What I Learned at WriteOn Con

Last year I signed up for Write On Con, but I ended up not committing as I'd hoped for one reason or another. In hindsight, I can say that's probably because I wasn't in the right frame of mind to think about the 'next step'. A year later, I'm not 100% ready for that next step, but I'm leaping forward anyway. Even if you're reading this post as a book blogger who is just toying with the idea of writing a book, or someone who isn't serious about getting published, you should take a look at the conference materials on the Writeon Con website.

I devoted most of my time during the con to absorbing as much information as I could. I took a ton of notes and started researching the industry more than I had previously.

The biggest piece of advice I took away came during one of the agent/editor chats. They were discussing alternating first person perspective and how this is really hard to pull off. I glared at the screen as a few agents and editors agreed to this, and I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Cry because it meant re-writing my epic, pain in the ass WiP that took me ages to plot out, but laugh because it was a lightbulb (or a-ha if you're Oprah) moment I was looking for. I knew the book wasn't working, and now I know why.

I also learned a lot about editors and agents in the industry, those that I already followed on Twitter, and those I didn't know at all.  I came away from WriteOn Con with a happy glow about what I'm doing and with a feeling that I know I'm on the right track. Is it possible to feel optimistic when you know you have to climb a mountain? Well, I guess it is, because that's how I feel. I know it's going to be a huge trek, but at least now I feel like I know the right path to take to reach the top.

Since I doubt I'll be able to attend a real life writing conference anytime in the near future, I want to thank the ladies who organized Write On Con. It really was a wonderful experience for me, and I can't wait for next year!

Did you attend WriteOn Con? What did you take away from it?