Editing and a Conference plug

It's a week before Christmas. Perfect time to go through the final edits for my next book...right? Okay, I admit. I freaked. The whole book the week before Christmas? Really???

After I got over it I went to work. And then I figured out how to make things flow better in the places that were still bumpy. Pretty soon I fell in love with the story all over again.

For a while I was in the I-am-so-sick-of-this-story mode that I never wanted to read it again. I imagined sitting at a book signing and telling people that they might be wasting their money on this one.

But since I was forced to thoroughly go through the whole thing again after not looking at it for four months, I can honestly say that I like this story. You'll like this story. It's a ride with funny quirks and lots of twists.

April. You'll get to read it in April. Mark it on your calendars...

Speaking of calendars- it's time to register for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference

There will be an epic critique forum called Bootcamp where you will have the chance to bring the first 15 pages of your manuscript to have an extreme makeover. This Bootcamp is sometimes considered the best part of the entire conference. You can't go and not come away with fresh perspective in writing. It's amazing. Bootcamp is May 5.

The conference runs May 6-7. You can register for one day (either Friday or Saturday) or both. And, thanks to the hard work of my co-chair for agents and editors, we have a stellar list of guests.

Becca Stumpf- an agent from Prospect Agency
Marcia Markland- Senior Editor with Thomas Dunn Books (St. Martin's Press)
Sara Crowe- an agent with Harvey Klinger, inc
Sara Megibow- an agent at Nelson Literary Agency

And tons of talented presenters....

Traci Abramson Liz Adair Stacy Anderson Bron Bahlman Shirley Bahlman Michelle Ashman Bell Laura Bingham Deanne Blackhurst Rachelle Christensen Frank Cole Bob Conder Kristyn Crow James Dashner Josi Kilpack Julie Wright

Sarah Eden Angela Eschler Terri Ferran Karen Hoover Melanie Jacobson Marion Jensen Clint Johnson Elana Johnson Eric Johnson Peri Kinder Laurie Lewis Gregg Luke Annette Lyon Lisa Mangum Heather Moore Rachel Nunes

Josh Perky Tristi Pinkston Sheralyn Pratt Janette Rallison Brandon Sanderson Jeff Savage Kirk Shaw Lu Ann Staheli Jane Still Howard Tayler G.G. Vandagriff Dan Wells Robison Wells Tyler Whitesides Becca Wilhite Dave Wolverton

Need I say more?

Go. Register. You won't regret it.

Last year I missed out on the pitch sessions, but sent my query letter to one of the agents after the conference. Not only did she ask for my entire manuscript, but I ended up having to choose between her and another agent. It was hard. Really hard. I wish I could have said yes to both.

My point is, even if you don't get to do a pitch session at the conference, it doesn't mean you won't have a personal career changing experience as a result of attending.

I know I did.

I still keep in touch with the new friends I met there. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to connect with so many other writers. This conference had over 400 attendees last year. This year even more are expected. They are thinking big- are you?

If there is even a remote possibility that you could attend, you should seriously consider it. I know I had my doubts before I went the first time, but now that I've been, I can tell you that it is a superior conference.

Alright... back to edits for me...