After a nice lazy drive through farmland dotted with barns and silos, we arrived in Madison, Wisconsin last Thursday afternoon. Len helped me settled into my room at the Lowell Center (in the 1960’s it was a private women’s dormitory), and made sure that I could log into the Internet with their wireless service—perfect!
Once situated, we walked State Street, window shopping and looking for lunch. I’m fairly confident that every ethnicity of food on the globe is represented in the hustle-and-bustle of this college-town street. We strolled past the capitol building and had a delicious lunch at The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company.
After our feast, we waddled back to check out the Pyle Center where the annual Writers’ Institute is held. As Len headed back to Crystal Lake, I geared up for the first event: “Pitching Practice” at 5:30pm. Pitching is a one-on-one, 8-minute opportunity with a literary agent to sell them on your manuscript.
Between this post and the next (on Thursday), you’ll read some of the practical things I learned at the 22nd Annual Writers’ Institute at UW-Madison. Please note, this is just from the presenters that I saw—there were many more:
“Be yourself. Just tell your story.”
– Laurie Scheer, is the Writers’ Institute director. She’s also the author of Creative Careers in Hollywood. Her DVD, How to Pitch and Sell Your Screenplay, is a perennial bestseller.
“People pay money to read about trouble and how to get out of it.”
– Christine DeSmet teaches fiction and screenwriting for UW-Madison Continuing Studies. She’s an award-winning novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter who has optioned to New Line Cinema and others. She’s also written stage plays. At UW-Madison Continuing Studies, Christine also mentors and critiques writers throughout the year—myself included—helping them polish their material for agents and publication.
“Voice is the manner in which you choose to tell your story. It has a particular cadence and tone. Like a thumbprint, most of us have a unique signature to our own voice. It’s what makes you unique as a writer.”
– Josie Brown is the author of four fiction and one non-fiction book. Her next novel will be released in September of this year.
Josie shared, the five elements of “voice” are:
Tone – the tone you set with characters, dialog, and how you describe a scene
Phrasing – wordy vs. spare, and choosing the “right” words
Dialogue – how you put words in your character’s mouths
Where you START your scene remember, “I am camera.” Paint images of what the camera sees, don’t write explanations.
Point of View – Who is seeing, feeling, talking? The main character or supporting character?
“If you’re going to write, don’t be afraid to upset your readers (even your mother).”
“Do the Dreaded thing first! Just get it over with and move on.”
– Kelly James-Enger has authored, co-authored, and ghostwritten twelve books. As a freelance journalist, she’s published more than 700 articles in over fifty national magazines.
“Whether you Indie publish (independent, self-publish), or legacy publish (traditional publishing) a published book is just the beginning. Now the real work begins.”
– Judy Molland is an award-winning teacher and writer. She’s the contributing education editor for Dominion Parenting Media—the largest syndicate of parenting magazines in the U.S.
Paul S. Levine is an attorney and a literary agent. In the event I get his statements wrong, I’m not going to print his wonderful advice here. Suffice it to say that he provided a tremendous amount of terrific information on advances, royalties, and the actual contract (the exact wording of what should and should not be in it). He also talked about subsidiary rights—current and future—and film, audio, and foreign rights.
By this time my hand was aching from taking so many notes. My handwriting looks like a drunk chicken wrote it, but as you can see in the last photograph of the slideshow, it’s a good idea to hire a lawyer—one who knows publishing—because “Lawyers get paid to anticipate the best and worst that can happen now and in perpetuity—forever!”
I’ll end this post with one of my favorite quotes from Natalie Goldberg’s bestselling book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within:
“Don’t identify too strongly with your work. Stay fluid behind those black-and-white words. They are not you. They were a great moment going through you. A moment you were awake enough to write down and capture.”
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
© 2011 Laurie Buchanan – All Rights Reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Laurie, I knew you would provide an opportunity to slide in the side door of the conference! Excellent read and glad you took us along.
Terrill – I’m so glad you enjoyed it. My next post (part 2) will be from Coronado Island–right across the Coronado Bridge from San Diego.
Laurie,
Great! So glad you have taken all of this in, if I ever decide to write I know where to start!
Great stuff.
Jeff
Jeff – What do you mean, “If I ever decide to write…” You do a brilliant job of it now over the Reluctant Blogger.
