Tag: authors

November 6, 2019

5 Reasons to Go to a Writers’ Conference

Last month I attended Gollanczfest 2019, a one-day celebration of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing and publishing, hosted by leading UK SFF publisher Gollancz. The conference had two separate strands. A reader’s ticket gave access to author panels and signings, while a writer’s ticket granted entry to the smaller venue across the street, where, in addition to signings and panels (included editor and agent panels), authors gave speed-advice sessions. I came to the morning sessions on a reader’s ticket and had a great time meeting people and learning.

If you write, edit, or read avidly, a writers’ conference can be a worthwhile use of time and money. The good news is that there are lots of writers’ conferences out there, ranging from one-day events to multi-week ones, from genre celebrations like Gollanczfest to wide-ranging get-togethers, from inexpensive local dos to festivals full of international delegates and big names. If you do some googling, you’ll probably find some that will pique your interest.

You might be wondering what you can get out of a writers’ conference that can’t be found from said googling. While online learning is great, there’s no substitute for contact in the real world. Here are 5 benefits I’ve gained from going to writers’ conferences.

Meeting people: Conferences are useful for networking. You’ll meet individuals from across the industry, including authors, editors, publishers, and readers. Networking can lead to career opportunities. At the Scottish Association of Writers’ 2018 Conference, I met a new freelance client, and some writers meet their agents or editors at conferences. It can also lead to lifelong friendships. I recommend attending with an open mind and an interest in getting to know people.

Learning about the industry: Writers’ conferences are chock full of industry people talking about what’s new in publishing. You’ll learn about trends, themes, and the nuts and bolts of publication. You might also learn about related fields – one of my favorite parts of Gollanczfest was a panel where four authors whose books had been made into movies talked about the process. A takeaway point from Ben Aaronovitch (author of Rivers of London): If you want any creative control, assert your requirements from the outset and be willing to not have a movie made otherwise. Also, be clear on what price you are willing to accept.

Meeting authors and getting new books: I’m listing this separately from meeting people because, in addition to meeting authors at sessions and “in the crowd”, writers’ conferences usually bring in authors to lead panels, give readings, and do signings and other events. Sometimes it’s intimidating to approach a big-name or favorite author, or they’re too busy to chat. But you might have the chance to pick up one of their books and have them sign it, learn from their experiences, or hear them make funny character voices. And writing conferences always come with a book table full of goodies – some of which may be hard to find outside the conference, and some of which may be that next exciting read you’ve never heard of. Don’t show up with an empty wallet!

Getting a better sense of your own writing approach: While listening to and interacting with the writing community, you’ll find some authors and approaches to writing that resonate with you and some that don’t. It’s a good chance to tune in to your own taste – that inner voice that tells you what’s worth writing about, for you personally, and how you want to go about doing it. It was illuminating for me to listen to panelists discussing worldbuilding from opposite angles – Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson set detailed rules for himself regarding language and setting, while Ellen Kushner started by following a character around and combining elements of historical periods that seemed cool. Writing is a big industry with room for many kinds of voices, and hearing how other people tell stories can feel like permission to tell your own.

Having fun! A big part of writers’ conferences involves business and talking shop, but when you get a bunch of people together who share a common interest, they’re also bound to have a good time. At Gollanczfest, I got to meet Laura Lam/Laura Ambrose, whose Romancing the Page series I reviewed, and chat with her and other writers during a break. At the 2018 Scottish conference, I played trivia with friends from my writers’ group and we won a round of free drinks. There were lots of hearty shared breakfasts and in-jokes flying around. If you go to a writers’ conference, be ready to jump in, don’t be shy, and you’re likely to have a wonderful time!

May 9, 2019

Literary Adventures at Sea

Jewelle Gomez and Dorothy Allison onstage with Sapphire Books owner Chris Svendsen

Fellow book lovers, have you ever daydreamed about going on a literary cruise? I’ve thought they sounded like fun ever since I learned they existed. Despite getting sick on the last cruise I went on, after receiving a deal offer from Olivia Travel on a lesbian cruise featuring a full slate of author events, I couldn’t resist giving vacation at sea another try.

Our cruise left from beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. The itinerary included port visits on several Caribbean islands, as well as daily music or comedy shows, so there was plenty to do besides hitting the books! After getting a sunburn while touring San Juan, stuffing myself at the buffet, and giving airtime to my athletic side on excursions, though, the quiet and reflectiveness of the literary programming was welcome.

