Wherever I go, I am constantly telling writers to establish their online presence. These days, even if you are writing fiction, you need to show your prospective agent and publisher that you have and can reach an established audience. You need a platform. Not only do readers need to be waiting for your kind of book, but they need to be waiting for it specifically from you.

Blogging, social media and author websites are necessary to establish such a platform and get the kind of attention that your book needs to stand a chance. If you are looking to publish and be successful, I highly recommend that you educate yourself and jump into the world of modern book promotion. Tom’s books are great for that, as are Stephanie Chandler’s. The Author’s Guide to Building an Online Platform is one of my favorites. There are plenty of online resources, as well.

Tom is wrapping up his presentation. I’ll see you next Wednesday at 3pm when I’ll be speaking at Just Write at Local Grown Coffee on the Coupeville pier.

Arriving on Thursday I was grouped with agents Laurie McLean and Paul Levine, along with editor Kristin Sevick (Tor/Forge) in a pitch practice panel that kicked things off with some fireworks. Requests were made, representation was offered, and emotions ran high.

The next day, Andrea Hurst and I took time out of our packed pitching schedule to teach our Crafting Fiction That Sells in Today’s Marketplace class. The double presentation room was packed, and we almost ran out of handouts. Through ongoing technical difficulties (I have a tendency to break microphones) and trying to cram an 8 week course into an hour and a half, we managed to have an excellent session. Attendees thanked me during the remainder of the conference, and I was very happy to have helped.

Saturday and Sunday were full, as well. I met with some amazing people and discussed some very attractive projects. I managed to really click with a few authors, which is a major reason why I attend so many of these things.

I don’t have attendance figures, but this seemed to be the biggest one yet, with several hundred writers, editors and agents of both film and printed works. I was able to witness at least one author obtain an agency contract and one movie deal put into motion. Oregon writers take note. Things happen at this conference.

I just arrived in Seattle for meetings with my clients, Tanya Chernov and Kelly Davio. I’m continuing north to Whidbey Island next, to work with Andrea at the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. I will keep you posted as things develop and maybe try to break the record for links per word in a blog. In the meantime, put Wyclef Jean’s Gone Till November on repeat.

Meeting with authors at the Willamette Writers' Conference

It has and continues to be a busy summer. Here is a brief update:

Mid-July once again landed me in Fresno, CA for the annual Cal State Summer Arts Program. I spoke on various topics to the memoir class, which also featured Nick Flynn, Leslie Heywood, Steve Church and Doug Rice. I also had the wonderful opportunity to work with Debra DiBlasi, Camille Roy and Lyn Hejinian, exploring the art form and writing hybrid narrative. This is an amazing program that draws artists of all types from around the world. I highly recommend it, if you have the chance.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting with the wonderful staff and attendees of the Clarksville Writers’ Conference at Austin Peay State University. This two day event brought in guest artists from all over the nation for an eclectic mix of classes, speeches, readings, meetings and pitches. Poetry and prose for both children and adults were part of the “something for everyone” atmosphere.

The turnout was well over 100 people, more than twice last year’s attendance. This is an indicator of Chris Burawa’s skills as the interim director and hopefully of at least a local upturn in the economy. Attendees came from all over Tennessee and the surrounding states to improve their skills, their writing and their chances of finding success in the publishing world.

As the only agent there, I took it upon myself to meet with as many people and answer as many questions as possible. My scheduled sessions were 30 minutes long, from 9am to 4pm, with breaks in between that I filled, sometimes two at a time. Much longer than the average pitch session of up to 10 minutes, this was treated just as much as an educational opportunity, a crash course in publishing and a chance to have pertinent questions answered by someone on the other side of the submissions desk. I mentioned before how much I love it when writers leave my sessions with a heavily marked notebook and a newfound determination to write. That occurred more often than not, and I walked away with new friends and hopefully new projects.

Though I had a great time, I am thankful for my 3 days at home before I leave for the Willamette Writers’ Conference, the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, Just Write at the Pier, The Zero Emission Book Tour and other such excitement.

Updates will follow on this blog and Twitter.

Local Grown Coffee 3-5pm – free drop in writer’s group.  Here is our summer guest speaker schedule:

July 21st – Amberly Finarelli – Senior Literary Agent with Andrea Hurst Lit Management – Topic TBA

July 28^th- Janna Cawrse Esarey- author, “The Motion of the Ocean”-Topic Writing and Selling a memoir. She sold hers on the book proposal. She has a fantastic website and also teaches classes on pitch craft.

