Brian Nelson, Chutney, Kristin Nelson, & Ally Carter
STATUS: Feeling optimistic. The new assistant started today. Had to devote a lot of the workday to helping her get started etc. but I can already tell she’s going to be a great asset. I’ll be introducing her later this week.
What song is playing on the iPod right now? MAMMA MIA by ABBA
What I learned from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference:
1. That people actually read my blog. I figured it would be a few friends, a client or two, and maybe my mother but at least 20 people came up to me to tell me that they check in every day. During an agent panel, one of the audience members asked me what was playing on my iPod right then. Funny enough, I had it in my purse and I pulled it out to tell him what song was up.
2. That people think I know who Miss Snark is. That was an interesting agent panel question. My lips are sealed folks.
3. That agents are fans too! Dan Simmons was the Saturday night keynote speaker. Don’t worry. I didn’t make a fool out of myself by being a silly fan girl or anything (however much I wanted to) but it was truly an honor to meet Dan in person, to have my books signed, and to be allowed to buy him a Diet Coke while he was at his booksigning.
4. That conference attendees are delightful, respectful, and fun. This is a big conference (700 people or so I think) and not one person acted inappropriately (at least to me anyway– perhaps some of the other agents had a hard time but I doubt it.). No stalkings. No bathroom manuscript slidings. No unexpected or undesirable pitching. Just great, savvy writers.
5. That it’s really hard to hear across the dinner table in a ballroom filled with that many people. I seriously think that all attendees assume that I shout all the time.
6. That I might have perfected the art of the on-spot critique. I highlighted things that I liked, what didn’t work, and hopefully all while being gentle but brutally honest at the same time. If I would have stopped reading, I explained why and gave great tips on how that could be revised to solve the problem. (In the past, my critiques where more rambling. Felt more constructive this time).
7. That keynotes can be truly moving and inspiring. Huge applause to Dan Simmons, Diane Mott Davidson, Johnny Boggs, and especially Wendy French who had the room in tears laughing over her Starbucks story.
8. That young people can set an example for us all. I had two pitches from youngsters under the age of 18 and let me tell you, they were both nervous but still acted professionally and gave an awesome, well-constructed pitch (in under two minutes and then asked informed questions). That’s courage folks. I’m not sure I would have been able to do the same at their age. I’d like to think I could. Don’t forget that young adults have something to say and can know what they want and how to go after it.
9. That Chutney would be a big hit. But duh, should have known that. And the picture as promised.
Your critiques were very helpful — and I think we all shouted a lot 🙂 Diane Mott Davidson was amazing — and I though the authors who gave classes were really good as well. I learned so much…and I hope my writing will reflect that. Thanks to all of you who took the time to share with the rest of us.
It was a WONDERFUL conference. I agree that everyone was amazingly nice, professional, and cool.
I feel really blessed to have been there!
-Ally
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Glad you had such a nice conference. Pike’s Peak is one of my favorites!
You and your husband redefine “cute couple.”
Rest assured that you’ve got “non-conference-attendees” reading your blog on a regular basis, too. Your blog is warm, real, and incredibly helpful.
All of you, human and canine, look wonderful in that pic. I’m so jealous I wasn’t there.
becky
So do Chutney and Killer Yapp hang out? Is there dog bar devoted to the canine assistants of the literary world?
Ooooh, I imagined someone completely different!
Kristen, you look so…nice!
:o)
Sounds like a great conference! Wish I could have attented. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your observations with us!
Great pic of you all! Chutney looks like a Jack Russell. I love my JRT. They have such independent personalities…reminds me of a cat a times.
I didn’t realize PP conference was so large. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Sweet Baby Ray! – I’ve been referred to in Kristen’s blog! (The ipod guy in Spotlight on Agents session) This is bigger than NYT’s bestseller list!…I know…I know, we don’t joke about such things.
So jest aside, I wanted to thank you for all of your advice over the weekend. I’ve done a 130 (not quite a 180) and feel good about the path I’m on now. So good in fact that I may be knocking on that query inbox of yours sometime in the next couple of months:) Thanks again and blog ya later!
Miss Snark is Janet Reid, case closed. Janet gave herself away by being careless with leaving multiple comments on a certain blog her alter ego endorses.
They were seperated by several months, but it pretty clear when both JR and MS have the exact same catchphrases like “coffee spurting out of the nose, cover the keyboard,” they are one and the same.
That’s just the nail in the coffin. There is lots of other evidence.