Sunday, February 20, 2011

LTUE XXIX, 2011

I just completed three days of Life the Universe and Everything, a science fiction and fantasy symposium at BYU. This is a great conference. The conference included a gaggle of successful authors all eager to share their keys to the road to success with those of us still in the early footpaths of the journey.

My favorite class was...well, that's a little hard to pin down because they were all so good. Hm. I listened particularly attentively to anything Dave Wolverton, James Dashner and Dan Wells had to say, and they were featured in many classes and panels. They also had genre-specific classes for YA writers, among others, which I found very helpful. There was even a class about plants going to the dark side. As a Master Gardener, that one really got my creative juices flowing.

Okay, I have it: my favorite class was Dave Wolverton's workshop on self-editing. He talked about the 6-7 different edits he goes through before he sends his manuscripts off. This workshop was helpful to me because I was trying to put too much into my first draft. I came to realize that I can add lots and lots of details in the rewriting process.

The only downsides of the conference, as far as I am concerned were a frequently crying baby and the fact that there wasn't a lunch hour. The conference was still more than worth the $25 it cost to attend and I feel I am a better writer for having gone--or will be when I sit down and write.

Next on the horizon: ANWA conference in Phoenix.

10 comments:

  1. I think that was my favorite too. So informative and helpful. I'm so glad we got to see each other.

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  2. Thanks for sharing! I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for the self-editing class. I tend to want to put a lot in the first draft, too. If you have notes I'd love to see them!

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  3. Rebecca, yes, I plan to do a post (or two if it takes too much space) about that particular class. Stay tuned!

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  4. Thanks for sharing all of this Karen. I look forward to reading your upcoming posts.

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  5. I loved that editing class, too. So many great things there!

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  6. I was only able to make it on Saturday unfortunately, but I really enjoyed the panels that I went to. Elana Johnson's presentation about pitching to editors and agents was very helpful to me. Now I just have to finish a manuscript so I CAN pitch it. =J

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  7. Please let us know if you plan to share your notes on Dave Wolverton's edit class. I'd love to check those out. My email is Kbrebes@aol.com if you don't write a post about it. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about it!!!! Thanks!

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  8. I'm looking forward to your notes too. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I didn't get to Elana's presentation. You should put your notes on your blog so I can read them!

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  10. Kathlene, I posted my notes on my blog.

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