*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*
What’s scarier than a run-on sentence?
As a former theater person, I used to have the classic actor stress-dream on a regular basis. The one where I’m backstage, waiting to go on, and realize I don’t know my lines— in fact, I have no idea what play we’re performing.
A few weeks ago, for perhaps the first time, I had a writer nightmare. I was reading a short story of mine out loud to a small group of people, but as I was reading, I realized not only was there a glaring typo in the first line, but the entire first paragraph was an exceedingly bad run-on sentence. And I had already submitted this story to multiple magazines! The horror!
Let this dream be a reminder to always read things out loud before submitting them. But let it not discourage you from reading your work out loud in front of an audience. Let me explain why…
Facing our read-aloud fears
An MFA professor of mine once told us we should take EVERY opportunity to read our work out loud to an audience. Because one day we would (hopefully) find ourselves being asked to read at conferences and events. Best start practicing now.
And during that time, I did. While I was getting my MFA there were lots of opportunities for students like open-mic nights and monthly readings. I was pretty confident back then, as only a twenty-something can be, and even though it was nerve-wracking to get up on stage, I did it (I have that theater background after all), and it usually went well. After graduating, I continued to seek out chances to read my work in front of an audience. I participated in readings at conferences and local writing centers.
Over time, however, I stopped seeking out opportunities. Part of it had to do with having kids and then COVID shutting down in-person events.
But another part had to do with confidence. I finished my MFA in 2009 and thought I’d have a published novel in no time. As the years ticked by, as I lost my first agent, as I languished in the query trenches, my writer ego took a hit.
I still don’t have a published novel (yet!!), but my confidence has returned for various reasons I can go into another time. And besides, reading your work to an audience is a great way to gain confidence. No one ever comes up to you after a reading and tells you they hated your piece. No, they tell you how much they enjoyed it, or what a great job you did. And that can be really validating.
Writing is lonely. It’s hard on the ego. Reading out loud in a supportive community of other writers who are also being vulnerable and sharing their work is a great way to feel a little less lonely and a little more confident. It’s a way to announce to the universe: hey, I’m a writer. I may not have anything published (yet), but look at all these people listening to something I wrote. That’s something to feel good about.
Open-Mic Night
Last night I went to the Open Mic Night at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. I invited two other writer friends so I wouldn’t have to go alone. Then I decided what to read and practiced reading it out loud. I even took a video of myself to make sure I wasn’t going over the 5-minute time limit and I was looking up often enough. (Like any public speaking, when doing a reading you want to avoid looking down at your pages the entire time.)
Paid subscribers can watch the video of my open mic night practice session and feel like you were there in the audience yourself! (Although I definitely read faster during the event than during my practice session. You always read faster on stage.)
The Writer’s Center Open Mic was really great. Well-attended with a supportive crowd and an awesome host. All kinds of people got up to read all kinds of things. Seasoned writers and newbies, retirees and college students. We heard poems and spoken word as well as excerpts from novels and memoirs. There were dark themes and funny ones. My friend said on the way home, “it was like literary tapas.”
The host called people to the stage in random order, and I ended up going close to the end. I sat there, listening to other readers, my body flooding with adrenaline. Despite my theater background, I get terrible stage fright. When it was finally my turn, I took a deep breath, got up there, and read my piece. When I was done I got applause (okay, everyone who read got applause), but still, it felt really good, and despite the nervous stomach I had the entire time, I’m glad I did it.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
Writing a thriller? I thought this article from Savannah Gilbo on The 6 Scenes Every Thriller Novel Needs was super helpful.
Writing a thriller and need a mentor? Check out #ThrillPit, which pairs aspiring thriller and crime fiction writers with experienced, traditionally-published mentors who can help guide them through the publishing process. Submissions open March 1-3.
Hoping to be a published author one day? It’s never too early to start building relationships with local indie bookstores!
Are you looking for beta readers who are writing in a similar genre and time zone? Bianca Marais (host of the great podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing) is offering The Great Beta Reader Match-Up. Your manuscript doesn’t have to be complete to sign up, but you do need to sign up by February 28!
Apply for the 2023 Kurt Brown WC&C Scholarships. Three winners will receive $500 to help them attend the WC&C event of their choice. Winners plus six finalists will also receive a free one-year AWP membership. Applications are open through March 31,2023.
