There Are No Rules - Recap of 2009 BEA/WD Writers Conference

We had another amazing year at our writers conference hosted in conjunction with BookExpo America. Here are a few places you can find reaction and summaries:

LA Splash has the most comprehensive take on the event, and offers insight into several of the sessions, as well as the writers attending. And there's a photo of me.

Literary agent Janet Reid (and blogger behind QueryShark) helped with pitch slam practice by entertaining a crowd of nearly 400 writers, showing them how to tighten and structure their pitches. Here's her inspiring take.

Literary agent Robin Mizell also mentions starting to receive submissions from writers at the pitch slam, plus shares wonderful insights from Mike Shatzkin, who gave an educational session at BEA on the day following our event.

WD author and presenter Christina Katz has a great scrapbook of the event, with videos of Karin Slaughter's keynote address and the bookstore signing!

Writer's Digest editor Chuck Sambuchino has a brief recap on his Guide to Literary Agents blog, as well as a summary of agent Ted Weinstein's advice from the agent panel.

Conference attendee Michelle Reynoso blogged about her experience here and here.

We were honored to have Ron Hogan from GalleyCat at our conference, where he live-tweeted N.M. Kelby's session:

Sitting in on N.M. Kelby's Closet Writer's Workshop. She's got 2 books coming out in September.

N.M. Kelby's advice starts with believing in yourself.

N.M. Kelby quotes Robert Frost: "No writer has ever been corrected into importance."

N.M. Kelby has another Frost: "Why have we wings if not to seek friends at an elevation?"

"write. read. write more. travel. write even more. repeat. And show people your work!"

"When I say 'get a hobby,' I mean it. There's nothing that will drive you crazier than writing."

N.M. Kelby also preaches the importance of proper nutrition for writers. Live mindfully!

"When you write, it's art. Once you send it out, it's business."

"If you can give the book to your mother-in-law," it can become a bestseller. "But more importantly, if the publisher doesn't treat the book like a bestseller, it's unlikely to be one."