SCBWI Midsouth Conference (Part 1 of 2)

This weekend, I am at the Midsouth conference. It is amazing as most conferences are. Here are some of the things I took away from today:

Caroline Cooney - tips on writing character and great stories

• character has to be sympathetic
• characters without friends - know that emotion takes over the plot line
• adults have the habit of taking over action
• must make the logical thing illogical to do
• if you have a conflict - you must know what emotion it is attached to
• every conflict you create takes away from something - be sure it does not take away from main plot line
• If you are stalled - visualize a scene as if on stage as a film director - what do you see, where are you, who is with you
• stay alert to ideas around you and how you can transform the into books
• names matter - cannot have similar names
• action story - needs to have a deadline in the story
• speed counts - learn to write fast
• first draft are always bad
• 3rd person is always better than 3rd person and present tense
• you can do anything for 15 minutes - force yourself to to write, set a time, take paper and pen with you so you utilize every minute. don't wait to get in front of your computer
• books are like pottery - some come out misshaped, some cracked, luckily with books, you can always reshape them

Chris Richman (Upstart Crow Agency) - the agent relationship

A great agent:

• shares your writing
• are the gateway to editors - trust yours will do the right thing
• control the money - editors pay agents who take their royalty and then pay you
• should beleve in your work wholeheartedly
• looks for more than just a sale, looks at your career, writing style
• keeps in contact and keeps you up to date
• know trends
• knows what editors are looking for
• buffer between writer and editor - good news comes from author, bad news comes from agent
• tries to sell your work
• should not charge a reading fee
  

Some agents don't like to tell writers where they are subbing until the book is out. they know the editors and have built relationships. If you take on an agent, you need to trust they are on same page as you and are doing the right thing

ask your agent...

• what is your percentage?
• do you revise? if so how much? what about for this book?
• how many clients do you have?
• Can you speak to any of their clients?
• what genres do you rep?
• who will you sub to?
• where do you see my career?

The original excitement can wane. If things go bad, talk it out first. give your agent a chance to improve before you dump them.

Q&A

• you do not want more than one agent unless you need one for a different genre outside children's.
• when i revise, i need to get the book to a point where I think it will sell. that does not necessarily mean perfect
• some agents are becoming more promotional b/c money for marketing is dwindling

Tomorrow I will post some key takeways from the amazing Cheryl Klien and Caroline Cooney's writing activity.