Willamette Writers Conference Sucess Stories


Dale Basye

My name is Dale Basye and I am a writer. Phew…that felt good to get that off of my chest. Anyway, this past August, I had the great pleasure of attending my very first Willamette Writers Conference. Actually, my first conference, period. I almost didn't go because money is kind of tight for me, but a friend convinced me to volunteer. Since I was going to be there, I thought: what the hay, I might as well set up a pitch session with someone, if only for the experience. So I wrote out a pitch and recorded it on my iPod (I highly recommend this) and listened to it in the two days before the conference, since I get kind of nervous in these situations and wanted to stay "on topic." I oversaw a great children's writing workshop and then, with a swarm of butterflies in my stomach, prepared for my impending pitch. I sat down across from a wonderful Random House editor and had an out-of-author experience, watching myself flawlessly pitch two story ideas.

As a struggling writer (aren't we all?) I was used to kind rejection letters clogging my mailbox. But nothing can express how refreshing it was to sit across from an actual human being and convey my excitement for my project and see that contagious energy in her eyes. I got her contact information and left the conference feeling positive, yet wondered if the editor was usually that receptive in order to be nice and perhaps receive a couple of decent manuscripts in the process. In the weeks ahead, I readied my manuscript, then - one day - I received an e-mail from the editor asking me how I was coming on my book, that she really liked my idea and wanted to see it as soon as possible. I can't tell you how exciting that was (though I suppose I just did). That was a first, an editor bugging ME. So, a week later I sent her something and she got back to me within a couple of days. Again, a first for me. Though she didn't think my manuscript was quite there, she said that I should revise it on spec. After following her great ideas and basically doubling the book, I sent it back and waited. After a few long weeks, I received an e-mail asking me to call her. I felt like I was being prepared for a gentle let down, but instead, I was offered a two-book deal! Well, I have another stack of revisions to contend with so I should stop writing e-mails and start finishing my book, due in a couple of weeks…all thanks to the Willamette Writers Conference!

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Julie Bennett

Just wanted to let you know that I've just acquired a book I first learned about at the writer's conference this summer. It's called Calm and Compassionate Children by Susan Dermond. Susan pitched to me at the conference and her agent, Janet Rosen with Sheree Bykofsky Agency, followed up. I'm sending the contracts this afternoon (February 2006).

We're planning to publish the book under our Celestial Arts imprint in spring 2007. Thanks for the hook-up!

Best,

Julie Bennett
Senior Acquisitions Manager
Ten Speed Press


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Christina Katz

I landed a book deal at last year's conference (2005) with Writer's Digest Books. My first book, Writer Mama, Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids, will be published in February, 2007.

Once I made the commitment to attend, I asked some of my published writer friends (Julie Fast and Elaura Niles) at our monthly breakfast gathering what they thought I should pitch. I tossed out some ideas based on the work I have been doing with writers through my classes and online zine for many years. Elaura Niles suggested that her editor for Some Writers Deserve to Starve, acquisitions editor Jane Friedman at Writer's Digest, might be looking for a parent to write a book for parents who want to write.

So, at first, my pitch was aimed at parents. Elaura worked with me to prepare my pitch for the conference and in that back-and-forth over e-mail, the title switched to the one I used: The Busy Mom's Guide to Freelance.

To be frank, having never attended a conference like this one before, I would not have known how to make a decent pith without the input of an experienced pitcher. Elaura (and her husband Mark Renie) are All-Stars and their feedback made a big difference. I am also certain that the insights of an author, who had recently been working closely with the editor I pitched, helped point me in within the realm of possible publication in the first place.

I'd had another idea that I thought I'd pitch, but it seemed wiser, with Elaura on my team, to go with the busy mom idea. Besides I am a busy mom and a writing instructor, so - are you kidding me? - this is my dream book.

Elaura, whose help I am obviously very grateful for, put in a good word for me with Jane before the conference via e-mail and let her know I would be pitching to her at the conference. As in most industries, a personal referral makes a difference.

