Blog Tour: Raquel Byrnes

Welcome to Raquel Byrnes, my first guest blogger! Raquel asked what subject I would like her to write about. Since she's always telling me how I need to go to conferences, I chose this one.

Enjoy!

Get Thee To A Conference!

Book proposals clutched in their hands, appointment slip at the ready, writers everywhere are taking one step closer to their dream of publication with a trip to a writer’s conference. From horror writers to inspirational romance authors, they gather at conferences every year with their name tags and pitch sheets.  And I have three reasons why you should join them.

·         Most agents meet their clients at a writer’s conference.  Snail mail or email queries can be effective, but the best way to get the attention of a prospective agent is by meeting them. Nothing can replace the passion and excitement you have for your book as you talk about it face-to-face. It’s also a great way to size up what you want in an agent. During your meeting you can ask what their level of involvement is, in what genre they feel they have the best contacts, and how they communicate with their clients.

·         You connect with other writers. As an author, you cannot get better unless you get feedback. Plain and simple, you have to show people your stuff. If you’re not ready to meet with an agent, then sign up for a critique. Most conferences offer them. It will give you an opportunity to find out where in the publication process you really are. Are you polishing up a ready to submit manuscript or just starting out and finding your voice? Meeting with authors both published and unpublished is invaluable in growing as a writer.

·         You have access to the experts. The best things about writer’s conferences are the workshops. Classes to learn pacing, character development, and crafting a page turner are all available. And the best part? They are usually taught by authors you know and read.  How about learning about character arc from your favorite romance writer? The art of the red-herring from a mystery writer? You can learn so much not only from the class, but from the question and answer period afterward.

Wherever you are in your writing journey, be it novice or seeking representation, a writer’s conference is a wonderful place to network, connect, and learn. If you’re serious about writing you need to go to a writer’s conference.

Read an excerpt of Raquel's book here!

To visit her other blog tour stops, visit the following:

• June 13th EA West @ The West Corner
• June 14th Cally Jackson @ The Hot Seat
• June 15th JoAnn Carter @ Encouraging Faith Through Fiction
• June 16th Hart Johnson @ Confessions of a Watery Tart
• June 17th Kristal Lee @ It's Kristal kLEEr