Editor-Agent panel at Crested Butte, part 2 of 2

More today on the Crested Butte Writer’s Conference, when a panel of editors and agents met with writers and readers to discuss today’s market.  The panel consisted of Ginger Clark, Literary Agent at Curtis Brown Ltd.; Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Literary Agent with Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation; Christine Pride, Editor at Broadway Books (div. of Random House, Inc.) And Anne Bensson, Assistant Editor at Thomas Dunn Books.

CHRISTINE PRIDE pointed to the economic downturn as one of the biggest reasons for the business down-sizing.  With as much as a 10 to 15% decrease in staffing, it has become even more competitive.  “The pressure is on to have every book become a best-seller.”  Publishers are taking less chances They want the big sell, and we as writers need to find a way to make our stories as good as they can be, and in our queries, as attractive as they can be.  Christine has a friend who’s active in social media, and her friend will occasionally point out an active blogger or tweeter, for example, and she’ll check out those writers.  When asked whether it’s better to query editors directly or get an agent, Christine recommended getting an agent.  On the topic of classifying your own book’s genre, she said to not worry about that.  When they read your query and pages, they will know where it fits.  Don’t limit yourself.

ANNE BENSSON enjoys working with authors to make their stories better.  She acknowledges that, with a beginning author, there is less of a promotional budget, and that the author must do a lot of that in the beginning of his or her career. During an open discussion about the challenge of distribution when self-publishing, Anne spoke of the publisher’s connections, established and nurtured over the years, that help them get their books in the stores.

Did you attend the Crested Butte conference?  If so, are there other gems you discovered about these agents and editors?  Are one of these ladies your agent or editor? I invite you to add your comments, and I wish you the best of luck and success with your writing.

Agent Editor Update from Crested Butte Writer’s Conference

Nestled in the stunning West Elk mountains of Colorado, this small, intimate conference is held annually. A writer's contest is held in conjunction with the conference.

My pen flew on Friday, the first day of the Crested Butte Writer’s Conference, when a panel of editors and agents met with writers and readers to discuss the current market. The panel consisted of Ginger Clark, Literary Agent at Curtis Brown Ltd.; Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Literary Agent with Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation; Christine Pride, Editor at Broadway Books (div. of Random House, Inc.) And Anne Bensson, Assistant Editor at Thomas Dunn Books.

If your novel is completed, polished and ready to market, here are details you may want to note in your query file.

GINGER CLARK represents sci fi, fantasy, paranormal romance, literary horror and YA and middle grade fiction. She described the current market, which she aptly called “challenging.” The industry is down-sizing, there are now fewer editors and tighter acquisition lists. Read widely in the genre in which you hope to become published or re-published. She noted how the YOUNG ADULT and MIDDLE GRADE market is heating up.

JOANNA STAMPFEL-VOLPE represents children’s books and adult fiction (speculative, romance, historical, paranormal, urban fantasy, literary, dark drama, horror, thriller and upmarket women’s fiction). She has written fiction. It wasn’t good, she says, but it helped her understand pitch nervousness. When writing a query letter to her, Joanna suggests that you avoid saying you’re the next up-and-coming Stephen King, for example, but it is helpful if you compare your work to published authors who write similar stories.

Tomorrow:  Christine Pride and Anne Bensson’s thoughts on the market, and how you can get published.  And as always, I welcome your thoughts, additions, comments. 

Crested Butte Writer’s Conference – a jolt of inspiration

The writers and readers at the Crested Butte conference are as beautiful as the flowers in this, the wildflower capital of Colorado

Conferences can be chaotic and disappointing, but never RMFW’s, and not, I have found, to great delight, the Crested Butte Writer’s Conference. 

The setting is dramatic and unforgettable — big brooding mountains, fourteeners, still frosted with snow in this first week of summer, a white mantle framing the green palette below.  The white bark of the aspen seem to echo the peaks, tall and proud in their ivory, brooding in their shadows, flirtatious with their heart-shaped leaves, winking like so many ladies in the wind, fluttering their shamrock spring skirts.

Okay, so I was smitten by the setting.  <g>  But it was the people – the conference coordinators, Theresa Rizzo and Barbara Crawford, who orchestrated the perfect, intimate conference, and it was the editors and agents, warm, helpful, and willing to listen and to share, a rare combination, who gave perfect balance to the natural beauty outside the doors of the Grand Lodge during those three magical days.

To everyone who attended my workshops, thank you.  To everyone who shared that my novels touched them, that they seemed like a movie, that my characters inspired them … thank you.  I can only hope I gave you a gem, a whisper of encouragement in return, a spark that will make your writing shine, or make your reading even more fascinating.

More later.  Thank you.    As always, I invite your comments.