I stood up in front of 50 or so people at the Thursday night pitching event, with my voice quivering and hands shaking just like everyone else. Three out of four of the agents /editors on the panel were interested in receiving a copy of my book proposal. I hadn't brought my proposal to the conference (it wasn't done yet) just a few pages of notes about the book and the need for the book. I think with some agents I pitched, it was just as important to pitch them on the need for the book as it was to pitch the actual book concept, which has changed anyway.

When I sat down with Jane (who is one of the all-time nicest people in the world), I didn't even have to pitch. The first thing that she told me was that she thought she had about a 70% chance of taking the concept back with her and pitching it to a committee of Writer's Digest players (other editors at the company and sales and marketing). She seemed apologetic, but I thought that was pretty good considering I hadn't even given her a proposal yet!

I helped Jane prepare her pitch by completing the proposal and getting it to her about three weeks after the conference. She took information from there and combined it with some research of her own in what's called a 'Project Information Sheet.' She called me on the Friday morning before Labor Day weekend to make me the offer. Along the way the named got changed to Writer Mama, which I am happy with. In fact, unlike many authors who seem to have nightmarish experiences on their first book, my interactions with Writer's Digest have been without a hitch. In fact, Jane referred me to my agent, Rita Rosenkranz, who did an excellent job negotiating my contract and filling me in on all the newbie writer things I didn't understand.

This is not to say that the process has not been challenging, I have never worked harder as a writer as I have in the past year. But it has been so totally worth it. My first full manuscript deadline is May 22nd and I plan on celebrating big time after I turn it in.

Thanks to the Willamette Writers Conference and the support of Willamette Writers members, I have been able to actualize a lifelong dream of becoming an author. Admittedly, it's a dream that I've been working on for a long time (and I'll be forty this year), but without the key help that I have received, I still probably would not completely understand what working hard as a writer really means. And I doubt I would be sitting here wiping the sweat off of my brow as I crank out 60,000 words by May 22nd.

Christina Katz is also publisher of the Zine, "Writers on the Rise"
www.christinakatz.com
www.writersontherise.com


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Jennifer Keene

As a first time writer, I pitched my non-fiction book at the 2005 Willamette Writers Conference. One of the agents that I met referred me to another agent, whom I ultimately signed with. Yesterday (April 19, 2006), we made a deal with a publisher!

Here is the notice that my Agent (I still love saying that) is sending to Publisher's Lunch:

Professional dog trainer and 'single-again" pet parent Jennifer Keene's WE CAN'T STAY TOGETHER FOR THE DOGS, a guide to doing what's in the best interest of the canine when you and your co-dog-parent split up, from joint custody to sharing costs and information with an ex to moving on with your dog at your side, to Heather Russell-Revesz at T.F.H. Publications, by Kate Epstein of the Epstein Literary Agency.

I couldn't have done it without the Willamette Writers Conference!!

Thanks!

Jennifer Keene

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Annie Long

Hi! I have attended the WW conference for three years now, and last year ( 2005) I struck a home run! My critique partner had really gotten on my case to finish up my manuscript for the conference (woman's fiction-mainstream contemporary) and I just barely did but without any time for a final critique or edit. My word count was too high. Still, I felt confident that should anyone ask, they would only want the first one to three chapters so I'd have plenty of time to do any final cutting. We agreed should anyone ask, I'd say my word count was where I intended to take it. In other words - lie. That settled, I was flying high by the second afternoon after pitching five agents, and not only were all of them were interested in seeing more of my work, I felt I had connected rather strongly with two of them. My last appointment (I had scheduled six) started out strangely enough. I am not shy, and rarely tongue-tied, but when it comes to pitching, each time, each different agent is something of a trauma - nerve-wracking. No amount of practice prepares me. I cling to my outline paper like a life-line. When I look up at them my brain freezes and all my admonitions to myself to remain calm and cool desert me. So, when I first arrived at the agent's table and he wasn't there, I felt relief. I told myself, it doesn't matter because I already had other agents. Then before I knew it, he was there, rushing in like a tornado. In response, my mouth started racing as fast as a horse leaving the starting gate. To my utter shock, he wanted to see my complete. Not only that, he wanted it now! He wanted to know how soon I could send it. (Don't forget I was dying because I still knew all the editing I had to do) I said three weeks. He said, why, isn't it done? I insisted yes, but admitted (somewhat sheepishly) that I still had editing to do. He didn't care. He wanted whatever I could send, as soon as I could send it.

