tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post2344546053555606888..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Writing conferences: Everyone has a first one! Agents included...Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-714775066789531662012-11-21T11:38:35.172+00:002012-11-21T11:38:35.172+00:00I'm expecting all of the above!I'm expecting all of the above!Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-58449929898396387872012-11-21T11:37:21.051+00:002012-11-21T11:37:21.051+00:00I can only answer for myself, but I've become ...I can only answer for myself, but I've become friends with lots of published authors who aren't my own clients through meetings at conferences. I love to follow their journeys and cheer their successes from the sidelines. Everyone has a different path to publishing, so I can find things to talk to agented writers if they approach me.Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-7778329516574088452012-11-21T08:01:45.749+00:002012-11-21T08:01:45.749+00:00No, I know it's not just about business for us...No, I know it's not just about business for us! I go to plenty of conferences, and mostly (entirely?) to spend time with friends I don't see very often. But I wondered if it was different for agents, who are probably more there for business than I am? Not that agents don't want friends/don't like being sociable... :-) Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-12077088456230375952012-11-20T20:09:37.432+00:002012-11-20T20:09:37.432+00:00I agree, it's about meeting people and finding...I agree, it's about meeting people and finding friends who understand the life we lead. I loved my first year (last year) and particularly liked the secret badge squint - people trying to read your name badge to see if you'd met online and looked nothing like your picture. Great fun. Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-64891125132782445002012-11-20T13:17:51.159+00:002012-11-20T13:17:51.159+00:00Ahh but a conference is not just for business ... ...Ahh but a conference is not just for business ... for me a huge part of the conference is about friendship. Also ever since I got my own agent and lost the fear of talking to one, I've made friends with agents (with whom, face it, we share the same passion for story and interest in the kids book business). I think they're just as relieved as I am that I'm talking and not stalking.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-8928656701860492172012-11-20T08:15:14.326+00:002012-11-20T08:15:14.326+00:00How nice, to have a view from the other side of th...How nice, to have a view from the other side of the fence. I'm going to put a totally different kind of paranoid view here - when an agent says 'what are you writing?', it's immediately followed by 'do you have an agent?' and when I say 'yes' I feel the agent isn't going to be interested in talking to me any more. It's like going to a singles bar and admitting you're married. Not that I go to singles bars. Nor that I'm married. But if I were, and I did...<br /><br />So are agents still happy to talk to people who aren't a 'prospect'? Or should I stick to talking to other writers and stop wasting the agent's time? :-)Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-57149470610178934352012-11-20T07:46:20.576+00:002012-11-20T07:46:20.576+00:00My first SCBWI conference this year, and my advice...My first SCBWI conference this year, and my advice is this: wear a fabulous hat. Hats guarantee conversations. *Heads off to root out silver cowboy one*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-92087205638565266632012-11-20T07:06:03.548+00:002012-11-20T07:06:03.548+00:00Thank you so much, Gemma, from me too. Just to add...Thank you so much, Gemma, from me too. Just to add, you were so lovely and approachable at the Agents' Party that I felt I was part of something, rather than an outsider knocking at a closed door. That went for all the other agents there also. It is such a relief to know that our 'industry' has a real (and smiling) face. Hoping to meet lot more of 'us' at the conference. Rowena Housenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-18998168669935283092012-11-20T00:22:48.739+00:002012-11-20T00:22:48.739+00:00I really appreciated this post, Gemma, since I'...I really appreciated this post, Gemma, since I'm a nervous first timer and as I type this am wondering how to manage nerves. Hope to see you and say hi! - SheilaSheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14880262776614050044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-16950836302245242502012-11-19T18:17:19.433+00:002012-11-19T18:17:19.433+00:00Pianoforte? Walking around with books balanced on ...Pianoforte? Walking around with books balanced on heads? Giving the servants their orders?Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24102783788386063412012-11-19T16:33:46.222+00:002012-11-19T16:33:46.222+00:00I'm guessing tea parties in frocks. No wine or...I'm guessing tea parties in frocks. No wine or jeans. Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-67211396839318752742012-11-19T16:29:03.916+00:002012-11-19T16:29:03.916+00:00What do ladies do all day?What do ladies do all day?Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-15005367293853508522012-11-19T16:14:28.750+00:002012-11-19T16:14:28.750+00:00...does this mean we have to act all ladylike all ......does this mean we have to act all ladylike all weekend? I'm not sure I can pull that offTeri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-37787730170329052602012-11-19T15:56:14.020+00:002012-11-19T15:56:14.020+00:00Shhh ... I'm still slightly afraid of my agent...Shhh ... I'm still slightly afraid of my agent!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-6458126637821806482012-11-19T15:42:23.448+00:002012-11-19T15:42:23.448+00:00Slushpile ladies... i like thatSlushpile ladies... i like thatAddy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-64959660753388715332012-11-19T10:37:47.957+00:002012-11-19T10:37:47.957+00:00Thank you so much to the Slushpile ladies for lett...Thank you so much to the Slushpile ladies for letting me guest post and for all your lovely comments. I can't wait for this weekend!Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-43767392012752156782012-11-19T09:58:33.101+00:002012-11-19T09:58:33.101+00:00Great post Gemma, nice to know it's all as dau...Great post Gemma, nice to know it's all as daunting from the other side too. Especially like the comment about not feeling that you have to pitch every time you are talking to anyone. Great advice (of course, I'm biased :)Juliennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03177445245144105172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-45569636267969369492012-11-19T09:48:47.042+00:002012-11-19T09:48:47.042+00:00What a great blogpost! This is so thrilling - for ...What a great blogpost! This is so thrilling - for everyone concerned. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up. And yes, as I've learned doing the Agents' Party - agents are human too and can badly suffer from the nerves. But I reckon we're a really nice bunch of people and we don't bite. Much. Liz de Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06952997369139328203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-37387364606520475282012-11-19T09:44:47.759+00:002012-11-19T09:44:47.759+00:00This is my fourth conference and I get nervous eve...This is my fourth conference and I get nervous every year! Although my main problem nowadays is knowing too many people and not having enough time to chat with them all. Which is a nice problem to have, I guess :-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-85835004957343358162012-11-19T09:16:43.598+00:002012-11-19T09:16:43.598+00:00Brilliant advice, Gemma! Agents and editors are hu...Brilliant advice, Gemma! Agents and editors are human! Soak it all up, have a chat where you can (bet you will) and you'll come away fizzing with inspiration.Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-5446494240454177442012-11-19T09:04:09.238+00:002012-11-19T09:04:09.238+00:00I remember how nervous I was at my first conferenc...I remember how nervous I was at my first conference, then it all went by in a whirlwind of non-stop writerly stuff, leaving me elated and exhausted. One thing I learned was what a friendly and supportive bunch writers are - so, if you are a conference virgin, just start talking to the first person you come across, and you'll probably not stop talking for the whole thing (and will have to be reminded to stop talking when the sessions begin. And remember - agents and editors are in the same boat and probably feel just as nervous as you do! Jackie Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567038737470422449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-49042301970109532932012-11-19T08:59:46.940+00:002012-11-19T08:59:46.940+00:00I agree - thanks very much, Gemma!I agree - thanks very much, Gemma!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-84997310244760241632012-11-19T08:57:53.602+00:002012-11-19T08:57:53.602+00:00Thank you so much for posting this, it's great...Thank you so much for posting this, it's great to read about the view from the other side of the fence and important to remember that we are all there for the same reason - because we love books and want to produce the best books we can. See you at the conference Gemma :o)Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.com