by @LynetteEason You've written the book. Congratulations. Or maybe you’re in the process of writing it. Or maybe you just have a great idea swirling around in your head. Whatever the case, if you're heading to a writers' conference hoping to pitch to an agent or editor, you need to…

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson I think this topic is in the top three things writers worry about after signing up for a writing conference—especially for first-timers. The questions range from, “Do I need to sign up for one of these if I’m not ready to pitch” to “What should I…

by @LynetteEason You've registered for the conference. You've packed your favorite blazer, your laptop AND charger, you’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch in the bathroom mirror and with friends who sent you back to the bathroom mirror. But there's one more thing you need before you walk through those doors. The…

by @LynetteEason  What is an Elevator Pitch? An elevator pitch is a spoken snapshot of your novel. A summary that is clear enough to understand in seconds, specific enough to feel market-ready, and intriguing enough to earn the interest of the person on the other side of it. For an…

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson One of the most valuable parts of attending a writing conference is the opportunity for in-person networking. Yes, a lot of networking happens online now—through social media, newsletters, and platforms we didn’t even have a few years ago. But nothing replaces a face-to-face conversation. And while…

By Edwina Perkins @EdwinaPerkins Critique is one of the most powerful tools in a writer's development, and I mean that from experience, not just theory. Let me give you four reasons why it matters: You can't see your own blind spots. When you've lived inside your manuscript long enough, your…