Sapphire Books is a small, California-based publisher of lesbian books, primarily fiction. This was their second Literary Adventures at Sea cruise collaboration with Olivia, and they pulled out all the stops, bringing maybe a dozen authors and the owner/founder on board. The two biggest names were Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina, and Jewelle Gomez, author of the classic lesbian vampire novel The Gilda Stories (which is soon getting a sequel, over 25 years later!). Both are longtime writers and activists in the queer community. Sapphire’s programming included panels, a main stage discussion between Dorothy and Jewelle, themed readings (such as murder mystery and romance readings), Q and A’s, a cocktail party, and book signings. There was also an opportunity for writers to pitch their projects to publisher Chris Svendsen.

The pitch session was a highlight, surprising Chris with the sheer number of attendees. She’d been expecting a small group, but as the pitches were one-on-one, she had to break the session into two and schedule another one at a later time for some of the participants. It was clear that the queer women on the cruise were eager to tell their stories. Many, like me, had been drawn by the cruise’s literary events. It was inspiring to chat with women about their writing projects – anthologies, detective novels, humorous novels, memoirs. Each of us had five minutes to pitch to Chris. Along with her advice at the beginning of the session, at least one Sapphire author was on hand to offer tips: give a brief plot summary, a hook or tag line like you’d find on the back of a movie, and leave out irrelevant details.

Among the readings and panels, “Romancing the High Seas” stood out. Authors read from works ranging from a spicy story involving a nun to a science fantasy yarn to a tale of four “women of a certain age” with lovers and secrets. I was intrigued by Sallyanne Monti’s reading from her memoir, Light at the End of the Tunnel, detailing a friendship with another woman that began with an email sent to the wrong address that evolved, against all odds, into a lasting romance. That book ended up coming home with me! After the authors read their excerpts, which had a good mix of humor and vulnerability, they answered questions and spoke about their writing processes. “It has to be real,” said one of them, noting that her writing is deeply grounded in personal experience. Another added that “people might like to think lesbians just sit there and pet each other like kittens, but that’s not the truth!” In response to a question about writing sex scenes, one author noted that it’s helpful to write them in the bath (writers, take note!), while others use these scenes to reflect their characters’ inner lives and move the plot forward.

The biggest event was a moderated conversation between Dorothy Allison and Jewelle Gomez, billed as “Advocating in Turbulent Times” and held on the main stage to a crowded audience. The two authors spoke warmly and engagingly about their past, future, writing projects, and long-lasting friendship. Dorothy came across as a firebrand with a big heart, while Jewelle, whose Gilda Stories hold a special place in my heart and who I partly went on the cruise to see, came across as gentle and kind. There’s a lot of recent debate about the extent to which writers should be accurate and sensitive when writing about marginalized demographics and groups to which they do not belong. Jewelle, calling herself a “bean counter,” noted the need to think of the many different people who might read her books and to be mindful of writing something with inadvertent negative implications for a certain type of reader, citing an example when a young man at a college reading interpreted Gilda as “hating men,” which was not her intent. Thinking this way about your work, Jewelle posited, is a matter of kindness. Dorothy mentioned that the youngest generation of queer people has less community than her generation (which was “always in meetings”), and emphasized the importance of real-world connection – reading blogs, the authors noted, is no substitute for bonding with other people or engaging with good books. Following the reading, I was honored to join other cruise attendees in meeting both authors.

I left the cruise’s literary adventures at sea with renewed faith in the power of imagination and story. It was wonderful to see so many queer women writers thriving, finding an audience, and connecting with each other through their words! Would I recommend a literary cruise to fellow writers? If you don’t get too seasick, go for it!

March 1, 2017

Book Excerpt: Solving Problems at Work

Co-written with Kacie Berghoef

Our new book, The Modern Enneagram, just got published. It’s an introduction to the system and its practical applications, with a storytelling style and modern updates. We’re pleased to share an excerpt about ways to use the Enneagram for workplace problem solving with you.

* * * * *

The Enneagram is a popular way for businesses to help their teams understand each other and improve their performance and communication. It’s a useful tool for mediating disputes and resolving interpersonal conflicts on the job.

