April 2011 Newsletter

April 2011 Newsletter

(Authors Incognito M&M at LDStorymakers 2010)

April's Theme:

Preparing for Writer's Conferences

An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.
~Henri Matisse

A Quick Note From Christine

I’d like to thank Tobyn DeGraw for helping me collect all the articles for this edition of the newsletter and also thank those who scrambled at the last minute to get their pieces in. Your support and willingness to get this out to the group was inspiring. The reason I decided to go ahead with the newsletter was because of the importance of the information you’ll find in this edition. We’re all trying to prepare for the upcoming LDStorymakers Writers Conference and I just couldn’t let you guys down.

You’ll find a few more articles this month than usual and some are a bit lengthy, but I promise they are packed filled with lots of wonderful tips that will help you with every aspect of the conference. Enjoy!

Another quick note:

I’d like to say a few words about the events of the past few days. There’s been a lot said about the future of Authors Incognito: possible changes in leadership, volunteer positions needing to be filled and speculation as to where the group goes from here. While I believe we need to understand the past in order to not make the same mistakes, I also think we need to look to the future and focus on what we can do to make sure those mistakes aren’t repeated. In order to do that we need to work together as a team, listen to the ideas others may present and be willing to accept that, in most cases, change means progress and that’s a good thing. I sincerely hope we can all put our differences aside and come together as writers and friends to make Authors Incognito the best group ever. Thanks for all the support you’ve given me through emails, text messages and phone calls. Hugs to you all. 

Now onto the good stuff!!

The Essentials on How to Prepare for a Pitch Session
by Danyelle Ferguson

Many Authors Incognito members are signed up for pitch sessions during the 2011 Storymakers Writers Conference.  For some, it’s their first time pitching to an agent or editor. Just the thought of being in the same room with a highly sought after agent or editor is stressful enough for any writer to sweat through his freshly applied deodorant. To lessen some spine tingling nerves, I have compiled my tips for a smooth-as-possible pitch session.

Danyelle’s Essential Guide to Pitching

• Research the Editor or Agent. I’m not telling you to stalk him or her. I’m just saying go to his website, look to see what books he represent. If he has a blog, become a follower and actually comment on his posts. Wow. Amazing to think something so simple could make you stand out from the other conference attendees, but it can. If he has a newsletter, sign up for it. Pay attention to what the agent or editor is communicating so you can comment on it when you meet up. “John, I enjoyed your post about killer query letters. That one query about the yellow dog was hilarious. I can see why you liked it.” You may think it’s schmoozing – and it kind of is. But what it shows is that you take your writing career seriously and you took time out of your day to find out about the person you were meeting with. Agents and editors get tons of pitches from people who have no clue what books they represent or their preferences. Be a writer who stands out right from the beginning.
•   Choose which book you want to pitch. You can’t walk into a pitch session and say, “I have five books I want to tell you about . . . “ Choose the manuscript you think is the best match for the editor or agent you are meeting. You should take a second book to pitch, but only share it IF and ONLY IF the editor or agent asks if you have anything else in the works. It’s important to be prepared, but at the same time be respectful of his time. 
•  Write out the pitch. If you don’t know how to draft a pitch, go check out a bunch of book cover blurbs – you know, the description and hook on the back cover. In fact, this is an excellent thing to do before writing your pitch. Go to a library or better yet – a book store. Why is a book store better? Because they have all the current best seller’s in your genre prominently displayed. Read all of their back cover blurbs. THIS is what you want your pitch to look like. You also want it to be about that same length. A pitch should take 3 minutes max. I know it sounds painfully short, but three minutes is a lot of time.
•  Practice the pitch. Say it in front of the mirror, to your kids, the dog, or your neighbors. Call your writer friends on the phone and practice introducing yourself and transitioning into your pitch. Practice. Practice. Practice. Then practice the pitch out loud at least ten more times. While you’re pitching, if you stumble on words or a sentence seems awkward, then change it. Fine tune your pitch so that it’s easy to say and flows off your tongue like you don’t even need to think about it. Your goal – to pitch your book to 25 people (okay, I guess the dog counts too – but only once!). If you do this, I promise you will feel so much more comfortable when you’re actually sitting in front of the editor or agent.
•  Cheat Sheet. Write your pitch onto 3x5 cards to take with you to the pitch session. Then, just in case you do get super nervous, you can refer to the notes. Remember, being prepared is one of the keys to a great pitch session.
•  Dress for Success. First impressions are a huge factor. How you show up and act represents the kind of public figure you would make, too. Dress professionally. It doesn’t need to be a suit and tie, but definitely business casual for the guys. No jeans, please. Ladies, slacks, skirts, or dresses are all fine. Again, dressy casual or business casual.
•  45 Minute Prep. I usually leave my conference classes 45 minutes before the pitch so I can change into fresh clothes, freshen up my hair and make-up, run through my pitch three more times, then the most important detail, kneel to pray. Take a few deep breaths, then go for it!
•  Arrive Early. Be sure to get to your pitch session at least ten minutes early. I usually shoot for fifteen. This way if someone didn’t show up or they are running ahead, everything can continue running smoothly.
•  Be Friendly. I can guarantee you are going to be a nervous wreck. I’ve pitched to Lisa Mangum twice and we’ve become good friends. But still, whenever we first see each other – whether it’s for a lunch date or at a conference – I get this initial surge of “ACK! She’s THE editor!”.  Remember that the agent and editor are both real people, with real lives. They have bad morning breath just like we do.  =)  Smile, shake hands, and be the nicest version of you.
•  End on a Good Note. No matter how the pitch session goes, be sure to leave on a good note. Thank the agent or editor for attending the conference and giving the attendees an opportunity to meet with him. You can also leave your business card, in case he might decide to contact you later.

