Pages Written... 14

I had to do my writing for the day before I could update. ;-)

The conference was amazing. Small, only about 200 people. I met up with people I've only emailed with before, and we had a blast. Next year, I'm even thinking about attending two or three local conferences and not RWA's national conference, I had such a good time and made so many good new friends.

The highlight was definitely Donald Maass' workshop, "Writing the Breakout Novel" - which he also wrote the book for. Which I bought. Ahem. If you're a writer, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. Period. Okay, end of commercial.

I met with Paula Eykelhof of Harlequin, and pitched my novel to her. She, lovely person that she is, requested a full manuscript! I told her that after Donald's workshop, it needed MAJOR polishing, so I could get it to her by June and she was okay with that! She mentioned some stuff about my premise, and I got the message - I'd need to really punch this up and make it my own in order to sell it. So the challenge was tossed down, and I've picked it up and am running with it (hence the 14 pages today).

Paula, by the way, loves to find new writers at small conferences. I plan on being the writer she found at *this* conference. Even if it takes a couple years to get published from this point out.

The really scary thing I learned was from author Christina Skye, and that involved synopses. In that, as editors have very little time, they often pass around synopses as ways to introduce authors to other editors. So your synopsis not only needs to tell your story, it also needs to reflect the tone of your manuscript AND your unique voice. Quote dialog, too, if that will push the pacing and tension of the synopsis.

Of course, Christina also said she thought 12 to 16 pages was necessary for a synopsis - and most publishers want something from 5 - 10 pages at the most. Sigh.

But the info was interesting - and daunting.

And now I'm tired and need to go to sleep, but before I go, I will say that meeting with Greg definitely WAS a highlight of the weekend! And he's pushing along splendidly on his novel, so do send major kudos and inspiration his way.

And on Wednesday, I get to see Jenn . How great is that?!