For Fellow Bloggers-Notes from 2007 San Francisco Writing for Change Conference
August 23-25, San Francisco was the site of the first "Writing for Change" conference. For what I could estimate there were about 300 authors, writers, publishers, agents, editors, journalists and other literati in attendance. It was a conference for writers to gain more knowledge about the publishing industry, its future and how to write and market one's products. It was also a chance to meet and pitch writing ideas. If you are writing a blog, the you have already departed on this journey. I thought I would share some of my notes. This is helpful for me as I was overwhelmed with so many ideas and maybe the reader who aspires to write more will learn something of use to them.
With over a dozen trips in my lifetime to San Francisco, it was my first time staying on Nob Hill. This is by far my favorite location. I found a room at the University Club that has been in operation since 1890. Stepping out the front door I could catch the Powell Street and California Street Cable Cars which intersected a few steps away. I used a frequent flyer ticket and flew into Oakland. For a $3.00 bus ride to the Coliseum BART station and another $3.70, I railed under the bay to the Powell Street Station in downtown. Below are my notes from the sessions I attended:
1. "Publishing for Social Change in the Turbulent 60's: Books & Their Impact" Alan Rinzler, Executive Editor with Jossey-Bass (he's worked with Toni Morrison, Hunter Thompson, Rolling Stone)
Books can be weapons against tyrany. The mission of Jossey-Bass is books for education and social change. Impact books today are in genres such as anti-Bush, anti-Religion, Environment Impact-Green Living and Spiritual.
With the impact of the digital age, baby boomers are the biggest market. For those under thirty there is a gradual revolution in blogs, podasts, texting and self-publishing. Average baby boomer buys 9 books a year but 1 out of four US adults lacks the reading skills. Interested writers should establish a following of their works through blogs, their own website and podcasts. www.soapboxcommons.com is a great website to promote your publications.
2. "Putting the ME in Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction" Elizabeth Pomada and Katherine Sands, Literary Agents.
Memoirs need a narrative arc--a beginning, middle and end. Many write in the first person but the third person is more personal and effectual with the reader who needs to feel like they are sitting right next to you hanging on every word and the story is so compelling that they can't leave you. Memoirs are more emotional and research shows it resonates more with the reader. Don't write a memoir as therapy nor an autobiography. Start in the middle. Who is the main character? Embrace their flaws. Write about what went wrong and learnings and breakthroughs. Three P's--Person, Pivot, Place. Execution is more important than intention and the setting is how well the story comes to life. The problem eventually sets the story in motion.
If a memoir can be a "Femoir," then there must be a market for "Menoirs" also.
Here's conference attendees walking the writer's labrynth at the opening reception. A keyboardist made new age music echo through the cathedral courtyard. It nurtured the spirit.
What is the interior journey? What is the exterior journey?
A query letter to agents should be a one pager, a synopsis with the themes: Book, Hook & Cook.
If considering writing, spend some days scouring your title, genre at a book store and libary. There is a good chance its already written. Is your writing enough for a book or is it really more suitable to an article or blog? When pitching a book think as it as being on trial for its life. There is no more room for disease of the month nor misery memoir books. Think light, funny, feel good, adventure, travel and inspiring. "Don't bring me a journalist who was a riverboat captain--bring me the riverboat captain."
The line is blurring between fiction and non-fiction. When asked their top memoirs, they cited:
Out of Africa
West With the Wind
Devil in White City
Eat, Pray, Love
Angela's Ashes
3. "Spiritual Writing & The Writer's Life" Hal Zina Bennett, author, shaman and writing coach www.halzinabennett.com
Spiritual writing is personal growth with a message the reader identifies with. If you're onto an idea that is new, remember it can be "Too new."
Readers need self-disclosure, honesty and authenticity. And, don't put readers in a position that they feel they need to take care of you. Who is your ideal reader? Who am I writing to?
4. Keynote-Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. "The Power of Story to Give Us New Eyes & Reframe Our Ideas" Author of "Kitchen Table Wisdom"
Writers are born to write, authors do something else and write about it. Change happens in us because of stories rather than facts. A good story points to truth and changes our personal direction. You can change the story of an organization through telling your story. We all participate in a hidden web of connection. Most of the stories that make change are helping people how to remember. Wholeness of the world can only be restored one heart at a time.
5. "Finding an Idea You Love--Choosing What to Write" Robert Shepard, Literary Agent.
Most of the big publishing houses are owned by eight companies. Fewer people read today and more are unable to read. A paper cover can be more efficient and the nature of the book determines whether hard cover or not. Pictorials are harder to develop.
Why proposals don't get accepted:
It has been done before
Subject is not compelling, timely and fascinating.
It isn't a sexy subject.
The outline is too narrow or too broad.
What are hot topics now? Purely informational books, "Rough Guides," Books about interpreting science and math for the uninitiated.
6. Freelance Editor's Panel:
Be mindful of the trends and major historical shifts in publishing.
E-books are short books you can download in different formats.
Print on demand and the democratization of publishing with the average book selling 500 copies. Think about self-publishing through iUniverse, Amazon or LuLu. Promote and sell your publication and approach a publisher with your track record and sales figures. Self promote though talks, radio interviews, writing articles, conferences, meetings, markets and anywhere you can think of.
You'll pay a freelance editor $50-$100 per hour.
7. Publishing House Editors Panel:
Be able to prove your acquisition and revenue numbers for your publication(s). Try to create pre-publication buzz. Very, very, few books are promoted and publicized anymore by the major publishers. It is a do-it-yourself venture and be prepared to. Most books are poorly positioned. What makes your book compellingly different.
Use the internet, blogging and podcasting as a platform by going to your audience.
8. "Helping You Get the Recognition and Rewards you Deserve" Agents Panel
Freelance agents come first, then agents then in-house editors in your writing sequence. Let publishers know that others are looking at your book also.
Agents are not publicists and generally contract for 15% of the author royalties for the life of the book. Expect royalties of 10% for the first 5000 sold, 12.5% of the next 5000 and 15% thereafter of the cover price. If self-published you might get the attention of a west coast publisher with sales of about 500, east coast publishers its 5000 sales.
Book publishing is a 19th century business in a 21st century world.
9. Keynote "The Lucifer Effect...How Good People Go Bad" Dr. Philip Zimbardo. This book is now casting for the movie. He was also the force behind the Stanford Prison Experiment.
How to write:
Talk less, write more
Flow-every day, wake up, pee, write
Eliminate distractions
Block critics
Be in the writer's moment
Write without thinking
1. Know, 2 Flow, 3 Go
Become the messenger of the Product.
If you too want to write more and learn, this organization has a much larger conference in San Francisco in January. visit the conference sponsors at www.sfwritingforchange.org
The conference exceeded all my expectations and my learning makes me feel like a freshman all over again. Growth is good and well worth the time and expense.
Think of it as climbing the stairs ahead: There a great view, bands playing in the lounge and you almost visualize Cary Grant sitting by the window in "North by Northwest at the Top of the Mark)