After the pitch session, you’ll breathe a huge sigh of relief . . . and realize the experience wasn’t quite as daunting as you had built up in your head. In fact, it was awesome! My one last tip is to save a little piece of chocolate as a reward for surviving your first . . . or thirtieth . . . pitch session.

To learn more about Danyelle, visit either her blog at www.QueenOfTheClan.com or her website www.DanyelleFerguson.com

 

The Perfect Elevator Pitch
by Jenn Johansson

Every writer knows that crafting the Perfect Elevator Pitch isn’t as easy as it sounds. We can write book after book, but summarizing a story down to a sentence or two that gets the point across in the way we want is so much harder. Here are a few tips that will help you be prepared when the perfect opportunity comes your way.

~ Be Clear – Speak up. Look them in the eye. Use common language that everyone understands.

~ Be Concise – The pitch should take between 30 – 60 seconds.

~ Be Visual – Paint a picture in their head with not only your word choice, but with the same voice they will find in the manuscript.

~ Tell a Story – Who is the story about? What problem are they facing? Why should we care?

~ Hook, Hook, Hook – Make sure your hook is in there. How can you word it to have the most impact?

~ Be Prepared – You never know when someone is going to ask what your book is about. Write your pitch in advance so you can be ready.

~ Save the Details – Details belong in a book, not in a pitch. Whether the protagonist wore a red hat on Sundays may be important to the story, but it isn’t important to the pitch. Use the voice and the word choice to convey meaning and leave the small details out.

~ Be Targeted – If you are preparing for a conference with an agent that likes dark themes and another who loves paranormal, write a pitch for each. Make sure to pull out and focus on the elements of the book that the target audience will love and drive those points home.

~ Show Your Passion – Don’t play it cool. Show how much you care about your work and your story. If they can see how much you feel it, they are twice as likely to feel it too.

~ Don’t Jump Ahead – The point is to grab their interest, not to close the deal. Make them want to hear more, and you’ve succeeded.

~ Practice, Practice, Practice – Have your pitch memorized and practice using it with family members and other writers. The more comfortable you can get using it, the better. Feeling tongue tied at the prime moment isn’t good for anyone.

I know it feels like a lot, but think about what it is about your story that made you want to write it. What makes you most proud about what you’ve accomplished in that particular manuscript? Start there, follow these tips, and the rest will work itself out.

