19
Jun
Backspace
I have just experienced the most wonderful affair at the Backspace Writer’s Conference in New York. It was small enough to be intimate, but large enough to have a meaningful number of agents and substantial program. I was particularly impressed with the two keynote speakers, thriller writer David Morrell and the nearest thing the industry has to a futurist, Publishers Marketplace founder Michael Cader. Of course the organizer, soon to be published Karen Dionne is an absolute delight.
The keynotes were inspirational, and the whole illuminating and encouraging. I came home inspired, ready to work on my query letter, and once more convinced of the importance of trying to work within the traditional industry if the intent is to make money: ultimately selling a book is all about marketing, and it is far easier to work with an army of experts on your side. I also joined the Backspace Forum, which at $30 per year is extremely good value for anyone seriously interested in interacting with aspiring writers, published authors, and agents, all of whom will pitch in to help.
And I was wrong in an earlier post: the most important document you’ll ever write is not the first chapter, but the query letter.
editorial technology Writing
