But wow. What a great conference. One of my personal highlights was moderating a fiction panel with Benjamin LeRoy, Publisher of Tyrus Books, Millicent Bennett, Senior Editor at Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster; and novelist and writing coach Holly Payne. It was a great conversation that covered ways to go about submitting work to editors and how to create successful submissions, but soon evolved to general discussion about the importance of the craft of writing. It was so refreshing in the age of author platforms and social media to hear editors put the emphasis on good writing. Bottom line: marketing yourself is important, but make sure your writing is ready for that… be a good writer first, then look to become an author.

I spent the rest of the weekend meeting with authors and dipping in and out of some really great sessions including one by A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically. Jacobs gave some great advice in a talk titled “Writing About Yourself in the Digital Age,” and anyone interested in writing memoir or personal fiction could benefit from his ideas. Some of his words of advice:

• People are inherently interesting, provide insightful details to turn them into characters
• Be expansive… write about the world as you write about yourself
• Know what details to emphasize and what to leave out to get to the real story

I also always enjoy listening to literary agent Donald Maass speak. Maass shared his views on trends in fiction and how the lines between literary fiction and genres are becoming blurred. Maass’s message is that the most successful writing will “marry great storytelling and beautiful writing.” Expect more from Maass about this in his forthcoming book with WD, Writing 21st Century Fiction.

I spent the rest of my time dipping in and out of some really great sessions and panels and meeting with authors that I’ve worked with. I was also excited to see some familiar faces and catch up with attendees who’ve come to past events, including folks who I’ve had one on one critique meetings with. The conference had a great atmosphere of support and understanding – afterall, we’re all hoping for the same thing: to get published and find success with our writing.

In this same spirit of communication between writers I’m excited about a new e-book I edited that is now available for Kindle. It’s titled Straight Talk on Writing: 18 Conversations With Authors about the Craft. It features interviews with some really great writers including Orson Scott Card, George Singleton, Dinty W Moore, and others. Check it out if you get a chance and if you happen to be at the writer’s conference make sure to say hi (I’m moderating a fiction writing panel on Saturday morning).

Which brings me to the theme of my post: Momentum. I’ve been thinking alot about this concept (which started because the theme of the year at the school where I study martial arts is “momentum” and I’ve found it applying to my writing life as well). Basically, the thought is this: once you get going things will come to you easier. It’s not a radical concept. Just a simple universal truth.

Often I find that when I’m working productively I’ll find new and better ways to finish a project, or I’ll find myself feeling creative and think of other good ideas. I meet deadlines sooner than expected and find myself with more spare time than I thought I had. On the flip side, when I get derailed on a project it is easy to slip into a rut and can be hard to crawl back out. I’m sure you’ve all experienced something similar.

That’s why so many people start the new year with resolutions. It’s a way to gain momentum and – to use a well worn cliche – “start off on the right foot.” My advice to writers is to look to your writing projects and goals for the year and develop a plan. Where you want to be within a month, 3 months, mid-year, and so forth. However you like to work, just make sure you are constantly moving forward.

My own goals involve a book project, blogging more often (as I mentioned), and learning as much as I can about e-book technology and new opportunities in the publishing industry.

I’m starting off this year at the Writer’s Digest Conference Jan 20-22 in NY. There are lots of great speakers, informative panels (I’m moderating a fiction panel there myself), and a pitch slam where you can meet with literary agents. I’m looking forward to the conference not just as an industry professional, but as a writer. I think a conference like this is a great way to dive into the writing year. Learn how to register for the conference here

Maybe I’ll see you there. No matter what your writing path, I wish you the best for the year and encourage you to get started now, gain momentum, and keep it up. Good luck.

In an excerpt from her book 45 Master Characters, archetype expert Victoria Schmidt explains how using archetypes can help you develop characters whose actions seem true to life and spring forth from the page.

Read the excerpt here

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In an exercise taken from his book The Writer’s Idea Book, author Jack Heffron helps guide you through the process of capturing ideas by writing down everything that happens during a single day. Try this fun exercise to hone your awareness and find ideas for your writing in the world around you.

Read the free excerpt here

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In this helpful article, Christina Katz, author of The Writer’s Workout helps you cultivate clarity in your writing.

Read the article here

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When: January 20th – 22nd
Where: Sheraton NYC
Learn more: www.writersdigestconference.com 

Overview: The WDC includes three tracks of education, focusing on the craft of writing, the business of getting published, and the digital future of publishing. You can go to the website and look under “sessions” for specific details. 

A few highlights: 

• We’ll be hosting another Pitch Slam with 60 agents. The pitch slam will take place over three hours in three different rooms. 
• There is a Saturday-only option available for those who can’t attend the full conference.
• Attendees will learn trade secrets, craft techniques, and strategies for getting published with more than 24 sessions and 30 expert speakers.

Keynotes include:

• Friday: A.J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically will talk about how to make a living as a writer, writing about…yourself!
• Saturday: Barry Eisler, bestselling author of the John Rain series of thrillers will talk about the current state of publishing, how traditional and non-traditional models are changing, and what you should do to prepare yourself for the changes to come.
•  Sunday: Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month and author of No Plot? No Problem! will talk about what drives us to write and how to turn that passion into a lifestyle. 

Don’t miss out. Sign up today!

Writing the Paranormal Novel

Writing the Paranormal Novel e-book

2012 Vampire Calendar