JS Lyster

It’s the final day of the Surrey International Writers Conference. It’s been a wonderful experience yet again. I’ve been to a number of these over the years, including the PNWA conference in Seattle just a few months ago. For the aspiring writer a conference like this is a gold mine. You meet agents and editors, you learn how the business works, you learn why your particular story ISN’T working, and you learn how to fix it.

I met an agent who is currently reviewing my novel, “Fragments”. And I spoke to an editor about “The Armageddon Jape.” She liked the premise and the writing on my first page or two enough to request the whole manuscript. (Note: this simply never happens. Almost.)

Sometimes what we take away from this kind of event is validation. Robert Dugoni reviewed my first chapter of “Armageddon” and loved it. When a professional says “You can clearly write,” this carries much more weight than the same words from your mother, your significant other, or your best friend.

Now, of course, the real work begins. I have a novel to finish.

Well, now I can say this (I was sworn to secrecy, as far as mentioning this online is concerned): I am this year’s winner of the Surrey International Writers Conference Storyteller’s Award, for my short story “The Mower’s Trial.”

Life is good.

Here I am at the Surrey International Writers Conference. This is a wonderful conference for the aspiring or professional writer. If you have time, scrape together the money to come. You will learn everything from the fine art of writing (beginner or advanced, there is something here for you) and publishing (including all the things you DON’T want to say to an agent; this is important stuff to know).

So far I’ve attended two workshops and a critique of my first chapter of The Armageddon Jape by thriller writer Robert Dugoni. Robert’s feedback was: “You can write and you’ve got a great story. Push through it and get it out there.” Sometimes just getting validation helps.

More later as the conference unfolds.

www.publishersmarketplace.com

Publishers Marketplace is a godsend for writers at the stage where they are looking at editors and agents. If you’re looking at submitting your work to an agent, you can see what that agent has sold recently and to whom.

It costs US $20 a month, but even if you just sign up for a few months as you market your work to agents or editors, it’s an invaluable resource.

SIWC

The Surrey International Writers Conference is a conference devoted to aspiring and professional writers. It isn’t meant for readers keen to meet their favorite authors. I’ve attended several in recent years. It is well worth the time and expense (even for someone in the process of moving from one home to another–a dreadful inconvenience, what with the conference taking up one of the few remaining weekends we can spend on packing).

The conference is a place to learn about the art and craft of writing and publishing. You can meet major literary agents and editors, and pitch them on your novel or non-fiction book, or just ask questions about how the business works.

My novel, Fragments, is out there in the wild. Stay tuned. In the meantime, here is some amazing artwork my friend Rick Sazon did for the novel. This beautifully captures one of the story’s themes. If you look closely at the text, you’ll be able to make out an excerpt from the journals of David Glass, my book’s central character.