March/April 2014

Hello My Dear Writers,

One of the things I enjoy most about going to writing conferences is the great writing instructors that I meet, all of whom exude tremendous energy and unfailing optimism. I treasure these two gifts as I return home o pound out my stories in my isolated little writing cubby hole that often seems to be cut off from the world around me. Nowadays, all of these great instructors have websites, blogs, or newsletters that allow me to dip back into their energy and optimism on an as needed basis from my little writing cave.

Over the past couple of years, the following four of these teachers have had a great impact on me:

William Bernhardt: Bill is a very down to earth writing instructor from Oklahoma. I met him at the Thriller Fest Conference, which is held annually in New York in the month of July. Bill is a constantly in-demand writing instructor and conducts his on writing small group writing seminars,mostly in the west, but backs up his with 27 novels that have sold over 10 million copies in two dozen countries. His red sneaker newsletter covers craft, the publishing industry, and inspiration. What is a red sneaker writer? “A committed writer seeking useful instruction and guidance rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done, and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting.”

Jane Friedman: Jane is also a highly sought after conference writing instructor. I met her two years ago at the Greater Lehigh Valley Write Stuff Conference. Jane has an amazing knowledge of the publishing industry ,keeping on top of every new twist and turn. She was the former publisher of Writers Digest Magazine for 10 years before moving off to co-found Scratch Magazine, which throughly covers writing and money (good subjects to combine in one conversation), and also the current editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review. If it is happening in publishing, traditional or on-line, Jane has it covered.

James Scott Bell: Jim is the consummate writing instructor, traveling to conferences around the USA, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. His sessions at a the WD Writers Conference East were mobbed. He is a trained lawyer, turned novelist and short story writer. His three books on writing, Plot & Structure, Revision & Self Editing, and The Art of War for Writers, have become the standards for writing craft. He blogs every week at The Kill Zone.

Chuck Sambuchino: Chuck is an editor and author who runs the Guide to Literary Agents Blog, one of the biggest blogs in publishing. His site and teaching sessions focus on literary agents, literary agencies, query letters, submissions, publishing, author platforms, and book marketing, He also has a monthly column in Writers Digest Magazine. He is an energetic speaker who tells it like it is, the good and bad. If you cannot get to a conference where he is instructing, you will benefit greatly from reading his blogs and columns.

To find the right conference for you, check out this listing. A new year with new conferences - Something to look forward to!

Betty Wryte-Goode

Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer, mother, and wife who lives in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.