Be a Bestseller in 2023... or Just Do Brunch
Free talks on the craft and business of writing. Plus TONS of links and resources
*For my giant list of writing links and resources, scroll down*
I’m not going to tell you what to do…
Back when I lived in New Orleans, my friends and I had a tradition of going for brunch on New Years Day to discuss our goals for the new year. I suggested to my friends here in the DC area that we could do the same, and one of them said, “I have no desire to talk about my goals, but brunch could be fun.” Fair enough. New Years Resolutions are not for everyone.
So, I’m not going to insist you make a writing goal for 2023. You can make one if you wish, but if you’re too exhausted from the holidays, or maybe just too hungover, don’t stress about it! The first of January is just another day. You can make a new goal now or not.
If you do make goals, make sure they’re something you have control over. For example, one of my goals is not “to get a book deal in 2023.” That’s a desire I have, for sure, but I don’t have much control over whether or not an editorial board at a publishing house gives the go-ahead on my novel.
Instead, my goal for 2023 is to finish the draft of my new YA novel by… let’s say by my daughter’s spring break, but if it’s not until the summer that’s okay, too. My other goal is to attend more writing events, both in-person and online, as well as listen to more author talks/readings/interviews.
My second goal is going to be quite easy to achieve, thanks to a little something I discovered called Be a Bestseller 4.0: Write Your Novel with Confidence…
Be a Bestseller 4.0
I recently met author and book coach Emma Dhesi at an online conference. This year, for the fourth year in a row, she has brought together 20+ writers, editors, and publishers for a complimentary online training series that will run January 16-27.
Each day, registrants will receive two 45-minute videos about the craft and business of writing. Listen at your leisure, learn a lot: all for free. (And it doesn’t hurt that Emma, who hosts the interviews, has a delightful Scottish accent!)
There will be…
Talks about the craft of writing:
The Importance of Point of View with award-winning author Janice Hardy
How to Use Show & Tell Storytelling Techniques to Create an Unputdownable Novel with author Heather Davis
Nail the Ending of Your Story with author Sharon Hugson
Talks about the business of writing:
How to Avoid The Book Marketing Money Pit with book marketing coach Belinda K Griffin
How to Make a Full-Time Income from Writing with author Ashley Emma
Writing to Market Without Selling Your Soul with author Michael La Ronn
Talks for all genres:
The Fundamentals of Middle Grade Fiction with author Karen Ferreira
Nailing Genre Expectations with author coaches Jill and Malorie Cooper
Tips for Creating a Super-Twisty Mystery with… yes, that’s right, your dear friend Eva Langston
It’s totally free, and what else is there to do in January, really? Listen to the talks while you recover from the holidays. Registration is open now for the Be a Bestseller 4.0 Interview Series. Any questions, let me know!
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
Be a Bestseller 4.0: Writer Your Novel with Confidence is a free online interview series running January 16-27 with 20+ talks about the craft and business of writing.
For the entire month of February, StoryStudio Chicago is offering Pub Crawl: An Online Publishing Intensive featuring panels and classes every weeknight that you can watch live or later. And at the end the month are optional pitch sessions. The whole thing is $265, minus the pitches, and there are scholarships available.
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.
For a special issue, The Rambling is inviting essays (1500-2000 words) that document & reflect on your experiences re-reading a favorite or formative book from your youth. Deadline February 3, 2023. Send submissions to theramblingonline@gmail.com.
The Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize is now open — deadline February 8, 2023. The Prize is for a novel by a woman over the age of 18 that marries literary merit with unputdownability.
Live in the DC area? Come join me at The Writer’s Center for an in-person workshop class on writing mystery/thriller/suspense/horror. Each week we will look at how to dial up suspense using an element of craft. Plus in-class writing exercises and opportunities to workshop your pages. 5 Saturdays: February 4 - March 4; 10am-noon.
Hoping to write more in the new year? Or finally start that novel? Learn more about my email courses for paid subscribers: Cultivating a Regular Writing Routine and Getting Started on Your Novel.
For KidLit Writers:
Upcoming Kidlit Workshops (online and in-person) from The Highlights Foundation. Everything from Picture Books to YA!
I recently found this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
The Ultimate Craft & Business of Writing, Illustrating, & Publishing Children’s Picture Books is an excellent, interactive online course from the Children’s Book Academy that will run from Jan 9 - Feb 13, 2023.
The Voyage YA Best Chapters Contest is now open — deadline January 15, 2023. First place wins $1,000, publication in Voyage, and a consult with an agent. Fifteen other winners receive agent feedback on five pages.
From now until December 31, WriteOnCon’s Critique Boutique gives you chance to buy critiques on your manuscript pages or submission materials from industry professionals, including agents, editors, and traditionally published authors. You do not need to have attended WriteOnCon to buy a critique, and the prices are very reasonable (starting at only $29). Open to all genres of kidlit, from PB to YA.
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will hold their annual conference in person in New York City February 10-12. They will also have a virtual conference on February 25.
For Querying Writers:
All registered AWP conference attendees, both in-person and virtual, are eligible to submit a sample of their work to the 2023 Writer to Agent program to be reviewed by over twenty agents at five excellent literary agencies. If an agent is interested, they will contact you to set up a meeting during #AWP23. The deadline to submit your query letter and writing sample is Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Check out my guest post on Jane Freidman’s blog: What I Learned from 90 Queries: How I Changed My Query Letter and Opening Pages to Get More Full Requests.
Check out my video: How to Find the Right Literary Agent
What Your Query Rejections Are Telling You: The 4 Types of Rejections and What They Mean.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
If you have the bandwidth for it, check out this insanely comprehensive spreadsheet of successful queries. Learn the details and read the actual query letters for books that got agent representation.
I don’t know what’s going on with Twitter these days, but it’s still functioning. 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.
Jan 25, 2023: #IWSGpit for all ages and genres
Jan 26, 2023: #KidLitPit for Picture Books through Young Adult
Feb 16 #PBPitch for Picture Books
Savvy Authors will sponsor their annual Sweetheart Pitchfest Feb. 15-17. This free event is for writers of all genres with a completed manuscript who are looking for an agent or editor. Register for free to learn more.
Writing Conferences
The Murphy Writing Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway will be January 13-16 at the historic Seaview Hotel near Atlantic City, NJ.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences continue to be held virtually...for now. 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 Zoom pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences (and remember, anyone can attend from anywhere; just keep the time zone in mind).
AWP Conference (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) will be held in March 8-11, 2023 in Seattle.
All registered AWP conference attendees, both in-person and virtual, are eligible to submit a sample of their work to the 2023 Writer to Agent programto be reviewed by over twenty agents at five excellent literary agencies. If an agent is interested, they will contact you to set up a meeting during #AWP23. The deadline to submit your query letter and writing sample is Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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.
Students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities who are interested in writing can apply for the AWP HBCU Fellowship Program and meet award-winning author A.J. Verdelle at #AWP23. Applications deadline: January 15.
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will hold their annual conference in person in New York City February 10-12. They will also have a virtual conference on February 25.
The San Miguel Writer’s Conference and Literary Festival will be held Feb. 13-17 in beautiful San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. San Miguel is such a cool, artsy city, and no need to speak Spanish (though it certainly helps).
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 Jan. 1, 2023, through Mar. 31, 2023.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.