Writer Replay Ep. 5: Better Read Than Wed

–msg

“Crying on the Sidewalk, Talking to ‘Rome'”

A conferee from our San Diego 22 event, writer Rich Howard, just got his blog up and running and was kind enough to let us know. For both accomplished and emerging writers everywhere, there’s much to glean from Rich’s entry describing his experience at SD22. My favorite excerpt, however, regards an exchange he had with Echelon Press publisher Karen Syed, during their one-on-one conversation addressing his manuscript:

“I owe you an apology,” she said. I looked at her, baffled. “There may be corrections in these pages somewhere but I was so into what I was reading I forgot to edit.” We both laughed.

Why does that appeal to me? Simple. Distinctive voice and quality storytelling can often transcend the trivial issues found in the opening pages. Engage the reader fully and you can get away with damn near any split infinitive!

Read Rich’s entire post

–msg

LA6: Clothing Optional

From L to R: Sally van Haitsma, Stacey O'Brien, Rick Ochaki, Kathleen Gilligan and Andrew Peterson

In a noble effort to keep it real at our Irvine event, agent Sally van Haitsma, editor Kathleen Gilligan and authors Stacey O’Brien and Andrew Peterson join conferee Rick Ochaki for a late-night Rogue read & critique session in the hotel sauna where, as is clearly posted on the rules board, it’s “Clothing Optional.”

We may just implement this new rule in all Rogues at San Diego, come February. Whutcha think?

–msg