I wasn't prepared for this. I actually found myself arguing/dealing with him (much to my critique partner's horror) and amazingly, forgot he was an agent because I felt such an immediate connection to him, like I'd known him all my life. (Maybe it helped a little that we were both from back East). Needless to say, I sent the first 300 pages to him, and agreed to send the rest later. I figured he'd either like it or not. I was ecstatic to receive a call from him almost immediately. He loved it. Loved my voice, and was really excited about the possibilities. In the subsequent months he read the complete, agreed to represent me, and eagerly awaits my true final (which I am currently editing/ honing with the help of a wonderful professional editor).

When I started this journey after moving to Oregon, I set out with five clear goals. I wanted to write a book, get a New York agent, have the book become a bestseller, have it made into a movie, and write another book. I have accomplished two now, and am working on the other three with continued optimism. I only have good things to say about the WW conference, and the opportunity it provides for everyone to make the right connections. That is my story-so far.

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Ted Magnuson

Hello Everybody. I am alive and well and being published in Cincinnati. No, I haven't left Portland . . .

The good news is my novel Moses Probe will be published this April by Mundania Press, a national publisher of extraordinary genre fiction. They are the ones located in the Ohio heartland--and not all that far from where I spent (misspent?) my own youth.

So how did The Willamette Writers Conference help me become a published author? Well...far be it from me to discount 'overnight successes,' but my project began in 1992. That's when I first met Jerry Gross at the Willamette Writers Conference. I attended his workshop, asked him some questions and liked his answers. His workshop focus was "Insights into the world of publishing"...or something like that. But he also coached me on story concepts, and I had the opportunity to 'pick his brain' several times during that conference and at conferences the following years.

In addition to Moses Probe, my quiz book, Oregon Trivia, is now going into its third printing. Again, this project began with a contact I made at the Willamette Writers Conference. In summary then, if you'd like to get your work published, and need an introduction to the 'community of books,' I recommend signing up for the Willamette Writers Conference.

Ted Magnuson
www.geocities.com/tedmag

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Al Siebert

Here is another Willamette Writers success story!

The Resiliency Advantage by psychologist Al Siebert, a past-president of Willamette Writers, was named the winner of the 2006 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the "Self Help" category at BookExpo America. Held this year at the Washington D.C. Convention Center, BEA is the largest book publishing event in the U.S. with over 2000 exhibitors, many famous speakers, and attendance over 40,000.

Over 1,300 publishers from all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and many foreign countries participated in the Award competition, entering 2,068 titles. The self-help category is the largest of many book categories judged. One winner is selected from each category, along with two finalists. For The Resiliency Advantage to come out on top of such a vast array of competing books attests to the exceptionally high quality of both the writing and the content.

Al Siebert's book was placed with publisher Berrett-Koehler by his agent, Kimberley Cameron. Al and Kimberley met at the 2004 Willamette Writers conference by chance when they were sitting at adjacent tables in the restaurant. After Kimberley expressed interest in his book manuscript, Elizabeth Lyon helped Al develop his book proposal and did the final copy editing of the proof pages.

The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive Under pressure, and Bounce Back From Setbacks is a breakthrough book that shows how to benefit from the emerging new science of resiliency psychology. Information in the book was used as the basis for Al's workshop on "How to Write Fascinating Stories of Resiliency" at the 2005 Willamette Writers conference. WW members can obtain an electronic file of his resiliency workshop by e-mail by contacting him through his website: www.resiliencycenter.com .

