Get Ready for Conference Now!

I know so many of you are attending conferences this year, especially ACFW, and for some of you, this may be your first conference season! I know what you're thinking-- it's only June! But can you believe that ACFW is less than two months away?!? Yikes!

Do yourself a favor, and get started on conference prep now. You'll be glad you did!

Here are some ways you can start getting ready.

• Research agents and editors. I am always shocked by how many people go into a meeting with an agent or editor, treating these professionals as if they're interchangeable. They're not. While one editor may want YA, another may completely refuse to see it. Respect their time and your town by doing your research before you go. Otherwise, you will come across completely unprofessional. It's one thing if you meet an editor in Starbucks and don't know what they're seeking, but quite another if you request an appointment and don't take the time to do your research. The more you know, the more you'll help yourself in the long run by finding a good match for your story.

• Start asking big story questions. Even if you're not done with your manuscript yet, ask yourself big story questions. What is the takeaway? What is the main source of conflict/tension? What genre is this story? Who do you see as your target audience? Why did you choose that particular setting, or those particular qualities for your characters? What makes them a good fit for each other? Everything about your story should be intentional, and you should know it better than anyone else. Think of questions editors may ask you ahead of time, and consider these opportunities to chat about your favorite fictional people rather than a quiz you might "fail."

• Get your draft/proposal in shape. If you're unpublished, editors and agents will almost always want to see your full manuscript along with your proposal before they can make an offer. Expedite the process by having that ready to go, so that if you do get a request, you don't take six-eight months before answering. Also, I've found that the further along I am in my story, the better I can articulate it, so that's an added bonus!

• Get help with your one sheet and pitch! Whether it's a critique partner, mentor, or someone you pay for help, don't try to go at this alone! Practice your pitch out loud, and start crafting it now. Two of our dear Alley Cats offer amazing services that can help you out! Laurie Tomlinson (see her Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.tomlinson.7 ) and Angie Dicken (https://www.facebook.com/dicken.angie ) are both AMAZING. They fill up fast, so if you want to contract their services (Laurie does a lot of content editing and Angie has an incredible one sheet business, although both offer other services as well) you'll want to do it soon!

• Pray. Start praying now that God will give you divine appointments, and that you will be sensitive to His leading. Your conference experience may not go exactly as planned (ie-- wouldn't we all love manuscript requests from all the major publishing houses? :) ) but God knows just who you need to meet and in what timing, and that includes people you can encourage, even if you are a first time attendee!

No matter what, remember you can't "fail" at conference... it's an incredible experience that will build you up through encouragement, networking, and instructions. But the better prepared you are, the most confidence you will have, and the better able you'll be to represent your story.

What conference advice and tips do you have to share?

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Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Chapter Summaries...To Get Your Head in the Game!

The longer I write, the more aware I have become of the importance of character development

By winnond

as the plot moves along. It seems kind of like balancing a ball on the tip of my finger and, unless I keep my eye on it, the ball crashes to the floor and bounces away down tangents without purpose, without reason. I will tell you that, not just as a writer but as a reader, I can't stand it when a story subplot or character's journey has no reason...no impression on the over all theme of the book.

So, when I decide to take the ball, and place it firmly in one place for a nice long time-out (sorry, my alter ego is basketball/football/baseball mom), I have a hard time steadying it on my finger when I return to play (write) again.

When I've been away from a story for a break, once I return the characters seem like they were part of a dream that I can't quite remember. The setting where I left the characters seems to be masked by dusk, with no stadium lights to show details. My hands are calloused by the reality of life outside the story, and I struggle to grasp the ball again!

By satit_srihin

Is this analogy too much? Well, I'll stop now and be straight forward...as Sherrinda mentioned in the Weekend Edition, there is a thorough way to re-acquaint yourself to the ball...er...story... in a fun little exercise (well, not always so fun depending on how "rough" your WIP is...)--Chapter Summaries.

I have 16 chapters written for my current WIP. Instead of just reading the last half of Chapter 16 to get back in the groove, (um...yeah...remember the dim setting and the hazy characters?) I decided to take the time to go through each chapter and sum it up in a short blurb. This reminds me what the characters are going through and what the plot is doing. I also cut and paste some good quotes from each chapter to remind myself what exactly is going on.

By imagerymajestic

**Now, those of you who are plotters might think this is strange timing as far as the process goes...BUT, for me, even if I do plot it out (right now, I have a rough outline of the story, chapter by chapter), as I write, it ALWAYS evolves...so the chapters don't usually pan out like my original outline suggested. So revisiting this type of summary after having written the story to a degree, is really helpful!**

Not only do I also work out some kinks in the story as I read through each chapter, I also have the chance to polish those first chapters that I am taking to conference. And furthermore, feeling connected to my story in a deeper way might be good prep for discussing my story at editor appointments!

So, if you feel like a stranger to your story, put the ball in time-out and study your play book. Chapter by chapter, you'll find yourself prepared to put your head back in the game!

How do you re-acquaint yourself with your story after a break? How much do you plot out before you start writing. Do you use chapter summaries in any way?

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Angie Dicken is a full-time mom and lives in the Midwest with her Texas Aggie sweetheart. An ACFW member since 2010, she has written five Historical Romance novels, has an Historical underway, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. Angie also spends her time designing one sheets, selling Jamberry Nail Wraps, and drinking good coffee with great friends. Check out her author page at www.facebook.com/dicken.angie

ACFW Confrence Prep: Organizing Your Networking

Have you gotten all those one sheets printed? How about your writing samples? And don't forget to pack those business cards!

Equipped with all these things will give you confidence as you meet people at conference.... And You will meet people! Lots of people! So here's some quick tips on getting organized for all your networking.

Editors, Agents, Mentors: Since you wont know your actual appointments until you get there, print out all the write ups of those you requested to see. Make sure you are familiar with them in some other way than that. I even had an editor look at me like I was crazy when I mentioned something that was in her write up...she didn't know what I was talking about! So, go to their blogs, publishing houses, websites, and get to know them a bit. Take notes about points you'd like to make too.

Favorite Authors: It's so fun to get to see your favorite authors in person and get their autograph on your fave book. Make a list so you don't miss anyone!

Old Friends: You probably have dates scheduled through out the week. Be sure to make an itinerary of what you've scheduled. You could print off the conference itinerary and start penciling in your own personal dates too, so nothing is missed.
Also, make sure you get their cell #'s in your phone. Texting will come in handy at conference!

New Friends: Last year, I made a list of people I wanted to meet, whether it be online friends or crit friends from the ACFW loop. This might be the one time this year that you get to have a face to face conversation, so get organized and be sure to make that effort!

Seatmates: It's never too early to start gathering your friends to sit with at the gala. So many wonderful memories run through my mind as I think about last year, and sitting with all the Alley Cats.

Do you have any tips on how to get organized for conference? How about scheduling dates? SOOOOO excited to see some of you in a few days!!
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.