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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT FOR THE 2012 CONFERENCE

2012 AWARDS

MISS THE CONFERENCE - GET THE CD's & MP3's

2013 CONFERENCE DATES
JANUARY 25 - 27, 2013

 

SDSU WRITERS CONFERENCE
IN THE NEWS

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
click to read full article

Finding help with that novel — and an agent

By Pat Flynn

SAN DIEGO — Before she decided to attend the 2010 San Diego State University Writers’ Conference, author Shannon Messenger emailed a writer friend to ask if he thought it would be worthwhile.

“He wrote back and said that he’d gone to the SDSU conference and met his agent there,” she said. “He went with a friend, and she met her agent there, too. They both called it the ‘magic conference.’”

That cemented her decision to attend. full article

... it’s one of the largest regional writers’ conferences in the country.

 



New This Year at SDSU's Writers' Conference

Schedule up to 5 appointments in advance
to include up to 3 advanced reading appointments.


CHECK BACK DAILY FOR FACULTY UPDATES
OR JOIN OUR MAILING LIST TO RECEIVE UPDATE EMAILS

Advance Your Publishing Career at the 2012 Writers' Conference
If you're ready to publish, (or publish again), grab your manuscript and head for a learn-and-play winter vacation
at the 28th annual San Diego State University Writer's Conference. January 27-29, 2012.

         If you're a beginning writer or a seasoned professional...
         Whether you're pursuing EPublishing, Publishing-on-Demand, or Traditional Publishing...
         this conference will take you to the next step toward your professional goals.

    • Make one-on-one connections with agents, editors, and film and TV producers.
    • Turn your book or screenplay into a film.
    • Get hands-on help writing and editing your book, screenplay or query letter.
    • Have your manuscript read by editors from this country's major publishing houses and meet with them in-person
      to review your work!
    • Improve your writing with award-winning instructors.
    • Hear practical information on all the non-traditional publishing options including EPublishing and Print-On-Demand.
    • Learn how to create effective promotions online and off.
    • Learn exactly what steps to take and how to take them.
    • Join the scores of participants who have made their writing dreams a reality.



2012 Conference Information

 

JACK GRAPES

THE ACCIDENTS OF GENIUS

read more

 

 

MARK COKER
CEO of SMASHWORDS.COM
THE NEW WORLD OF PUBLISHING

read more

 

speakersgenrestopics



2012 TOPICS


TOPICS SORTED BY SPEAKER

TOPIC

SPEAKER

TITLE

ORGANIZATION
HOW TO WRITE QUERY LETTERS THAT WORK
Betsy Amster
President
Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises
Mock Auction - The Selling of a 'Big' Book
Loretta Barrett
Literary Agent
Barrett Books
WHAT EVERY GREAT NOVEL NEEDS 
Annie Bomke
President
Annie Bomke Literary Agency
Keynote: The New World of Publishing
Mark Coker
CEO
SmashWords
Introduction to Indie Ebook Publishing (Workshop #1)
Mark Coker
CEO
SmashWords
The Secrets of Successful Ebook Publishing (Workshop #2)
Mark Coker
CEO
SmashWords
Live Demo - How to Publish an Ebook at Smashwords (Workshop #3)
Mark Coker
CEO
SmashWords
Comedy writing techniques: Joke Creation, Creating Comedy Scripts
Jeffrey Davis & Peter Desberg
Screenwriters
 
I Wrote, I Worried, I Pitched: (Pitching Comedy Scripts) 
Jeffrey Davis & Peter Desberg
Screenwriters
 
SHOW ME THE FUNNY: CREATING COMEDY IN REAL-TIME 
Jeffrey Davis & Peter Desberg
Screenwriters
 
Your Website Is Out Of Date: Creative On-Line & Social Media Promotional Strategies For Writers
Scott Farrell
Director, Author
Chivalry Today Educational Program
The Little Book That Could 
Zohreh Ghahremani
Author
 
Finding the Deep Voice via The Transformation Line 
Jack Grapes
Author
 
KEYNOTE: THE ACCIDENTS OF GENIUS
Jack Grapes
Author
 
My Story Is Boring
Jack Grapes
Author
 
The Dreaded Association Exercise
Jack Grapes
Author
 
The Secrets of Image/Moment
Jack Grapes
Author
 
LET'S MAKE A DEAL, THE INS AND OUTS OF SELLING A BOOK.
Anne Hawkins
Senior Literary Agent
John Hawkins & Associates, Inc
Evoking Emotion
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
In the Beginning . . . 
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
Keys to Longevity in the publishing business. 
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
Shortcuts to Deep Characterization 
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
The Novel: Truth as Metaphor
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
When OCD is a gift: Practical pointers to Sharpen up your Manuscript through Rigorous Self-Editing
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
X-Ray Your Plot . . . make sure the structure is sound. 
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
You Have All You Need  
Angela Hunt
Author / Industry Expert
 
AN INTERACTIVE LOOK AT CRAFTING MEMORABLE AND EFFECTIVE STORY OPENINGS 
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
CREATING A WRITING LIFE   
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
LAYERED, NUANCED, ORIGINAL: CRAFTING CHARACTERS   
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
NO-SAG STRUCTURE  
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
SO YOU HAVE A DRAFT, NOW WHAT? 
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
WRITING FOR THE (White-Hot) TEEN MARKET  
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
WRITING SEX, HOW EMBARRASSING!  
Q. Lindsey Barrett
Industry Expert
 
