Another
fantastic Writer’s Conference this year at
Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. (communityprograms.net) I’m a huge fan!
The amazing Anna Unkovich, is our intrepid leader.
Photo by Dennis Eamon Young (denniseamonyoungphoto.com)
This is
my 5th year volunteering for support/logistics. I love this conference. I always come away hopeful, educated and inspired.
Hats off
to Judy Salamacha the Conference
Director and all the Cuesta College support staff. Judy is here with Book Reviewer Blogger Danielle Smith (theresabook.com)
As
always, a wide variety of writing topics were covered— Genres, Crafting Suspense, Memoir, Poetry, Critiquing,
Character, Kid Lit, Travel Writing, Editing, Fantasy, Screen Adaptation, and
much more. And, some especially great
information about being a writer in this avalanche of electronic and self
publishing options.
Jack Grapes (jackgrapes.com) gave the keynote
opening words— a soulful, funny, and moving session.
The
conference has a Teen Program that warms my heart!
Look at all these young writers at the table on the right! Victoria
Heckman (victoriaheckman.com) nurtures
these budding scriveners through the conference.
Lillian Dean Contest
Page-1, Poetry, & Query Letter
Again our
local SLO NightWriter members have a solid presence among the Lillian Dean winners, 6! took 7 out of 13 awards this year if
I’m counting correctly.
Anna Unkovich, Paul Fahey, Susan Tuttle, Judy Guarnera, Adrienne Harris, and Becca Wadell (Becca won twice!!)
Here’s a picture of Susan Tuttle winning the ‘The Perfect Query Letter’ award.
We should all be so lucky to craft such a query!
I can’t help
thinking these successes mean that fine writers gravitate toward SLO NightWriters and/or NW
services might have some positive effects on skill and talent.
NightWriters has multiple critique group options, informative speakers at our
monthly meetings, and a fantastic supportive writing community here in San Luis
Obispo.
Check us out! www.slonightwriters.org
We have a new e-Line Edit Exchange program
that is PERFECT for out of town members!
Conference
volunteering is fun and comes with a special invitation to the faculty &
staff party afterward, held again this year at the beautiful Morro Bay Coalesce
Book Store and Garden Chapel.
Incredible
food and wine! A relaxing breather and a
chance to schmooze and chat after two intense days of conference.
Sometimes
agents can present as inaccessible and a bit intimidating. NOT
so with Laurie McLean (agentsavant.com) literary agent with
Larson Pomada and one of my favorite speakers— dynamic, enthusiastic, savvy and
innovative in the e-self-publishing age, personable and VERY approachable.
Catherine Ryan, Pay it Forward and many more
novels, (catherineryanhyde.com) and Anne R. Allen, novelist and e-publishing
blogger extraordinaire (annerallen.blogspot.com)
provide a lovely backdrop for this incredible Paella.
Those two wrote the book, 'How to be a Writer in the E-Age' and held a great session on that topic.
3 blogger/book
reviewers gave important advice on how to, and how NOT to, approach a book
reviewer. Amy Riley (myfriendamysblog.com),
Danielle Smith (Theresabook.com) and not pictured here Pam van Hylckama Vlieg (bookalicio.us). On the left in this photo is Carrissa Kluver, another blogger/book
reviewer (digital-storytime.com)