Write2Ignite

Write2Ignite! 2016 is less than four weeks away! Do you feel the excitement building as I do? Are you ready?

What do you need to do so you can get the greatest benefit from attending Write2Ignite! 2016? What should you put on your timeline for getting ready?

Much depends on what you hope to get out of the conference, but the first step is to register. The earlier you make up your mind to go and get your registration sent in, the more focused you will be with making preparations for the conference.

Are you planning to take advantage of the critique service? If so, you need to polish your manuscript, format it according to the directions on the web page, make your payment, and email it so the person doing the critique will have plenty of time to read it and to write his/her critique for you. The final deadline for this service is March 20.

Are you planning to take advantage of the opportunity to have a professional photo made? If so, you need to contact our photographer Sharon Brisken at sabrisken@mac.com or call her at 865-497-9702  before March 25, 2016, to set up your appointment.

Will you need a scholarship to attend? If so, the deadline to apply is March 15. There are only a few available this year, so don’t delay in applying.

OK, so those are the hard and fast dates that need to go on your calendar. A downloadable calendar for W2I! 2016 is available at this link for your convenience.

Now, to kick into my ADHD rescue mode for getting ready for the conference – it’s time to start making lists. Here are some categories and activities you might find helpful for making your lists. There are several very useful links within the outline below. Don’t miss them.

• Manuscripts
  • Polish your manuscripts and print them out in submission form.
  • Send for critique by March 20 if you plan to use this service.
  • Put together a portfolio of your best work.
  • Create a “One Sheet” for each of your manuscripts.
  • Prepare a Book Proposal for any manuscript for longer books.
  • Practice Elevator Speeches for your best manuscripts.
• Personal
  • Do you need to schedule an appointment for a haircut or manicure?
  • Make decisions early about what clothing you want to take.
• Editor & agent analysis
  • Study the W2I! 2016 website to know who will be attending the conference.
  • Go to these editors’ and agents’ websites and learn as much as you can about them. What kinds of writing are they looking for? Is your manuscript a realistic fit for them? Don’t waste your time and theirs with an appointment if your writing is in the wrong genre or age group for their publishing needs. Be selective.
• Workshop schedule
  • Study the workshop schedule for adults and/or the workshop schedule for teens in advance and make a note of the sessions you are most interested in. This keep you from missing sessions and allows you to use the breaks between sessions to network with other writers. You don’t want your nose in the schedule when opportunities come knocking!

I hope this information is useful as you prepare for Write2Ignite! 2016. Check back next Monday for more helpful tips. If you have any questions about getting ready for the conference, please post them in the comments below. I will reply to your questions and/or address them more fully in another post.