HAWK workshop

The workshop went well last weekend. As always, Bill Bernhardt and the HAWK staff created an environment catered to the previous year's requests and critiques. Authors of HAWK books, a tv personality, a lawyer, a marketing director, and more offered workshops for attendees. It was a full two days.

A couple of years have passed since I've had a shot at teaching, so getting back into the groove was fun. I wholeheartedly approached my Indiana Jones theme by taking a bullwhip and throwing snakes (not real!) into the audience. Indie has a lot to teach writers about revision. Hopefully, the attendees learned something because I certainly had a good time. When my book comes out on November 18, I look forward to the opportunity of teaching/speaking engagements. If you know anyone who is interested, just send me a line.

Here are some worthy comments from the speakers:

"A pile of rejections doesn't spell doom if it's a pile of rejections from the wrong people."--Melissa Flashman, an agent at Trident Media.

This comment should inspire writers to not only research the genres agents like but to also keep trying. When discussing a hook for a query letter or pitch, she said that clever words don't interest her, but genre does.

"Smaller press can make you a priority on a list. A book that sells 10,000 copies will sell that many no matter who publishes it. If that’s the case with your book, consider that because people look at your numbers. It’s often the ones with the big advances that have difficulty selling the next book because the numbers are in the red." Paul Taunton, an editor at Random House

Not only am I thrilled to work with HAWK, a smaller house, but Paul's words reassured me that HAWK was the right house for my book. They really have made me a priority by allowing me to have a say on everything from final edits to book design. Where else can a first time writer get that sort of respect?

Below is a pic of some of my writing friends--old and new--who were at the workshop.

The interview

Being on the news last Thursday was an experience. I couldn't believe how nervous I was. (For those of you who watched, you probably heard my voice quiver on the second sentence.)Encouraging emails from friends bolstered my spirits. Knowing nice people were out there watching helped me gain courage. Thank you! Everyone we encountered at News 6 was kind, too. It seemed like a fun place to work.

On the way there, I practiced with Garrett different possible questions. Prior to that, my mom "interviewed" me as well. (Yes, I know, they're indulgent.) Of course, none of us anticipated the actual questions. Plus, I was thrown off when they realized they'd misplaced the cover to Glamour. Maybe they'll have me back in November to talk about the book since most of it was promoting the writing workshop this weekend, which, by the way, is still open for registration.

After all was said and done, I was in the building no longer than 15 minutes. Garrett and I checked in, and they let us through the door. Next thing I knew we were sitting in the studio. Beside me was a lady wearing a major set of headphones, and a few feet in front of us was a woman working the computer and teleprompter. On an elevated stage sat Glenda Silvey and a doctor answering telephone questions.

A few moments later, the smiling camera man rushed to me and said, "You're up next." Agh! He led me to the stage and clipped a microphone to my sweater. Glenda told me they were going to ask me a bit about being a writer and the workshop. My head was still spinning when she asked the first question...live.

The experience was worth repeating. If there is a next time, I'll know more what to expect!

Tulsa News Channel 6

If you're able to watch the news on 6 in Tulsa, OK, this Thursday, tune in! You'll get to witness my first interview. I think we'll discuss HAWK's workshop and Glamour. I'm scheduled for 12:40.

HAWK Writing Workshop in Tulsa, OK

3 reasons to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 21-22, 2008.
3. Tornado season is mostly at an end by then.
2. The HAWK Writing Workshop is a good one.

1. I'm speaking at the HAWK Writing Workshop!

I've attended previous workshops and have been thrilled at the different approach taken by HAWK. It's not like any conference I've ever attended. There is a personal touch that makes you feel comfortable and opens you up to learning. This year promises to be even better--and not just because I plan to dazzle my (captive) audience. The model for the weekend changes each session, so just because you've attended one before does not mean you know what to expect. The organizers really seem to pay attention to feedback and give attendees what they want. For example, this year the first day will have two tracks: one for fiction and one for non-fiction. The next day will be focused on selling your work.

One of my favorite aspects of the event is that it's a real workshop. Sure, speakers will talk to you and pull some of the lecture-y stuff you get at conferences around the nation, but here they also give you activities you can use in your writing as well as the opportunity to practice new skills. For example, one year we had a one-on-one pitch practice session. I watched others give their pitches and get critiqued as well as practicing my pitch. The experience was invaluable for pitch sessions as well as query letters. The personal contact with speakers and other attendees makes the learning continue beyond the sessions.

Learn more information here. Check out the faculty here. Register here

February 24

My mom and I watched the Broadway production of August: Osage County. The guys went to the Natural History Museum, which they said is nothing like Ben Stiller's movie At the Museum.

The first act was especially good. I thought it seemed to have elements of Steel Magnolias and Terms of Endearment. Tracy Letts created a believably kooky family--even if a certain subplot was a little icky. As the play continued for three acts I wondered if the theater was trying to add to the setting of an Oklahoma August by smothering us. I think I'd seen a show in that theater before and remembered a leaky roof that did not help the fact that it was frigid.

One of the reasons we'd wanted to see the play was because the playwright was the son of Oklahoma's own Billi Letts, who wrote Where the Heart Is (you know, the Oprah book that became a movie and was about the girl who had a baby at Wal Mart). Letts has such a knack with creating characters, we wanted to see if her talent rubbed off on her son. We met her at HAWK's Heartland writing workshop last summer, and she glowed with pride as she spoke of her son's play. Below is a picture of some of my writing pals with the author:

The show was a family affair. Her husband Dennis Letts played the father. His monologue opened the show. We were disappointed to see that someone was filling in for him. When Mama returned home she explained why the actor missed the show. After reading local Oklahoma papers, she learned he'd died that Friday--two days before the performance. My heart goes out to their family in their loss. I've heard her speak a couple of times, and she seems like a sincere person whose pride and love for her family are evident.