Author’s Incognito Bulletin Board

(We heard it through the grape vine: A place to post warm-fuzzies on the cyber-fridge.)

~by Wendy Swore

March has been a time of ups and downs for our AI members. We began the month with the worst kind of downs.  Sheila’s father passed away. Rebecca’s grandfather died the same day. Danyelle's and my grandmother died within a few days of each other, and then Connie lost her husband.

Ladies, please know our hearts are with you as you struggle to cope with the loss of your loved ones.

Flowers were sent to several who needed the lift of spirits.  Many prayers have been offered in your behalf.  I know I personally appreciated all the notes of encouragement I received, and I know these other ladies did too. Thank you for keeping us in your hearts.

Christine Bryant reports that the article she sent into the Ensign magazine was accepted! She writes, “about how my family was reactivated and how our ward accepted us and our disabled son with open arms and how they've helped with him, etc. Their acceptance is a HUGE validation for me.” Congratulations!

Heather Justesen signed a contract with Cedar Fort for her third book, which is getting a new title, so we'll wait to hear the new title as soon as that information is available.

*  *  *  *  * 

Announcing a special event book launch for :

(dis)Abiltiies and the Gospel

by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons,

exclusively for attendees of the LDS Storymakers Writers conference! Conference attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel before it's available in stores.

Friday, May 6th

5 - 6:30 pm

The Sheraton Hotel

150 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT

*  *  *  *  * 

Jennifer Clark’s novel,

Mark of Royalty,

has slowly been climbing through the ranks on DereretBook.com in their romance category and hit #4--right next to Anita Stansfield!!! Hooray! That’s awesome for a first time author!

There was so much going on this month! If we missed your good news, please be sure to email me, Wendy Swore , so you can get it in next month’s issue!

My First Conference Experience

by Maria Hoagland

I was finally doing it.  Admitting out loud, so to speak, that I had a dream and believed in myself enough to do something about it. Armed with a newly edited manuscript, I headed to the LDStorymakers Writers Conference. I’d been to a big college. I’d been to state PTA conferences. But a writers’ conference? What if I went and discovered I had no talent? Would they laugh me out of the conference, relegating me to a career as math teacher? More importantly, would it even help?

What a silly question! The experience far exceeded my expectations. When my husband picked me up the first day, I never stopped talking about it. Ditto the second day. Imagine what the 20 hour drive home was like from Utah to Texas! Narrowing down the class schedule was excruciating since I wanted to attend them all. I decided on setting, query letters, blogging (a completely foreign idea to me), marketing. A class where I could learn secrets like what LDS publishers were looking for. This year? I’ll finally get to that character bible class, but beyond that—I’m still whittling down my list of must-takes.

Networking at the tables and in classes was scary, but inspiring. It was fun to meet real, live published authors and think, “They’re just normal people. Maybe I can do it.”  This year I’m going to ratchet it up—be a little braver, meet more people, talk up my book more, get authors to sign books for me. Last year I couldn’t bring myself to pitch to an editor—now I look back and wonder how I could have passed up such a great opportunity. Not one I plan on repeating.

One of the best things I did at last year’s conference? I signed my name to a piece of paper for a group I knew nothing about except they sounded like they were having a really good time: Authors Incognito. How it has changed my life! I left LDStorymakers Conference excited about writing, willing to put in more work, and knowing a little more where I needed it. AI has extended that learning, networking, and excitement the entire year. Now I look forward to meeting my AI friends (chocolate and dart guns included), stretching my talents even more, recharging my resolve to make my dream a reality. So here I go again, making the trip, same manuscript in hand (technically, but again newly edited, so not the same), ready to make it happen. Look out writers, I’m on my way!

Maria's blog:  http://www.mariahoagland.blogspot.com/

From the LDStorymakers

~Submitted by Jamie Theler
 

Hello wonderful members of Authors Incognito! We want to share some of the exciting things happening with the 2011 LDStorymakers Writers Conference.

