Women Who Write, Inc.
Since 1988
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION and Light Breakfast: 9:00 - 9:45 am
WELCOME: 9:45 am
MORNING KEYNOTE: 10:00 - 10:50 am
"Applying Best Practices in Branding to Your Writing Career"
Carol Van Den Hende, WWW Member, Marketing Expert. In this insightful session, you'll discover what branding means, how it differs from the visual manifestation of a brand, and why this is important for authors. You'll also learn how to use archetypes to guide your branding decisions, devise a brand compass to articulate your brand, and understand the importance of consistency in visual branding.
SESSION A: 11:00 - 11:50 am
Tips on Preparing and Writing Successful Queries - An Agent's Insights on How to Be Successful - Eric Ruben, President, The Ruben Agency
The Do’s and Don’ts of a First Page - Alexa Pastor, Assistant Editor at Simon and Schuster
Madison, the Rose City. . . in Poetry - Dr. Ann DeVenezia, poet, educator and author. Ann will read from her award-winning book Grave Rubbings: New and Selected Poems, taking participants on a journey along the paths of Madison's landscape and history. She will demonstrate methods, such as using photographs and memories, to inspire poetry. Prompts will be provided.
QUICK LINKS
NON-MEMBERS Online Registration >
SESSION B: 12:00 - 12:50 am
Plotting Your Fiction/Non-fiction Work - How to Craft Stories That Successfully Build Suspense, Reveal Character, and Engage Readers - Elizabeth Barrett, freelance editor since 2003 and past editor for major publishing companies in New York from 1981-1998.
How to Pitch Your Picture Book – Amy Stern, agent, Sheldon Fogelman Agency
Yes, You Can . . . Write Poetry - Dr. Ann DeVenezia – Given the desire and direction, we can all write poetry, finding and releasing our innermost ideas and emotions. During this session, Ann will read from her collection Riding My Tricycle: Poetry of Dreams and Visions. Participants will explore their own dreams and memories.
LUNCH: 12:50 am - 2:10 pm (on your own - explore lovely downtown Madison)
SESSION C: 2:10 - 3:00 pm
First Pages – Children’s (PB, MG, YA) – Alexa Pastor & Amy Stern
First Pages -- Prose and YA – Eric Ruben & Elizabeth Barrett
Self-Published Authors’ Panel Discussion – Women Who Write members Maria Dewaik, Dr. Sarah Ducksworth, Anne Frommer, Dr. Deborah Gerrish,
Marcia Ivans, and Dr. Alice Lazzarini.
How Yoga Can Help You Accomplish Your Creative Goals - Christy Naida Linson, owner of Prana Yoga Center. Christy is an E-RYT 500 Yoga Instructor and a licensed massage therapist as well as a lifetime journaler. In this workshop, you will learn some yoga techniques that will help you rein your creativity, energy back in and keep you off of the mental hamster wheel.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: 3:10 - 4:00 pm
Speaking of Writing – Ronnie Hammer, WWW member; co-owner of Power Presentations for 22 years which taught executives the techniques of writing and delivering effective speeches
CLOSING REMARKS, Prizes, and Cake: 4:00 - 4:20 pm
* FIRST PAGE SESSIONS
If you signed up for either selection of First Pages in Session C you need to do the following:
Bring four copies of a first page of a single manuscript with you. It has to be the very first page of your work, not a first page of a later chapter. Do not put your name on the paper, but do include a title and indicate the genre (picture book, chapter book, middle grade, young adult, non-fiction). Your manuscript must fit on a single sheet of paper (begin at the top of the page). If you submit a second page, only the first page will be read.
Use standard manuscript formatting—double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman or Courier font, one-inch margins all around, half-inch indents for each new paragraph, single column of text. You may include up to the first 23 printed lines (not sentences!) of text from your manuscript
All the first pages will be read aloud by a volunteer reader and two editors/agents will give their critiques.