San Francisco Writers Conference, Writing Tips

Truly the best writers' conference I've ever attended. There were dozens of interesting workshops and not one clunker in the lot. Good food, good conversation, a nice bookstore set up in the hotel and the chance to meet and talk to editors.

I learned so much and have so much interesting information for writers that I am going to post a series of writing tips over the next few weeks.

San Francisco Writers Conference

A dozen editors, two dozen plus agents, a dizzying array of workshops, an opportunity to read one's work, displays and books stores and a special coffee house, the wonderfully named Cafe Ferlinghetti. My head is spinning trying to make decisions. Should I read a bit of my novel and if so which bit? Which editors should I target for a pitch of said novels? I have many days to decide.

I intend to pick up workshops on marketing and publicity but I am most interested in hearing about literary and historical fiction.

Co-founded by agents Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen, the conference, now in its seventh season, has been a magnet for writers and would-be writers to meet, learn and find the motivation to keep going.

So the invocation is most fitting to the purpose.

The Muse is my shepherd,
I shall not want for words.
She makes me lie down with greenbacks that flow from big contracts;
She restores my self-esteem.
She leads me in paths of rhyme and right phrasing
For her arts’ sake.

Yea, even though I stumble over stones of shame and self-contempt,
I fear no writers’ blocks.
For Thou are with me;
Thy words and phrases, they comfort me.

Surely verbs and verses shall follow me all the days of my life
And my books will be bestsellers forever.

Yeah to Chapters and other Book Stuff

Big round of applause to Chapters who are featuring local writers this month. Not only a bulletin board at the entrance advertising local writers but a display of the books on the wall straight back.

A few locals are missing. Nothing from Charles Wilkins or the latest from Jacqueline D'Acre however. It would have been nice to include The Incredible Journey but hey! publicity for local writers is welcome. Thanks Chapters.

I am leaving for the San Francisco Writers Conference on Wednesday and so decided to buy a book for the trip. Why not a local writer? So I chose The Space Between by J.P. Rodriguez, a novel recommended to me by avid reader Alan Wade. That book, along with the latest issue of Prairie Fire, should hold me for a week.

The San Francisco Writers Conference, one of the biggest writers conferences in North America, is an annual event. For years I have wanted to attend. More about the conference is future posts.