Session One: Self-Publishing - A New Gateway to being a Successful Author
M. Louisa Locke
Industry Expert
 
Session Two: Self Publishing – Eight Tips on selling Ebooks on Amazon
M. Louisa Locke
Industry Expert
 
Beyond the eBook uploaded—how do you sell it?
Bob Mayer
Author / Industry Expert
 
E-pub, POD and the Future of Publishing for the Writer. 
Bob Mayer
Author / Industry Expert
 
Introduction to Write It Forward: From Writer To Successful Author: 
Bob Mayer
Author / Industry Expert
 
Platform, Product & Promotion: Understand Your Unique Position as an Author:  
Bob Mayer
Author / Industry Expert
 
Self-Publishing--What really are your options?
Bob Mayer
Author / Industry Expert
 
From Proposal to Publication: Lessons Learned in Effective Research and Writing
Scott McGaugh
Author / Industry Expert
 
Life After the Publication Date: Marketing As a Part of Your Book’s Research
Scott McGaugh
Author / Industry Expert
 
Agent 101  So you’ve got a great book idea, what do you need to do to get it published?   
Dawn Michelle Frederick
Literary Agent & Owner
Red Sofa Literary
Fast-Track Plotting:  Your Book Plotted in One Hour 
Louella Nelson
Author / Industry Expert
 
Genius Plotting Part One - PLOTTING A BOOK IN UNDER ONE HOUR 
Louella Nelson
Author / Industry Expert
 
Genius Plotting Part Two - DOVETAILING PLOT & CHARACTER ARC IN UNDER ONE HOUR
Louella Nelson
Author / Industry Expert
 
Sizzling Scenes:  Setting, Scene Goal, and Sensory Details 
Louella Nelson
Author / Industry Expert
 
The 21st Century Book Proposal  
Penny Nelson
Literary Agent
Manus & Associates Literary Agency
The Do's and Don'ts of Getting an Agent 
Penny Nelson
Literary Agent
Manus & Associates Literary Agency
1. ESTABLISH A PATTERN, THEN TWIST IT
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
2. POWER WRITING: WRITE TO A STATEMENT
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
3. GET THE NAME OF THE DOG
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
4. FICTION IS WRITTEN IN SCENES
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
5. CUT BIG, THEN SMALL
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
6. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CLIMB THE LADDER OF ABSTRACTIONS
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
7. BE PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
8. FORESHADOW __________AND __________.(Filled in during session) 
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
9. CHOOSE NUMBER OF ELEMENTS WISELY
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
10. OWN THE TOOLS OF YOUR CRAFT
Yvonne Nelson Perry
Editor / Author
 
Self-Publishing or Self-Denial: A Traditional Publisher’s Views
David Pomerico
Assistant Editor and Transmedia Producer
Del Rey.Spectra
A Very Query Workshop
Peter Senftleben
Assistant Editor
Kensington Books
The Foundations of Fiction: Everything You Need to Know to Write a Solid Novel
Peter Senftleben
Assistant Editor
Kensington Books
Why this is the best time to be a writer: Taking advantage of the modern publishing world 
Gordon Warnock
Senior Agent
Andrea Hurst Literary Management

DIANE DUNAWAY KRAMER, CONFERENCE FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR ABOUT

Conference Registration

Here are what our some of our past participants have to say:

"The SDSU Writer's Conference is wonderful! The conference brings together authors, editors, and agents in a collaborative setting where good things are bound to happen."

– Matthew Holt, Executive Editor, John Wiley & Sons

"I just wanted to tell you how successful last year's conference was for me. At the conference, I met the literary agent who would soon sign me on as a client. Last week, we sold my first children's picture book, 'Hey, Little Baby' to Beach Lane Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. It will be out in stores Spring of 2010. My agent works for the literary agency that had sent me a rejection notice just a few weeks before I attended the SDSU conference. Meeting her in person and receiving her critiques made all the difference. I tell all of my writer friends the importance of attending The SDSU conference. It certainly changed my life!"

– Heather Leigh, author of "Hey, Little Baby"

"No other conference gives you as many opportunities to meet so many top editors and agents in one weekend. It's an incredible way to jump start your career."

"This is an EXCELLENT conference. You are idealistic, you make the editors and agents leave any arrogance at home. They're HELPFUL here. Professional writers are crucial to a society, and it's nourishing to EVERYONE when amateurs are encouraged. You do an excellent job of providing information and encouragement to all levels of writers, and that is SO hard."

"This is a GREAT conference! It's so professional and well-organized. Editor/agent appointments ran smoothly. I liked that many agents said "send it to me." They all seem open to at least reading my work - so valuable! I also found the workshops and talking to other writers very inspirational. I enjoyed hearing their stories - what they write and how they write. I can't wait to get back in front of my computer!"

"I am so grateful to have attended the Writers' Conference. It was a tremendously positive experience, providing invaluable insight into both the business and the creative aspects to being a professional writer. I'm so thankful to SDSU for providing such a wonderful opportunity."

"The agents and editors were all kind and generous with their individual time! Very much appreciated by all."

"Kudos for another EXCELLENT conference. Well organized, great range of topics, excellent range of speakers. Thank you."

"Great administration, great practical sessions, excellent quality of presenters."

"...I travel to many conferences around the country. In my humble opinion, the SDSU Conference is by far the best, both in terms of opportunity and information! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! See you next year!"

– Conference Participants

SUCCESS STORIES


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Updated: JANUARY 2012