Oh I feel like this would have been a great conference to have been at! You are only expanding your tool belt to help yourself and others! Love it Laurie!
Catie – I’m glad you popped in this morning. Thank you for leaving a sun-filled comment 🙂
Thank you Laurie for a trip to Madison! We used to live in Indy, so have stayed there en route a few times, but never long enough to get to know the city like you did. And what great information you shared (drunk chicken, too funny!) for anyone wanting to write. Natalie Goldberg … well, she is a hero and a gifted soul … reading her books is like taking a walk in the country with your best friend. Pure gold. Have a lovely week and thanks again for this post; your enthusiasm is contagious! –Daisy
Daisy – I’m so glad you joined me on this virtual journey 🙂
Laurie, I trust your writing retreat was all you had hoped for. Your photos brought back splendid memories of my writing retreats at UW. As you continue your writing journey, I wish you the best of luck and an abundance of creative ideas!
Sheila – I know how much your value this wonderful writer’s conference, and many others. And CONGRATULATIONS on ANOTHER book being accepted for PUBLICATION. You are my hero!
Thank you so much for taking me to this conference. I enjoyed myself so much I want to go again next year (or sometime in the future)–this time in person. My only question is can I afford it? I lied I have another is it always in the same location?
Happy writing
Leanne – Yes, it’s always in the same location, UW-Madison. Mark your calendar now because the 23rd Writers’ Institute is scheduled for April 12-15 2012. I hope to see you there!
Well, Laurie, it’s amazing what you can find when you look. I logged on to the website and signed up to be kept informed.The general information page is so helpful. Fingers crossed that I’ll be able to attend at least one writers’ conference in the States next year. : )
Leanne – I’m so glad you checked it out. You’re right, they have a great, comprehensive website. They also have lots of wonderful online writing courses.
Sounds like you had a refreshing and invigorating experience at the conference and your notes are full of helpful ideas and reminders. Thanks for taking us along, Laurie!
Barbara – I’m glad you came along. The more the merrier 🙂
Barbara – The pleasure was all mine. Tomorrow’s post will wrap up with part 2. Stay tuned…
Fun trip Laurie, I love the video log. . .and your room is fabulous. Sounds like quite a conference!!!
Alison – This was my third year. It just keeps getting better and better 🙂
Hi, Laurie — thanks for sharing your class with us. I have no problem learning vicariously! I am terribly jealous and need to find my own writer’s conference getaway sometime in the next year.
Barbara – There’s got to be an amazing writer’s conference in your neck of the woods.
Thanks Laurie
A very informative precise – exactly what I was hoping for.
Arohanui
Ted
Ted – I’m glad you enjoyed it, I had fun writing it. I’ll post one more blog about it (part 2) on Thursday so please stay tuned 🙂
wow, what wonderful reporting and I loved the quotes and slide show…how lucky are we to experience your experience even if sideways as Terrill says!
Thank you so much for sharing
Patricia – I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
Readers – I just created a “fan” page for HolEssence on Facebook. I’d love you to “like” it. Here’s a LINK.
Typically, I’m late to the conference! But seeing what is being offered I’m far more concerned that I have availed myself of the riches you have shared. Ms. De Smet for one seems like quite a talented and accomplished participant. Geez, another terrific slide show! That’s a nice room too for you to get your thoughts down on paper and just unwind. Have a great time my friend!
Sam – Whenever you arrive is always the perfect time. I’m so glad you popped in, thank you! Christine DeSmet is amazing! She’s one of my heroes.
Holy smokes another great trip with lots of new ideas to fill your head Laurie! I’m so glad you’ve gotten to attend so many years now and are still learning each time!!!
Beth – It did, indeed, fill my head with lots of new ideas!
Thanks for taking the notes and sharing with us Laurie.
Ann – The pleasure’s all mine 🙂
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No wonder you get so excited this time of year! “The Conference is coming! The Conference is coming!” You say it in the same fashion that we use when saying, ” We’re going to the Beach! We’re going to the Beach!” I know you go there to work, but it sounds very much as if you were having FUN! And isn’t that a grand thing? Lovely photos, now I’ve seen someplace I’ve never been before, thank you for the virtual tour.
Sandi – You know me well. I work and play equally hard.