First of all, we hope you’re excited to learn from our keynote speaker, Larry Brooks. His writing tips website, http://www.storyfix.com/, has been named the #1 writing blog and website (out of over 500 nominations) in a major nationwide judging hosted by Writetodone.com. Brooks will be speaking on Friday night, and then giving a two-hour master class on Saturday. This master class does not cost extra, but attendance is by reserved seating only, since seating is limited. Make sure to register for your spot when you register for the conference.

A little housekeeping: for those who have already registered for the conference, please make sure that we have a good email address for you. If you paid with Paypal with your cousin’s business paypal account, then your cousin will get all conference communication, because that’s the email address we have. Please email smconference@yahoo.com if you need to switch email addresses, have any questions/problems, or just want to gush about how epic the conference will be.

We hope to see you in May!

Getting the Most out of Attending a Literary Conference

By Joshua J. Perkey

joshuajperkey.blogspot.com

Conferences can be great fun and an excellent way to improve your craft—but that depends a lot on how your approach. Before anything else, though, there is one thing you need to consider: what do you want to gain out of attending the conference? There are many goals, and all are laudable. It depends on your needs. Think about the following ideas, then consider what it is you want to accomplish.

Ok, time for some specifics. Here are some things to think about to have an awesome conference experience:

1. Networking. Conferences are a great way to meet people. Let’s face it, writing is a solitary craft, but perfecting that craft requires feedback; marketing that book or magazine article requires knowing who to send it to; and keeping yourself sane requires talking to real people—face to face—from time to time. Here’s a little more on this one:

1a. Meet people. Talk to other authors. They are engaged in the same work you are and trying to do the same thing you do. They want to find the best way to share their thoughts and stories, and you’ll find more support than you ever expected. Don’t be afraid to make new friends. The odd thing about this business, and contrary to what we may intuitively think, the more we network and help each other, the more likely we all are to be successful. Expanding relationships expands the possibility of getting noticed.

1b. Meet agents and editors—but be polite and respectful of their time. They come to conferences expecting writers to approach them, and they are prepared to engage you. But they are real people, too. Just be friendly, and you’ll be amazed. I once had a 2 hour conversation with British literary agent Ian Drury just by saying hello. He was funny, engaging, and a pleasure to talk to and learn from.

1c. Come with your pitch prepared, and share it with as many people as you can. This is the time to practice. Ask other writers for feedback. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it gets better. Two years ago I rewrote my entire pitch after a couple of experienced writers heard it and provided requested suggestions—and it was much, much improved. Just don’t shove your manuscript in front of anyone. Editors, agents, and other writers may be interested in your work—but they’ll let you know if they want to see it.

1d. Bring business cards, and don’t skimp here. This may be your one chance to make an impression. It’s worth a few bucks to look classy and professional. And ask others for their cards. It’s still the number one way at conferences for sharing contact information, including websites, blogs, and email.

2. Improving Your Craft. Conferences are built around workshops and classes. Take a peak beforehand and see what meets your needs. Don’t worry about missing a particular class. Make friends and share notes with others, or find the presenters you missed online. They may be willing to share some of their presentation with you later.

3. Marketing. You’ll learn the latest trends and what pitfalls to avoid—and you’ll learn where to go to find more information. And the more people you meet, the better you’ll be at marketing.

4. You’ll Get Energized. Conferences always, always get me excited about the craft. Go because you’ll want to be better and do more and make a difference in your own writing and in the world you engage in.

5. Pick a Conference that Meets Your Goals. There are a gazillion conferences. Ok, not that many, but there are a lot. Many of them target a specific genre, and some might be better for you than others. Research online and ask others where they would attend. Then evaluate your goals, go, and enjoy. In the end, it’s not just about getting published. It’s about enjoying the experience of story and the craft and meeting others engaged in the craft.

6. Most important of all, relax, have fun, and enjoy the time you have!

For more ideas, check out my bog at joshuajperkey.blogspot.com

Member Spotlight
~Danyelle Ferguson

Kellie Buckner

I'm originally from Texas and ever since I graduated from high school and went out of state for college, I've been trying to get back. Currently I live with my husband and four kids (ages 6, 4, almost 3, and 5 months) in Cleveland, Ohio. We’ll be here one more year while my husband finishes dental school.