The NYC Midnight Screenwriting Challenge kicks off March 24. Register by March 23, or register TODAY (February 23) if you want the early bird discount.
Self-published? Enter the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Award competition. Deadline: April 3, 2023.
Enter the 22nd Annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Free to submit published or unpublished poems, with up to $3,500 in prizes. Deadline April 1.
Are you interested in writing Native American characters? Check out the digital course Fiction Writing: American Indians, from Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and author of fifteen historical fiction books with Native main characters. Enter the coupon code EVALANGSTON at checkout for a discount!
Check out all the free events for writers sponsored by The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. From online craft chats with poets, novelists, and memoirists to in-person book signings and open mic nights.
Thinking about submitting to some literary journals this year? Check out New Pages (or subscribe to their newsletter) for all the latest lit mag news.
Hoping to create a regular writing habit or maybe start a novel? Learn about my do-it-on-your-own-time courses for paid subscribers: Cultivating a Regular Writing Routine and Getting Started on Your Novel.
Want to write better dialogue? Check out my online Dialogue Masterclass Sessions. Session 1 is available for all; Sessions 2 and 3 are for paid subscribers.
For KidLit Writers:
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 75 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts — updated February 2023!
Upcoming Kidlit Workshops (online and in-person) from The Highlights Foundation. Everything from Picture Books to YA!
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will have a virtual conference on February 25.
The annual PBParty contest is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts. Selected entries will be read by agents/editors in the showcase at the end of March. Submit one contest entry on Wednesday, March 1st from midnight to 8pm EST. Good luck!
Check out this video from Mary Kole on how to write a query letter for a picture book.
For Querying Writers:
Aimee Davis is accepting submissions for guest posts on her blog from currently querying authors who want a space to talk about the struggles of querying BEFORE the success. How cool is that?
Register now for a free webinar TODAY (February 23) with former literary agent (and writing/publishing guru) Mary Kole on Writing an Irresistible Query.
This virtual Agent Symposium from The Writers League of Texas looks incredible. A year-long program to bring writers into a virtual space where they can connect with and learn from ten literary agents at the top of their game. No need to live in Texas, and the last day to apply is TOMORROW (February 24).
Manuscript Wishlist, probably the best way to search for agents online, has totally revamped their website. Read about the exciting changes here.
The annual PBParty contest is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts. Selected entries will be read by agents/editors in the showcase at the end of March. Submit one contest entry on Wednesday, March 1st from midnight to 8pm EST. Good luck!
The Revise & Resubmit (#RevPit) annual contest begins March 16. Win feedback and edits on your full manuscript from professional editors.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Here’s an insanely comprehensive spreadsheet of successful queries. Learn the details and read the actual query letters for books that got agent representation.
Check out this video from Mary Kole on how to write a query letter for a picture book.
I don’t know what’s going on with Twitter these days, but I assume Twitter pitch contests will continue to happen unless I hear otherwise. If you’re still on Twitter, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story.) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
April 6: #MoodPitch — Twitter pitch for all un-agented authors of all genres and age categories, with a mood board image added. (The pitch event in which I found my agent!)
Writing Conferences
Writers Digest is offering a virtual conference for mystery/thriller writers March 25-26.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, you can sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Chesapeake Writing Workshop March 3-4 (online only)
Alabama Writing Workshop: March 10, 2023 (in-person in Birmingham)
Atlanta Writing Workshop: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Writers Conference of St. Louis: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Cincinnati Writing Workshop: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Minnesota Writing Workshop: March 25, 2023 (in-person in St. Paul)
AWP Conference (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) will be held in March 8-11, 2023 in Seattle.
Go to AWP for Free! Have your registration cost waived when you agree to work a four-hour shift at the conference. Applications are now open for work-exchange.
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will hold a virtual conference on February 25.
New York Write to Pitch Conference 2023 will be held in NYC March 16-19.
The 34th Annual California Creative Writers Conference will be held March 3-5, 2023 in Culver City. Presentations, workshops, panels, and one-on-one pitch meetings. Discounts available.
The Washington Writers Conference will be held in Bethesda, MD May 12-13.
Early Bird tickets ($369) include three agent-pitch sessions and are available through Mar. 31, 2023.
For all those in the DC-MD-VA area, mark your calendars for the FREE Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20. I’ll be there, and I might even be teaching a short workshop (TBD).
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.