Join WWA for our spring conference: After the Draft - More Than Just Craft. Our speakers and panelists will answer all your questions about what happens after you finishing writing you novel, memoir, poetry collection.
What You'll Learn:
After the Draft, More Than Just Craft with Laurie Scheer
So you’ve finished your manuscript, congratulations. Now it is time to move your work out into the world. It is also a good time to become marketing savvy as you enter the publishing marketplace. Navigating this arena is easier when you have the proper tools such as a succinct logline, a compelling synopsis or Overview, and query letters that result in agents and publishers wanting to read your work. Join Laurie as she shares her insider tips to successfully market your work in a post pandemic marketplace.
The nuances involved with getting an agent with Christine DeSmet
While the process of getting an agent seems simple—just start querying—it’s a multi-tiered task that impacts your writing, your revision process, and your confidence. Some writers hesitate too much with querying, or they get scared or discouraged and give up too early, or they misinterpret the responses or non-responses they receive from literary agents and thus miss an opportunity that is right in front of their eyes. What are the myths and rules and professional practices in finding an agent that’s right for you? Christine has coached many, many writers through the process of getting an agent or a publisher (because sometimes an agent isn’t needed).
The Whys and Hows Short Work for Publication with Tim Storm
A lot of publishing talk in the writing world centers around how to get a book published. But shorter work can sometimes find a home more quickly, and publishing short work can serve to build cred, help market other work, and give you either validation or some practice with rejection. This session will explore why it's worth pursuing publication of shorter work, how to find potential markets, and how to manage submissions.
Nuts and Bolts of the Stages of Publishing with Christina Clancy
Join award-winning author Christina Clancy as she discusses the various stages of traditional publishing. She’ll give tips on marketing, launching a book during the pandemic, and scheduling a book tour.
Meet Our Speakers:
Christina Clancy
Christina's debut novel, The Second Home, was released in June 2020 and will be available in paperback June 2021. The novel reflects her deep and abiding love for both Milwaukee, where she grew up and the town of Wellfleet, Cape Cod, where her family has had a home since the 1890s. The novel has been optioned by Tristar for a limited television series.
Christina received a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and taught English for almost a decade at Beloit College. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her very tall husband John and two children, Olivia and Tim.
Tim Storm
Tim Storm is an award winning writer and teacher whose work has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies, including Black Warrior Review, Copper Nickel, Short Story America, and Literary Hub. His passion for storytelling and its inner workings informs his teaching, editing, and mentoring. He runs an online writing school (stormwritingschool.com), which offers articles, worksheets, and courses geared toward helping writers hone their craft of engaging and moving stories.
Laurie Scheer
Laurie Scheer has assisted writers in the entertainment industry and at insitutions of higher learning throughout her diverse career as a producer, consultant and faculty member. As a professional speaker, she has participated in nationwide writing events. She has mentored hundreds of writers as they realize their writing success. Laurie is a co-founder of New Nature Writers, an organization dedicated to writing about nature. As an Aquarian, she has always wanted to bestow healing for the globe. She's currently writing near Joshua Tree National Park and is surrounded by cactus and mountain ranges that have many answers.
Christine DeSmet
Christine DeSmet is an author, a writing coach, critique professional, and writing instructor. She is a Distinguished Faculty Associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison Countinuing Studies where she created and directed the Writers' Institute for many years as well as the Write-By-The-Lake Writer's Workshop & Retreat. For the past three years she has been helping writers finish novels and hire agents or publishers in the UW-Madison "Pathway to Publication" coaching program.She writes the Fudge Shop Mystery Series set in Door County, Wisconsin, including the newest, Undercover Fudge. She has sold various novellas and has optioned screen plays.
