great!
Carole
Kevin Hanrahan says: WOW Carole….those are some rough numbers! I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us.
I think they great thing about self-publishing is it is open for anyone, anytime. My concern is getting the distribution, the notoriety if you would that would really drive book sales. How do you get that if you self pub?
I have thought about a blended approach to publishing…….publishing stories on my site eventually….maybe even putting all my dog team stories into an ebook…or a pay to read deal….. Lots of thought needs to be put into this though. I can’t rush into anything.
Thanks for all you encouragement!
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OK, Kevin. What’s a “downloadable press kit,” and when you have one, will you share it with me? I am so clueless when it comes to the marketing end of this business. Clue. Less. I tell you!
Check out Ginger Moran’s Barb! I’ve been checking other authors sites as well.
http://gingermoran.com/about/press-kit/
As I build it (prob this Dec) I will chat with you and share what I learn.
You are the best writing buddy ever. Hope you and yours are staying safe, dry and on higher ground during the mega storm!
Two things. There are independent writers who sell there books and numbers of them have made money via Kindle programs and with aggressive self-marketing programs. But they set up platforms beforehand, etc. Unfortunately, if you have an agent/publisher, unless you are a big name, you have to do a lot of the marketing yourself, anyway and have to share what you have written, marketed, sold with the publisher. That is why Indies I’m in touch with in groups do not want to go the lit. agent route or the publisher route, besides which it is a long process. But the Indie process requires that you do the work or hire people/pay them to help you. So either way there are problems. It becomes a matter of what you are willing/able to do. Anyway, found the information here useful Kevin. Never can get enough info about writing and publishing which is changing by the minute as we speak.
As I reread this, I see errors; sorry “their” is a glaring one. I returned from a trip last night during which I received little sleep. I apologize for the poorly edited dashed off comments above and below. I end with the seminal comment that the publishing industry has been greatly impacted by Amazon and epublishing; they are running scared. So writers/authors have more power than ever before, if they only realize it and take authority over the situation. They also need to help promote one another as best they can. Writers are also readers; the industry is evolving and at a crucial point; remain hopeful and above all write.
Hi Carole. No worries….my comment replied always have errors. That is part of my charm!
I’d rather not steer the debate to the whole self-publishing/ Amazon publishing discussion. I think both routes have goods and bad. Both are attractive in different ways. Both have challenges. Regardless of which way you go you are so right…….be prepared to market yourself and your books!
I’ve connected with some great author types who I mutually support. I think it is the charm of the business. I genuinely root for authors to be successful and am happy to support them. I agree….we need to support each other!
Hi Kevin. I am super stoked to have found you on Twitter and to be getting to know you.
I can relate to this post. I am a new blogger and was told by some friends about this amazing vegan blogger conference called Vida Vegan Con in Portland, OR. I was thinking that I didn’t belong in a conference like that as I was new and I didn’t really have a vegan food blog (I blog mostly about being gay and vegan in the suburbs along with equality and animal rights issues). After talking with several folks I decided that it didn’t matter what my blog was or how new I am to this world. I signed up!
The conference is next Memorial Day weekend and I can’t wait! I look forward to meeting other bloggers and growing as a blogger.
Wow. I just realized that every comment I posted not on my home computer did not post.
Dan, sorry I didn’t respond. I normally always respond to folks that take the time to leave a comment!
That conference sounds great! I really need to hit a blogger conference. I think the networking thing is the biggest part of it all!
Please let us know how it goes!
Thanks for the information above! I have always heard how complicated publishing your book can be but to hear first hand advice is wonderful. You suggested going to a writers conference but do you know a website where they list them by state? Thanks for your help!
Just as you get angry when you hear new authors saying they’d not accept or would fire their agents. I get upset when I hear the old “self-published authors only sell a few hundred books. It comes from numbers that were put out by iUniverse (back in the day) and more recently from the Taleist survey.
The thing you have to remember that there are a lot of bad self-published books just being “thrown out there” and yes they don’t sell well. But the self-published authors that are treating it like a professional enterprise are doing VERY well and are selling tens of thousands of copies. I myself sold 70,000 books (across 5 titles when I was self-published) and I’m planning on returning to self-publishing for an upcoming release. Yes I’m still traditionally publishing as well (I landed a traditional contract after my self-publishing went well). But I’ll make far more money with my self-published books then I will with my traditional ones just because I get such a small % of the overall sales with traditional.
Hi Michael. Congratulations on your terrific successes!
That remark caught me off guard as well. It didn’t cause me to be angry….just confused. I’m new to this whole publishing world and navigating the ins and outs is a bear. That comment made me want to know more about learning the ins and outs of self publishing.
I have friend that are doing just fine selling their self published books. But I also know a couple guys that have sold less than a 100 copies of their book. I haven’t pried into their business model to discern what the keys to success are. But I have no doubt that the professional enterprise you allude to in your comments is quite accurate between the successful and unsuccessful self pub authors.
What do you believe was key to your success when you were solely a self pub author?
Kevin,
Great post, very encouraging! You were smart to engage an editor and writing coach early. I attend many conferences, but these days I focus on the seminars and go to learn about the industry because my manuscript isn’t ready to sell.
For those who’ve only revised their novel say three times. Don’t submit it. Get an editor, send it out to people who will give you honest feedback–and then go pitch it at conferences.
Hi Kevin,
The main thing I learned from traditional publishing is that somebody made $120,000 from my first two novels, of which I got $6000 in royalties, total. Don’t entirely discount self-publishing. If you’re going to work your ass off anyway, no matter who publishes you, you may want to think about working for yourself. Sorry if that’s a bit cynical. I’ve heard that a few writers recently have negotiated to keep their e-book rights. That sounds like a smart plan to me.
Thanks for sharing your take on conferences. I agree that they are well worth the time and money. The best avenue is to get yourself in as a speaker. Then you have better access to the agents and publishers.
Whatever the avenue, your books are going to do great!
Carole
WOW Carole….those are some rough numbers! I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us.
I think they great thing about self-publishing is it is open for anyone, anytime. My concern is getting the distribution, the notoriety if you would that would really drive book sales. How do you get that if you self pub?
I have thought about a blended approach to publishing…….publishing stories on my site eventually….maybe even putting all my dog team stories into an ebook…or a pay to read deal….. Lots of thought needs to be put into this though. I can’t rush into anything.
Thanks for all you encouragement!