This year, Al will be conducting a conference workshop on "Fifty Ways to Create Extreme Conflicts Between Characters."

Al Siebert, PhD
http://www.resiliencycenter.com

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Bob Welch

It was August 2002, a Friday night. I was in Eugene, about 10 p.m., printing out my 300-page manuscript on the first nurse to die after the landings at Normandy, "American Nightingale." It had started as a newspaper column - I work at The Register-Guard - and morphed into something a bit more. One problem: Though I had, after 18 months, a finished draft, I'd been turned down by 26 agents from La Jolla, Calif. to Boston, Mass.

If my dreams of being published were once floating gloriously in the sky, they were now the Hindenburg.

My sister, the author Linda Crew, had finally shaken some sense into me. "You need to see these people in person," she said. "Go to the Willamette Writers Conference, pay our $15 for 10 minutes. Trust me. It'll work."

I wasn't feeling particularly confident as I watched the pages slip off my printer. But after 26 misses, what else could go wrong? That's when my printer ran out of ink.

Now I know most agents, even if interested in your work, don't want a full manuscript to lug home on a DC-9, but I've always been an over-preparer. When I subbed for Bobby Myers on his paper route when I was 11, I had the rubber bands individually spread out on the floor the night before. I get to events I'm covering an hour in advance. What if an agent liked my manuscript and wanted it - but I didn't have it? I couldn't take the chance.

Now, I was telling myself to breathe deep. Don't panic. Stores were closed but I knew of a local all-night copy shop that would be open. Sure enough, it was. A worker said she could have it for me by about 2 a.m.; my first of three agent appointments was at 10 a.m. and I needed two hours to get there. I looked at the clock. "Go for it," I said.

The final product was all wrong: the words had gaping spaces between them. It looked terrible. I started to panic. "What about Wal-Mart," said the only other customers desperate enough to be in a copy shop at 2 a.m. "They're open 24 hours and they have printer cartridges."

Why hadn't I thought of that? I found the cartridge, raced home and replaced the spent one. But the printer now wasn't working at all. Heavy panic. It was 3 a.m.

Then I realized I had plugged my mouse, not my printer, into the side port of my Mac. Ah-ha! The final sheet rolled off at 5:30 a.m. I kissed my wife - "you never came to bed, did you?" she said. "Nope. Sorry. Off to Portland. Wish me luck."

I showered, hopped in the car and arrived just before my 10 a.m. appointment. It went well, so well that when my 10 minutes was up, the agent told the session's monitor that he had a free 10-minute block and was giving it to me. The time with the second agent went semi-well and, the next day, my final appointment, Ted Weinstein, was somewhere in between.

None took the manuscript, but all three seemed to like my fast-paced version of how I'd gotten it here on time.

That night, in my American Nightingale journal, I wrote: "Came home Sunday fired up. Was worth the entire conference fee!"

But then came the waiting. One day. Three. A week. Ten days. Finally, came the call. It was from Ted Weinstein. Ted Weinstein Literary Management wanted to represent me in the selling of my book. Fireworks. Champagne. OK, OK, a lone columnist in a conference room fist-pumping the sky.

Nine weeks later, Ted had it sold to Simon & Schuster's Atria Books. I got the phone call while speaking to a class at Sweet Home High School on the life of a writer. I tell them: "Here, you can watch history in the making."

OK, so it was small history. But every writer savors the little moments that something like this happens: our hard work pays off. And never forgets the people, organizations and good fortune that help make it happen.

In my case: Willamette Writers, Ted Weinstein, Atria Books. And, of course, whoever decided to make Wal-Mart a 24-hour store.

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Editor's note: American Nightingale was published in June 2004 and was featured on "Good Morning America" the same week. It was a 2005 Oregon Book Award finalist and has been optioned as a movie. Welch's subsequent book is "My Oregon" (AO Creative), a collection of his Register-Guard columns. More: www.bobwelch.net.