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All Write Now! Writers' Conference
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Here We Go Again!
Cape Girardeau Public Library
811 N. Clark Street
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
https://www.capelibrary.org/
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Morning Session
“3 Revision Strategies to Take the Amateur Out of Your Manuscript”
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Presented by Karen Sargent, author, Waiting for Butterflies
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Workshop #1A: 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.​
Room: Geraldine Hirsch
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DESCRIPTION: Transform your manuscript from amateur to polished with three revision strategies Karen learned from a literary agent to prepare her manuscript for publishers: deep point of view, action beats, and identifying crutch words (plus two more if time permits!). So simple. So effective. Too good not to share!
“The Importance of Those First Five Pages:
Strategies to Keep You Out of the Rejection Pile”
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Presented by Donna J. Essner, editor, The Editor's Café
Workshop #1B: 10:15 – 11:30
Room​: Oscar Hirsch
Well, you've done it! Your novel is complete and ready to send out to agents or publishers. But wait! What exactly is it that agents and publishers look for when they pick up a manuscript? And why those first five pages so critical?
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In this workshop, attendees will learn what can either lead to a request for a full manuscript, or send you straight to the rejection pile. We'll discuss what to include as well as what not to include to “hook” their reader.
If there is time, attendees are welcome to ask for feedback on their first page!
Afternoon Session
"What's That You Say?: Let My Characters Talk? OK, but Why is This So Important?"
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Presented by Donna J. Essner, editor, The Editor's Café
Workshop #2B: 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Room​: Oscar Hirsch
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Characters--we either love them, hate them, or, love to hate them! So, how do we as writers create a character who can bring out these emotions in our reader? Easy. Let them talk!
But why is this so important? Allowing your characters to spill their guts on the page reveals not only their personality, but all their idiosyncrasies--traits that reveal who they truly are. Well-written dialogue creates a connection between your reader and your characters and reveals their likes, their dislikes and prejudices, as well as their wants and needs. These traits are what will connect your characters to your readers and make a lasting impression on them.
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In this workshops, Donna will share the ins and outs of dialogue and how to bring a character to life through their very own words.
“The Keys to Writing an Irresistible Query Letter”
Presented by Karen Sargent, author, Waiting for Butterflies
Workshop #2A: 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Room: Geraldine Hirsch
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DESCRIPTION: ​If literary agents are the gatekeepers to the publishing world, the query letter is a key that unlocks the gates. Writing an irresistible query letter isn’t impossible, but it does take some magic. Learn the tricks to get an agent’s attention and a request for materials. Karen will share before and after query letters that resulted in her clients signing with literary agents. You will leave with a formula to write your own irresistible query.
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