Friday September 25 before noon came and it was time to go to the Writer’s Conference in Irvine at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I was ready with my Acer net book, my notebook, pens, and of course my journal in case I capture a thought or an idea for a new story. Mixed with emotions I sat in the car while my husband drove me, wringing my hands from the nervousness that I felt the most. My husband kept on talking to me, reassuring me that everything will be fine, that I will be fine, and that I will have a great time. Even with hearing my husband’s voice, I was still dealing with my fears and nervousness because I am actually a very shy person off the computer.

I stepped out of the car, grabbing up my things and quickly kissing my husband good bye before I made my way into the hotel. I climbed up the stairs to the second floor, signed in, placed my name tag on and sat down, clutching my case that holds my net book up tightly against my chest as I watched more people begin to show up. I had just met one person, the lady who signed me in, Jill, and briefly met her husband, Jeff, or so I had thought it was going to be a brief encounter.

Jeff watched me cling to my net book case nervously, my eyes watching those walking around and talking to one another. Sensing that I am new to these conferences, he sat down in the chair beside mine and reintroduced himself. I told him my name and said yes that this is my first writer’s conference. He smiled and told me that it’s okay to be nervous and took out the schedule we are given. He unfolded his and asked me if I had any idea where I would be going for the workshops. I glance down at my schedule, shaking my head and looking back at him, obviously hoping for help.

At this time, another man stepped up to say hi to Jeff, both shaking hands. Jeff introduced me and the man, Christopher joined in our conversation. Noting that it was getting more crowded where we were sitting we moved farther into the back of the hotel where the workshops were going to be held and we sat down on two couches to talk about the workshops. They helped me out a lot, suggesting which workshops would help me out the most and of course they kept reassuring me that everything will be fine and that I will be fine.

Jeff and Christopher took me under their wings as the saying goes and helped me out a lot on Friday as well as throughout the weekend. They introduced me to other people before the workshops were to begin and I actually went to lunch with a few women which made me happy.  Indy. Janet, and Eli were really nice and sweet and asked me to join them so I couldn't turn them down and went to lunch with them downstairs in the cafe that the hotel has.  Food was okay but the best part was that I wasn't alone.  After lunch we parted ways to get to go to our workshops, Eli and I both going to the same one.

            The first workshop I went to was called ‘The Narrative Hook’ and it was being taught by an author and freelance editor by the name of Mike Sirota.  Christopher and Eli were in the same workshop with me so I didn’t feel as scared knowing that I had new friends in that workshop.  Mike was really nice and a great speaker about the Narrative hook and how it can really help our writing become better.

          He explained to us how the narrative hook doesn’t have to be some witty one liner, but can be a fun paragraph that draws the reader into your book.  He told us not to be too narrative in the beginning because then we will lose our audience quickly but if we played the hook right we would get a vast number of people wishing to read and continue reading our book and future books.  He said a great narrative hook will have a lot of elements playing in the sentence like who, what, where, and when.  He said leave the why until later on in the book to keep the reader guessing as well as interested.

          He told us that sadly a hook with striking language, such as that written in John Steinbeck’s book ‘Of Mice and Men’, does not sell as well as it use to be.  To put very flowery and beautiful language in the beginning doesn’t work but even though he said this, I still will because I still have faith that it will sell.  I am not very flowery but I do like to put some ‘striking language’ in the beginning of my stories.  He also told us about the literary hook, the hook that has the elements who, what, where, and when, or the hook that is straight to the point.

          He said that if it isn’t needed then to keep a prologue out of your writing, but if it is needed like it takes place years, months, or weeks before what happens in your story, then a prologue is a good idea.  But he said that the prologue should be short, like 5-6 pages.  Sadly, I know that one of my prologues are long but I intend to keep it because it is needed for my story.  But if I ever do have other prologues, will keep this rule in mind and make it a short.

          Four words he told us to always remember and to think about when we write, especially when working with agents and editors who want you to revise and rewrite and revise your story more is “I can do that!”  He said not to get discouraged if this happens, to keep your head up and to do what is necessary in order to get your book perfect and published!

          I really enjoyed this workshop and came away with a lot of great notes and thoughts because of Mike.  I am really glad that I listened to Christopher and Jeff about going to this workshop and was ready for the next one, again taking their advice.

            The next workshop I went to was Narrative Triage: Applying Emotional Logic.  Lynn Vanucci, an author, editor and founder of Beat the Book, was the speaker for this workshop and I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say about this.  She talked about FIRE: Foreshadowing, Imagery, Reliability, and Empathy: Four elements that will make our story more fun and interesting for our readers.

          Foreshadowing: Giving your reader clues on what is going to happen-setting the stage and giving the reader a comfort zone.

          Imagery:  Setting the physical stage i.e. house, meadow, car, etc.  This is the logic behind the setting by describing the logic or setting with words, painting a picture with words.

