Jess Smart Smiley

Developing an idea into a story.

Do a mind map, lists, notecards.

Take one bubble and combine with another. Repeat.

Then take time away from the ideas and let it all germinate.

Get a solid concept.

Notecard method: split into 3 sections – Begin, Middle, End. Put B, M, or E on notecard.

Write 3-5 sentence description of what happens on each card.

Then add 2 cards to each one. Create a middle and end for each section – 2 sentences.

Then build what goes in-between.

Make the process as much fun as the book when it’s done.

Then, Rough Draft.

What story looks like, pacing, get to know story better, see what up against.

Finish rough before editing.

Next draft.

Final Edit.

This one did not have lots of notes from me because I knew a lot already. But here they are:

iwritenetwork forums for bloggers

smashwords

createspace (amazon)

Donna Milakovic, Lisa Mangum, J. Scott Savage, Chris Shoebinger, Kirk Shaw

Different types of queries – with manuscript, without, requested, slush

Different types of pitches – verbal (elevator pitch), high concept (take small idea and make it your hook, make it big). What makes your book different? Be enthusiastic about your story – infectious.

* manuscript.com – good info on pitches

Make sure to tell the ending. Position it for them – take subgenre and associate your book with titles there (not necessarily A-list titles).

Be simple, memorable, powerful, then stop talking!

4 sentences is about right.

Think of ways to increase your value to the publisher (in publicity, marketing)

Have others give honest reviews before sending your manuscript.

Publishers are more interested in building a brand.

After writing 1st book in a series, start a new project. This is so that if the 1st one gets rejected, the 2nd in the series is useless.

Lisa Mangum, Joshua Perkey, Kirk Shaw, Rick Walton, Stacy Whitman

Editors are not really copy-editing. Work on bigger picture.

Editors are a writer’s biggest advocate.

Get to know editors. Social media too.

Editors facilitate communication between reader and author.

If editor suggests a change, you can come up with your own solution for solving the problem.

Editors are starting to allow simsubs (simultaneous submissions).

Important to keep the reader hooked after the first few chapters.

Some writers start in the wrong spot – editors may be able to help.

Editors can help fix characterization, pacing, plot. But, they don’t want to have to fix everything!

Editors can’t fix voice.

I have been so busy and such a procrastinator that I have neglected to put my LTUE 2012 notes up here. So, I will be posting them all over the next several days.

LTUE was February 9-11, 2012. This year it was held at Utah Valley University (UVU), and it was a great event.

So, on to my notes . . .

Marketing and Publicity

Bree Despain, Lynn Hardy, Jenn Johansson, Elana Johnson, Chris Schoebinger

You can pitch ideas to your publisher.

• Bree’s nail polish
• LibraryThing and Goodreads – giveaways (free ebooks) (goodreads giveaways require hard copy)
• Amazon Kindle Forum (don’t talk about your own book)
• Charity Work (donating proceeds from book)
• Bridge book – combine book/paper with eBook (prequel? bridge story?)

* Marketing is about throwing stuff out and seeing what sticks.

• Good Things Utah, Utah Valley Magazine
• Build your platform – be interesting and entertaining, even a group blog. social media, book bloggers.
• Publish more each year. Multiple releases. Anthologies.
• Check out what others are doing.
• Conferences
• * Pick a couple things you enjoy and can make an impact with.
• * Sandra Mitchell – marketing blog. Timeline. Postcards.
• “I wanna get my books in the hands of kids for a reduced price”
• Signings aren’t great except maybe in release month. Launch party. Presentation beforehand?

Codex Writer’s Workshop.

I anticipated this event for a long time.

The first few days were for critiques of novels and short stories, as well as some class sessions on writing and being a writer. We had the famous Ellen Datlow critique our short stories. She was very insightful and gave lots of comments to everyone. We also had David Coe come for dinner one night; after which we picked his brain with questions.

The last week or so was just a retreat time where we could relax and write and explore Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I’ll post more later about what happened and what I learned.

This looks like a very interesting conference. I may go. We’ll see how the finances shape up

CottonTree Inn
10695 S. Auto Mall Drive
Sandy, Utah 84070

FEATURED PRESENTER:
Timothy Travaglini
Senior Editor at G.P. Putnam’s Sons
(a division of Penguin Group, USA)

In the works: Friday Night Entertainer: David Nibley
Panel: Finding an agent
Panel: LDS Publishers
One-to-one interviews with editors/agents

And your favorites:
Writing Contest
Boot Camp
Exclusive Book Store

Special Announcement:
Saturday Night: The Whitney Awards Gala?
Recognizing excellence in fiction by LDS authors

More information at: http://www.ldstorymakers.com/conference.html

Meeting fellow Bootcampers for lunch with Brandon Sanderson.

I participated in National Novel Writing Month last year, and it was lots of fun to meet other writers and to just churn out words.

I had trouble with it at first, but this year I am going to do a bit more planning up front. We’ll see how that works.