August 18^th- Tom Masters- Blogging for Authors  & Blog to Book and Beyond

August 25th – Gordon Warnock – Senior Literary Agent with Andrea Hurst – Topic -TBA

September 8^th- Corbin Lewars- author “Creating a Life”, blogger, teacher, coach. Topic tentatively: persistence and the long road to publishing. It took her 5 years to see her book published.

All of has had a non-stop experience of networking, learning, and enjoying everything from top-notch speaker and author of House and Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus ( a must read) to the awards dinner Saturday evening.  I particularly enjoyed seeing so many familiar faces, agents, writers and editors from Penguin Publishing in NY.

My class, Crafting Fiction That Sells in Today’s Marketplace – An Agent’s POV, drew over 100 students and was an interactive learning experience and entertaining session.  I particularly enjoyed hearing writer’s first lines of their novels and one line pitches…some were very clever.

It is always sad to say good-bye, but returning to Whidbey Island for some R&R before I leave in 10 days for Portland and the next writer’s conference, was a perfect.

Hope to see some of you at Just Write on the Pier this week in Coupeville at Local Grown Coffee House.

~Andrea

Today we’ll be hearing more pitches. Andrea’s workshop “Crafting Fiction that Sells in Today’s Market: An Agent’s Point of View” is at 1:30, and Amberly and author Penny Warner (of the Party-Planning Mystery series) will be discussing “The Secret to Grabbing an Agent’s Attention” at 3:30.

Tonight: the Literary Contest Awards Celebration and Dinner.

Highlights we’re looking forward to include

• Wonderful speakers such as Andre Dubus III (author of House of Sand and Fog)
• Meeting with editors including Michelle Richter from St. Martin’s Press (editor for new release Imagine Life with a Well-Behaved Dog by Julie A. Bjelland)
• Taking author pitches and finding exciting new clients
• The Awards Dinner and meeting with the winners

On Thursday, we’ll be hosted by bestselling author Robert Dugoni for an agent/editor/board member party.

We’ll be posting every day with highlights. Stay tuned!

Right now we’re headed to Just Write on the Pier in beautiful Coupeville on Whidbey Island.

Nonfiction: Exciting and unique projects with a distinctive hook, specifically in lifestyle categories, from emerging authors who are quickly establishing their brand both online and offline.

Something to consider demonstrating to me during your pitch: In this instant-access information age we’re now enjoying, why have you decided that a book is the best way to impart your information (as opposed to say, writing an article for an e-zine or giving the information on your website)?

Fiction: Cozy and comic mysteries: Tightly-crafted plotlines featuring intelligent and relatable female protagonists; hip or charming locales; and quirky, lovable secondary characters.

Women’s fiction: Superbly written stories that go beyond this plotline: woman meets and marries man and gives up her career to live happily-ever-after, woman has 2-3 children, woman finds out man is a cheater/alcoholic/drug abuser, woman divorces/leaves man, woman establishes new life on her own (that may or may not include another lover), woman finds self-actualization. I’m looking for unique storylines (in both serious and light women’s fiction) that may blend genres (but don’t have to). Please, nothing in the light fiction category that would fall under “chick lit.”

Something to consider before your pitch: How does your novel differ from other women’s fiction out there? How is your novel timely or cutting edge? Feel free to bring a page (but please, no more than a page) of your novel to share during your pitch time.

ROBERT W. DANIEL

Robert W. DANIEL Robert William Daniel born June 3, 1933 died at the age of 77 on Sunday June 27th. He accomplished much during his time with us. Husband to Kathryn for 34 years, father to Kathy, Eric and Miriam, grand- father to Madeline and Claire. We recall Rob’s gifts, reading Peanuts and Winnie the Pooh with creativity and imagination. The warmth he bestowed to the twins who knew him as papa. A loving brother to Skip and Linda and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Rob was a member of the armed services and served in Alaska in Communications in the 1950’s. After serving he attended the U of W finishing with a degree in Art. Rob made his mark when he started Watermark, a graphic design and advertising agency whose success led to many national awards. Robs interests included backpacking with his family, traveling and writing. A writer of music, a painter, and lover of the Arts – a true Renaissance man. Rob’s talent turned literary following a recent trip to Italy, Rob took his life experiences and wrote his first novel. He wrote handbooks for senior citizens, and a guide for writing your own life story. Rob had recently become a literary agent and was invited to present at a writers conference in Montana. We remember Rob’s joy of family, retreats at the seaside cabin, and raising his voice in song at Christmas. We will miss you and your famous Christmas cannelloni.