          Reliability:  Making sure that you are constant with your characters. KNOW your characters well as you breathe them into life for your story and so that they don’t really do anything out of the ordinary.

          Empathy:  Don’t forget the other people in the story.  Things don’t happen in isolation unless you wish it.  But make sure that you make other characters in your story to make it more interesting and flow better.

          These elements will make your story better but she says to be careful that you don’t lose your story while you are putting these elements in or you will indeed lose your readers.  She says the best thing you can do is write your story and then go back to add the other elements; to write and do what feels right to you as the writer and then revise your work, adding any elements you feel that it is lacking.

          She told us that a great exercise to help you create strong characters is to go outside, sit in a park or at the mall and jut people watch.  Watch how people, walk, talk, and take notes in case you wish to use those mannerisms with your characters.  And when you reread your story, visualize your reader; figure out who you are targeting with your story so that you can add the right kind of characters and elements to make your story wanted by all.

          Before the workshop was over she had a few of us read the first two paragraphs of our stories.  I took a chance and did this, reading 2 paragraphs from my mystery/detective story that I am working on and she gave me good pointed about what to change to make is flow an d be stronger.  I was glad that she and the others present in the workshop liked what I had read.

          Another fun and great workshop that I am glad I went to and I hope to keep in contact with Lynn.  She was really nice and we chatted a bit later on in the conference.

After the workshop were done for the day, there was a book launch, where a group brings in books from authors that were present in the conference as well as authors that are more well known, i.e. Stephen King. They also had a lot of great books that were on writing and making your writing better. But I didn’t buy any of those books. I did buy two books though, two that sounded interesting, and one Jeff recommended to me.

“Tacked to Death” by Michelle Scott- A Horse Lover’s Mystery

“The Small Dark Room of the Souls and Other Stories” By Matthew J. Pallamary.

I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Michelle but I did get to meet and chat with Matthew and am totally excited about reading his book. And I even got him to sign it and he wrote a little note in there for me; one that he likes to write in this book I heard from another friend, Indy. Matthew was totally sweet and one of the first people that Jeff introduced me to, and I am truly grateful he did. I will definitely be keeping in contact with Matthew because he is a very interesting, sweet and nice guy and he also asked me to check out his website and he was the one who told me to keep in contact. Now how sweet was that?

Along with the book launch, down in the bar, was a No-Host Mixer. I was of course scared and went and sat alone in the lounge area texting my husband telling him that I wanted to come home but he suggested that I stay there so I did; totally glad that I listened to him because I met more great people.

Jeff saw me first before he went in but I told him that I wanted to relax a bit alone. Then as I was walking around to figure out where to go for dinner, Christopher pointed to the table where they were sitting at and told me to go sit down over there. So I did and talked to Jeff and said hello to Jill again, and met more great people, Barbara, a writer, and Laura Taylor, a freelance editor and author. Laura is the editor for Jeff and Christopher and called herself the mother of all writers. We laughed and she hugged me a bit telling me that I should bring in something for the Rogue Workshops, but I said that since I’m not staying at the hotel I couldn’t do that but would definitely try and sit in on her Read and Critique on Saturday. She also told me to keep in touch and that is what I intend to do. She is really a great and nice person. Barbara and I chatted on and off but duh I didn’t get her information like I should have.

Two other great guys I hit it off with at the no host mixer was Monte Schulz, and sadly can’t remember the other guy’s name. We moved into the café since there wasn’t much room in the bar for us to eat and I sat with Matthew, Monte and the other writer and we all talked. Monte was telling us about a new book that will be coming out next year; a True Crime mixed with a bit of Fiction rolled into it to lead up to the true crime part. The other guy is also a true crime writer and was in the process of writing his own true crime. I am not into true crimes but I am sure I’ll be buying Monte’s book because the way he described it, the book sounds really fascinating and fun to read.

And for those who were like me and didn’t put two and two together, yes this is Monte Schulz, Charles Schulz’ son, the creator of Peanuts. I didn’t put two and two together until he spoke later on and said who he was at the Welcome/introduction part of the conference. But once again duh I didn’t get his information so I could keep in contact with him. He is a great guy and I truthfully felt at ease talking to him, way before I knew who his father was. But I am hoping that someone else did get his information so I can keep in contact with him.

At the introduction part of the conference, Michael and Wes, the ones who sponsor these conference and are two great guys, told us of a competition that would end at 9am Sunday. I did it, didn’t win, but I still did it and am proud of my work so I will be posting it in a hub.

After he spoke, I called up my husband, he picked me up, and I went home for the night.

 Here is the website in case you want to look at it yourself.  There is another conference coming up in February in SD, but sadly money wise I won't be able to go.

http://www.writersconference.com/la/lamain.html