After I started my City/Country blog, I attend my first writers’ conference. Yeah, about that…
The conference officials instructed attendees to bring several copies of their completed manuscripts (MS) which was so wrong. Why? Agents and editors don’t want to carry heavy paper any more than you do.
But as a dutiful first-timer, I brought five copies of my devotional book MS. Yes, it super-sized my suitcase choice making it heavier and harder to maneuver. This conference was at a wilderness-type retreat center. I’ll mention no names. The sponsoring organization no longer exists.
Then some folks made fun of those who actually brought hard copies of their entire MS. Confused? You bet.
I was so nervous, I couldn’t sleep. I mean still awake at 3:00 a.m. nervous.
I brought business cards printed from my computer. Everyone else seemed to have slick professional cards. Something was off and it was me!
In the mad dash to sign-up for appointments with agents and editors, I managed to snag the ones that looked promising for devotional books. I shot to the top of the world!
But when I officially pitched for the very first time, the editor was…well, I was crushed. Not nice and even said, “I don’t know why I’m saying this to you.” I said something like, “No, I need to hear.” What?!? What I needed to hear was something even remotely encouraging. Just saying.
Wait, all was not lost.
When I chatted with an agent after a session he taught he asked for proposals on three different projects I was thinking about. Only later would I realize how huge that was!
More about appointments and proposals next time!
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