W is for...
Writers. WOW. And Weird. That pretty much sums up the first day of SFWC.
First there are obviously the writers. Lots and lots of them! In all shapes, sizes and genres. I have collected an impressive stack of business cards and booksmarks and have about 50 more Tweeps I follow. We are all so different—our backgrounds, our personalities—and yet there is an underlying WEIRD to each of us. Weird is the definitely the common denominator 'round here!
But first let me talk about the WOW factor.
By far the most impressive session I attended was with a trio of woman authors, Bella Andre, Barbara Freethy, and Lisa Marie Rice. The subject was supposed to be about making the move from self publishing to traditional publishing.
Though I decided to self publish my first novel, I have kept it in the back of my mind that maybe I would try to go traditional with the second...after I have proven myself as an author, developed a platform and a readership. I went into this session to hear how these women did that.
The session was completely the opposite of its title. Each of these writers is a represented, traditionally published author, yet they began to self publish their back lists, books they had regained the rights to, and even some new works. And they are wildly enthusiastic and successful at it. We are talking a million dollars a year successful! The joy and enthusiasm they have about the process of self publishing was incredibly validating, inspiring and contagious.
That was the wow factor.
The evening brought about the weird factor. It was only three hours of my life, and yet it will stick with me for a long while. I can't even convey the series of events yet. It's gonna take me a few days to process the experience. For sure there is a short story or a screenplay in it.
Until tomorrow...
Shannan
We live in the fiction.
