As mentioned in Friday’s post, The Blue Ridge Conference is going digital. I know change is hard, but we’re doing our best to make the transition as easy as possible. And yes, we have an app for that! Today I’m going to give you a tour of the Blue Ridge…

For those who’ve known me for any length of time are aware that organization isn’t my strong suit—at least not in the conventional meaning. My desk is covered in stacks of paper and the walls of my office are papered with rainbow hued sticky notes. It’s a system that works…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson Attending a writers conference can be a stressful undertaking—even for a seasoned writer. A lot of writers have gravitated toward our profession because we’re not comfortable with crowds, especially crowds of strangers. That’s why I’m posting this series on writing conferences. It’s not to add to…

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman As writers, we think about having the right tools for our craft. But we also need to do certain things to hone that craft. We need to spend time in the chair, writing. We need fellow writers for critiques. We need to learn the rules of writing.…

by Bethany Jett @BetJett I practiced my pitch several times but the moment I sat in front of an editor at my first writers conference appointment my mind went blank. I managed to smile, shake hands, state my name, and awkwardly hold out my one-sheet. He took the paper and…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson I've had several people ask me what to expect when they have a fifteen minute appointment with an industry professional. Many even wonder if they should take advantage of an appointment. My answer? ABSOLUTELY. Even if you don’t have something to pitch, an editor, agent or even well…