When I was a senior in high school my English teacher gave me an alternate assignment to the traditional senior paper that every senior at my school had to write to graduate. He said that if I wrote one, I wouldn't pass. It was true, my writing skills in high school were dismal. I ended up directing and acting in a play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, instead of writing the paper. Five and a half years later something changed and I couldn't stop writing. I found myself getting the itch to write and discovered to my surprised, that I could write something worth reading.

I decided to minor in English while studying at Utah State University and loved writing papers for those classes. I worked for the library there and while surfing the internet during my desk shift I began looking for writing conferences in Utah. I stumbled upon the Storymakers website and was thrilled to learn that I hadn’t missed their spring writing conference.

With the exception of this year, I’ve gone every year since and have loved it.  I have learned so much about the craft of writing since that first conference and have made so many friends.

Today when I'm not chasing my four kids around the house, remodeling our house with my husband, sticking my nose in a book, or sewing, I am writing (usually late at night!). Currently I'm working on a story about a young woman who is unfortunate enough to experience all my most embarrassing moments (and there are plenty) and a retelling of The Princess and the Pea.  There are dozens of other stories that are floating around my head and when I can steal a few moments of time for myself I hurry to the bathroom, lock myself in, and write in my notebook before the kids can find me.

Learn more about Kellie on her blog:  Mere Motherhood

Writer's Conferences/Workshops/Contests

~Tobyn DeGraw

David Farland's Million Dollar Outlines

April 8-9, 2011
Ramada Limited Salt Lake City

* * * * *

David Farland's Professional Writers’ Workshop.

June 6-11 2011
Ramada Inn
1440 East George Blvd.
Saint George, UT

* * * * *

David Farland's Novel Rewriting Workshop

April 18-22, 2011
Ramada Inn
1440 East Saint George Boulevard,

* * * * *

CONduit XXI

Radisson Hotel - Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah

May 27-29, 2011

Author Guest of Honor - Tamora Pierce

* * * * *

American Fork Arts Council  Conference for writers 

* * * There has been a change to the date * * *

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Historic City
Hall, 31 N. Church Street
(50 East), 
American Fork

* * * * *

 

Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers 

Week-long workshop with breakout sessions

June 13-17, 2011
Waterford School, Sandy, UT

* * * * *
 

Writers @ Work 2011 Conference at the Alta Lodge
June 9-12, 2011 at Alta Lodge, Utah

You can find a long list of contests at the Poets and Writers Magazine website:

 http://www.pw.org/classifieds

Marketing in Social Situations
By Don Carey

Years ago, my wife and I moved to a town far from home. We were fresh out of college, and missed the friendship of people our own age. When another young couple moved into the ward, we were eager to invite them for dinner.

They accepted, although with a bit of hesitancy. Our dinner went okay, but this couple was very guarded the whole time, and it wasn't until the evening was wrapping up that they finally seemed to relax.

A few weeks later, they invited us to share dinner at their house, and they seemed like two totally different people—open, relaxed, and eager to be friends. During dessert, they explained their earlier behavior.

"We've had three other people invite us to dinner since we moved here, and every one of them was only interested in selling us a multi-level marketing plan."

I think each of us has experienced this--that person with one goal: SELL! Most of us, as this couple was, are turned off by that approach.

Yet for many authors, successful marketing requires us to pitch our books to as many people as possible.  So how do sell your book without becoming "that guy?" As I see it, the secret is a balance of preparation, initiation, and genuine interest.

Be prepared with pitches for a variety of situations. When talking about Bumpy Landings, I'll mention the flying angle to some, coming of age to others, and the romantic elements to the rest.

Nearly every conversation migrates to a point where you can naturally mention your book. I went home to Hawai'i in February, and as I traveled around, I would invariably run into people I knew. Their question was always the same: "What are you doing here?"

My answer was easy: "I'm here to do a book signing." Then they would ask about my book, and it was time for my pitch.

