Just a short note to tell you about last night. I went to the Mystery Writers of America Agents and Editor’s Cocktail Party. I was planning to meet my pal and fellow Sister in Crime, Anne Marie Sutton. Even before I found Anne Marie, I ran smack dab into Cheryl Solimini, an old friend from Sleuthfest 2006. Cheryl’s mystery novel, Across the River, won Deadly Ink’s Best Mystery Award and will be released by DI Press on June 24th. I can’t wait to read it since I am so familiar with the New Jersey geography that is central to the story. You know I’ll be telling you more as soon as I get my hands on a copy.
The Women of Mystery blog was well represented. It’s always super terrific to see Laura, Clare and Catherine in person and not just on the blog.
I turned away from a serving tray and there he was, the inimitable James Lincoln Warren from the Criminal Brief blog. James introduced me to Angela Zeman, a former Criminal Briefer, whose blog entries I much enjoyed. If you love reading or writing short stories, you should visit Criminal Brief. The eclectic mix of writers talking about the craft frequently sets my mind a-whirling. And that's always a good thing.
And yes, I did manage to pitch and collect a few business cards, but for me, talking with these friends made the evening a grand and glorious time.
Terrie
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Criminally Brief
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6 comments:
Great to see you, Terrie! I love the Agents and Editors party...even though I already have an agent, it's so exciting to see all the connections being made there.
I had a great time seeing the other WoM and meeting other attendees! However, Laura and I were working the registration table, and I was disappointed at all the No-Shows from the author side. Many of the authors from outside NYC register to attend come to meet their editors and socialize and/or see the Mary Higgins Clark Award, but... All the agents and editors are wearing color-coded name badges to make it easy for people- yes, you're supposed to approach them and introduce yourself! I met my agent at this event two years ago.
It's a fantastic chance to meet agents in person, pitch your book while they're ready and willing to hear about it, eliminate those that aren't a good fit, and get invitations to submit samples for consideration. This bumps you ahead of the aptly-named blind query letters and gives you something to add to your cover letter like: I enjoyed meeting you at last week's MWA Agents & Editors party. Thank you for requesting the first three chapters of my manuscript XXXX. As you may recall, ..." Also, then you can write on the envelope the important legend "Requested Material" which helps you avoid the slush pile once it's verified you're legit. Or, you may just get an e-mail address (more common these days) and zip it on in to the person directly! It just advances your cause, gets a serious reading of your sample, and lets your writing stand for itself. What else can you ask?
I have told MWA members repeatedly, or people considering joining, that if they participate in NO other event during the year, if they need representation, this is THE event to attend. It's a free party, sponsored by MWA for members and invited guests (the publishing professionals), but the attendee list is always limited in size for the room. That's better odds for the attending writers, but the list typically closes out long before the event. Later registrants can be and are turned away for space constraints. That means every blinking No-Show who doesn't make an effort to notify MWA in advance of the day of takes a spot from someone who could/would really use it. As the event goes on, MWA's doyenne Margery Flax usually allows in a few more latecomers if they're present to compensate for the No-Shows, but there's no guarantee, and who shows up to wait in the lobby with me and Laura for an hour to see if they can go in?
Even if you have representation, it's an opportunity to meet editors- like I did last night- so my agent can later forward them material. You can also meet celebrated authors to pick their brains for advice. Regardless of how uncomfortable you might feel approaching strangers, a huge part of MWA's purpose in throwing this cocktail party is to help aspiring writers make personal connections that set them apart and help their careers. Editors and agents get to talk amongst themselves all the time. This 2 hours is for meeting writers, new people, and establishing new contacts.
I know that some people attending will make great use of the business cards and MS requests they got, but I just wish more writers who needed the event would register early and show up! If they had to take a train/bus in and out the same day, and skipped attending any other MWA Symposium events or the Edgars, all they'd pay was their fares.
Last night, the writers were likely outnumbered by the agents and editors, who were provided refreshment and good company and were happily there to mingle. That's a precious opportunity.
Wow- My comment's longer than the post! Sue me. I'm passionate about seeing writers get good opportunities.
Gosh, Clare. Tell us how you really feel! :)
The Bag Lady is jealous of your opportunities out there on the east coast... someday when she actually finishes more than 2 pages of her WIP, maybe she'll get a chance to go to a cocktail party in the Big Apple. (she is not, however, holding her breath.) In the meantime, it's beer on the ranch for her!
Hi All,
Laura, it was a great party.
Clare, you are absolutely correct. I heard the fabled words "send me something" from four agents and one editor and had polite chats with several others without any result. It is a reasonably painless two hours.
As to the no-shows--last year I was hospitalized and managed to let Margery know that I couldn't make it. There is no excuse for no-shows.
df Bag Lady, keep writing. You never know what life brings.
Terrie
I regret I missed the MWA dinner and meeting you, but there's always a next time.
Good for you for networking a bit--I'm terrible at that.
Sounds like a great time!
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