After learning about the nine types, Julia, an Enneagram Type Seven, started applying her new knowledge to her job of managing a team of graphic designers at a branding firm. She had her colleagues take an Enneagram type assessment, and they now have a common language to talk about each other’s personalities and viewpoints.

Let’s take a look at a scenario where the Enneagram helped solve a problem involving a diverse group of people in Julia’s workplace.

Bob is a repeat client of the firm where Julia works. He has contracted with the company to rebrand his business, including a new logo and marketing strategy. Exacting and critical, he has many specifications for the project. Having worked with Bob before, Julia believes him to be a Type One.

Kevin, a Type Four, is the designer in charge of visual branding for Bob’s company. He completed a logo and portfolio of visual material for the rebranding project, but Bob is dissatisfied with Kevin’s colorful, free-form designs. He wants the whole portfolio redesigned, and he has many specific changes that he would like Kevin to make. Being a One, he has high expectations and desires a brand identity that gets all the details right. He tells Julia that he wants the new portfolio within a set timeline, and says that if it isn’t up to his standards, he will not work with the company in the future. As a Seven, Julia wants to keep interactions optimistic—and she does not want to lose a valuable client. She assures Bob that Kevin will give him what he wants.

Kevin, however, says the timeline is unrealistic. It’s just too tight for him to redesign all the material required. Julia does not have a background in graphic design, and her knowledge of the field comes from working with designers rather than from firsthand experience. She doesn’t understand why a redesign can’t be done quickly.

Kevin explains that Bob’s expected timeline will not result in the powerful visual brand identity his company desires. At best, it will result in some slapdash materials that don’t reflect the quality the branding firm is known for. As a Four, Kevin takes the creative process seriously and values producing well-developed and eye-catching work. Kevin needs more time to come up with new concepts that will fit Bob’s precise specifications and still stand out in the market.

Lakesha, who heads the marketing department, is also advocating quick turnaround. She needs to have the visual branding finished in order for her department to complete the marketing strategy for Bob’s company and have it ready for an upcoming launch party. As a Three on the Enneagram, she wants the branding firm to put their best foot forward, and she sees satisfying the client as part of that.

Julia feels caught between Kevin’s request for more time, and Bob and Lakesha’s requests for more speed. She expresses her frustration to Lakesha—who has more design knowledge than Julia—and they decide to problem solve together. When she hears about the level of changes that Bob wants Kevin to make to the visual branding portfolio, Lakesha agrees that the timeline is unrealistic. Julia is resistant at first. After all, managing interactions with designers is her job, and she wants to make the customer happy. When Lakesha suggests negotiating a compromise with Bob, Julia realizes that she has some workable ideas (and strategies to deliver them) that will please both Bob and Kevin.

Julia contacts Bob and tells him that she respects the integrity of his vision for his company (a strong value for Bob as a One), and her branding firm is committed to representing this vision in the world. She uses her Type Seven strength of positivity to emphasize the advantages of Kevin’s design, and explains that, in order to get the new portfolio completed in time, Bob will need to compromise on some of the changes he wants. She speaks to the effort Kevin is putting in and the high standards of the firm’s design process. Bob is still grumpy, but Julia’s upbeat manner and understanding of his values assuage him somewhat. He is willing to compromise on certain aspects of the redesign, though not on the timeline.

Julia and Lakesha talk to Kevin together about the compromises Bob is willing to make. Kevin is relieved that, with a less intensive redesign, the timeline is closer to being workable. Lakesha proposes a structured plan for completing the project on time, and Julia expresses full confidence in his work. With Julia motivating him, Kevin is able to complete the redesigned logo and portfolio, and Lakesha’s team moves ahead with the marketing strategy.

Ultimately, Bob feels that his company’s rebrand is in good hands because Julia used honesty and integrity when dealing with him. Kevin feels like his creative process has been respected. Lakesha is happy to have achieved her client’s goal of a successful launch, and kept the firm’s good standing in Bob’s eyes. Julia is relieved that everyone involved with the redesign conflict is satisfied and on good terms. Thanks to the Enneagram, their needs and viewpoints have all been heard. They can move on to the next project harmoniously, without any lingering tension.

* * * * *

The Modern Enneagram is available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.com at http://amzn.to/2jIWXtR and from Amazon.ca at https://is.gd/qZt89f.