It’s a little different talking to strangers. I’ve needed to leave my comfort zone, take the initiative, and strike up a conversation. This can be hard for solitary creative types like us. The secret is to ask people about themselves, and show a genuine interest in them. People love talking about themselves, and if you are willing to be a listener, they will usually open up.

When I’m on a plane, I like to ask my seatmate if they’re headed out or home, and a little about their occupation. They will usually ask the same of me, and the answer I have prepared is, “I’m a full-time computer programmer and a part-time writer.” Often, just mentioning that I’m a writer will entice them to ask more, and in no time I’m giving them one of my pitches.

Learning to talk to people like this has not been easy, but as with any skill, the more I have practiced, the easier it has become.

With a little preparation and initiative on your part, the next person you talk to may just become your new biggest fan.

More about Don: http://www.blogger.com/goog_568283098

Tech Corner

~James Blevins

Avoiding Distractions

Technology is amazing, isn’t it? Although I am in my mid-30s, I still remember a time when the only phone in our home was an olive green rotary dial model we rented from the phone company. Today, I can carry my phone in my pocket. Not only does it not have a rotary dial, it doesn’t even have buttons. For that matter, I can speak into the microphone and tell it whom to call and it will. Incredibly, this marvelous device has more raw computing power than a 1969 CDC 7600 supercomputer.

As we all know, technology is a tool. Like all tools, it can be used for a wide range of purposes, anywhere from pure evil to bringing light and salvation to the world. For our purposes as writers, it can simplify and speed up our research, connect us with friends and collaborators, or it can completely draw us away from our writing/editing/querying.

For me, the biggest technological distraction is the Internet. Whether it’s checking my e-mail, catching up with friends on Facebook, watching TV shows, or soaking up every bit of every news article ever written about Jimmer Fredette, it seems like there’s always something for me to do online.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could force yourself offline for a period of time? Wouldn’t it be even better if you could simultaneously block objectionable websites or the ones you know will draw you away from your writing? What if I told you you could get all of this for free?

K9 Web Protection does this all and more. It’s available for both Windows and Mac, and setup and configuration is a breeze. All it takes is five minutes and voila! You’re done! Why not give it a try?

For more information, and to download K9 Web Protection, visit http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

RECIPE

~ Karen Dupaix (Submitted by Kathleen Brebes)

Charlotte's Savory Crescent Chicken Squares

(adapted from the 1974 Pillsbury Bake-off Silver Anniversary)

Servings: 16

Preheat oven to 350

Serve with mashed potatoes or  brown rice.  Serve with spinach salad or trimmed asparagus.

Chicken Dumplings with Gravy

6 chicken breasts

2 carrots

1 onion, quartered

2 bay leaves (Remove after chicken is cooked)

5 tbsp butter, softened

2 eight ounce cream cheese, softened

1 package fresh mushrooms, sliced and fried

1/2 tsp sage, ground

6 green onions, sliced

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

2 packages Crescent Dinner Rolls, refrigerated

3 cups Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Stuffing

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1 cup butter, melted

Boil 6-8 chicken breasts, skinned and boneless, with carrots, onion, bay leaves, and salt and pepper. Cook until tender. Remove chicken and cool.  Save broth to make gravy. (Put broth in blender when cool, add flour and seasonings.  Thicken in sauce pan.)

In large bowl blend cream cheese, softened butter.

Add diced cooked chicken, fresh pan fried sliced mushrooms, sliced green onions, 1/2 tsp pepper, dash salt, and poultry seasoning.  Mix well.  Set aside.

Separate crescent dough. Keep 2 triangles together to make one rectangle.  Pinch seams together and roll with rolling pin to a thin square. With a knife, cut into fourths to make 4 squares.

Using a large ice cream scoop, fill each square with the chicken mixture.  Place onto center of each square.  Lift the four corners of the dough to top center of chicken mixture.  Twist slightly.

Dip each square into melted butter.  Place the buttered square into the dry stuffing and chopped walnuts (spice). Place each square on cookie sheet.  Bake until light golden brown at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

To serve:  Pour gravy over top of the baked squares.  Enjoy!!!