Comments on: Kelsey Timmerman: So You Want to Be an Author?

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:55:57 +0000

J. Leigh, I’m glad this was helpful. Here’s the best place to start looking for writers’ conferences http://writing.shawguides.com/.

What to prepare…it depends. I don’t think you should ever go empty handed. If you’re working on a book, take a query letter. You could take your manuscript but it would be best not to tell anyone. If every agent or editor took home every manuscript they were offered at a conference the airlines would have to add a new surcharge. Take your query letter and if they read it and like it and mention that they would like to see the manuscript you could say, “I could mail that to you” or “I just happen to have it in my car.

If you’re not working on a book, take a few samples to pass out to anyone that expresses interest in your work. Never go empty handed.

The zen of writing conferences is that you need to be assertive in seeking out the folks who might be able to help you without looking like your being assertive.

What conference to choose…See what course are being offered and who is presenting. Depending on where you are in your career some conferences might not be of much help. Like I said in the piece, how many query workshops can one person dude before they are out of their mind.

Thanks for the comments.

By: J. Leigh Parker

J. Leigh Parker — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:37:46 +0000

Thanks for the great advice. I’ve learned two new things that I didn’t know before and that will be useful to me. One question before I start scouring the web though; what do I need to prepare for a writer’s conference and are there any conferences to steer clear of? (okay-two questions, hope that’s not one too many.)

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:12:15 +0000

Thanks for all of the great comments everyone. If you have any questions about the written road, feel free to drop me an email – kelsey@travelin-light.com.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:09:59 +0000

We should have a national writers’ “Coming out Day.”

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:08:32 +0000

Me too!

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:06:45 +0000

The best writing check to get is the first one, even if it’s for $20.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:02:36 +0000

Well said. The more you practice the luckier you get.

By: Carlo

Carlo — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:35:25 +0000

Sweet. Bookmarked! And that book sounds super interesting so I’ll be reading it. I’ve been doing IT support for 12 years or so…just recently, the last month or two, when people ask me what I do I tell them IT support, but make sure to mention that it’s only for money and that I’m really a writer. Soon I will start telling people I’m a writer first, and I do IT work on the side to make ends meet.

And I think you’re absolutely right about the luck thing…it’s the old sports adage, you gotta be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. Or, you make your own luck. Cheers to your success!

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:32:05 +0000

Kelsey- Solid advice; thanks so much for this!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:10:34 +0000

Great advice, thanks! It’s funny how we keep the writing thing a secret sometimes, but you’re right- admitting it out loud makes a big difference to our mentality.

Your book sounds fantastic!

By: Ryukyu Mike

Ryukyu Mike — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:46:42 +0000

Congratulations; you’re an inspiration ! My goal is just to get in National Geographic by the time I’m 100 and I’m collecting rejection slips along the way !

By: Vera

Vera — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:07:45 +0000

Really helpful post, thanks. I’m slowly starting to move from the “I want to do it” to the “I’m doing it” phase. Like you said, it is a lot of hard work, especially when you have to combine it with a full-time job to pay our bills, that also involves writing all day – but about a different subject – and you go home at night and just want to give your brain a rest. However, the personal reward makes it worthwhile.

By: Hal

Hal — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:55:30 +0000

Super, super advice. I think your main point here–the importance of determination and stick-with-it-ness–also applies to those folks out there who’re asking how they can incorporate full-time travel into their lives.

By: Liv

Liv — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:30:04 +0000

Thank you for this article, and congratulations on your success! I’ve wanted to be a writer until I was 6 years old, but it wasn’t until last year that I stopped just talking about it and actually started doing something. I’m in the phase now where I’m making $20 here, $50 there but it beats what I used to make (nothing). I’ve never felt happier or more on the path. It’s really nice to read about people who’ve made it past this phase.