The 2009 Muse Online Writers Conference concluded two days ago and my head is still spinning from all the great workshops. There was a workshop on “how to” just about anything a writer would need to know about.  At least twelve publishers were also represented. And the seven-day event didn’t cost me a dime. No registration fee. No transportation costs. No hotel bill.

A first this year was “pitch sessions” with a number of reputable publishers. These were real-time individual chats and quite a few of them resulted in the author being asked to submit at least a partial manuscript.  Pretty impressive for any writers conference. The “pitch sessions” were so well received that conference coordinator Lea Schizas is already working to set them up again for MuseCon 2010.

The dates for next year’s conference are October 11-17, 2010. It’s essential that you register before the August 1, 2010 cut-off. You can register now by going here.

I’m busy reviewing entries in a novel writing contest.  It’s a privilege to be able to give back some of what I’ve learned about writing over the years. I tend to write more out of gut instinct regarding what works and what doesn’t, so providing feedback challenges me to be clear and specific. Writers often enter contests to get feedback on their work, and with the hefty price tag of $25 per entry in many cases, they have a right to expect a bit more than “This doesn’t work.”  There needs to be a “because.”  We preach about “show not tell” in writing a novel, but that can also apply to giving feedback in contests.  At least that my two cents. 

Writers are encouraged to be voracious readers, but I don’t think the original intent of that advice was to read email lists.  I’m subscribed to 22 email lists (as of today) and several of those lists generate over 50 messages per day. Now who has time—really—to read all that chatter?

 The key thing should be to evaluate each list and determine it’s “cost-benefit” rating.  

• How will it benefit my writing craft?
• How will it benefit my writing career?
• Is it a resource that I need for my current WIP? Can I find the information elsewhere?

Just answering those questions makes going no mail an easy decision on more than half of my lists.  I can even put my resource lists on no mail until I actually need to ask questions or do research. (Getting organized for research is grist for another post.) That just leaves the announcement lists (sporadic posts), and my RWA chapter lists.  Hurrah!! There’s hope for me yet.