Ep166: Conference Expecatations

  Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Accidental Stranger Book 2 out) Write in the Harbor (Erick teaching.) (Valerie will be at  Write in the Harbor in Gig Harbor, WA this year, too!  Host of Ghost Story Weekend for Wordcrafters. (Erick) wrapping up writing projects, PB out on the 15th of Accidental Stranger (plus prequel), finishing another book in Melville series "Signal Shadow" (Erick) client work (Valerie)   What are you reading? Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Life Impossible (Matt Haig) The Book of Witching (CJ Cooke) Erick: The Color of Magic (Terry Pratchett) The October Country (Ray Bradbury)   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Locus magazine (sci/fi and fantasy) FANTASTIC Tidbit #2: Query Manager (filtering, but not totally accurate--check the agent's website) Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): A previous guest said Erick and I reminded her of being on a morning radio show. I brought up the sitcom "Community," with the "Troy and Abed in the morning" tagline, and CRICKETS. Ha! Here's what I mean: https://images.app.goo.gl/rG9fff2Xko9PSAQMA Segment 4 (Main Topic): Starts at 20:40 Can nudge an agent about submission after 6-8 weeks. Why are you going? Networking, learning something, building relationships, clients, creating community, make fans, building confidence, "If you plant bulbs today, you get flowers in May." Why don't they reach out? Conference Buddy Set Boundaries for yourself, and be aware of other's boundaries. Need for brevity in questions, pitches, and elevator pitches.   Next episode:  Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)