I'm a writer without a network.

There I said it. I'm a writer....yet I have no writer friends or associates. How is that possible? How did I manage to create such a solitary existence for myself? These are questions I ask myself, among many others like my usual "who am I and why I am here?" This year I attended a writer's conference at Medgar Evers College, but I really didn't get as much as I was expecting from it. I suppose I was hoping to experience something like I experienced in Las Vegas in 2009 at the Black Writers Reunion & Conference, where I met some talented up and coming writers who inspired me. And now, the 2012 Black Writers Reunion & Conference is right around the corner and I still haven't made up my mind on whether or not to attend. I'll have a lot going on around this time, saving for my fall tuition being one. I have to prioritize. I attended in 2009 and still think about, it was just that rewarding. Worth every penny. In looking at the photos from last year's conference, I recognize some faces and see how attending every year builds lasting friendships and professional connections. I want that....no, I need that. I'll make my final decision by the end of next week after punching a few numbers in the calculator. Check out the sessions below. How can I not make this happen, seems pretty interesting, right? Friday's lineup is going to be awesome.



Wednesday, August 29, 2012

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Telling Your Tale: Writing & Publishing Your First Novel
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Meet the Author Reception

Thursday, August 30, 2012

7:00 am – 7:30 am Senses at Sunrise Dr. Anita Heiss
8:00 am – 3:30 am Registration
8:00 am – 9:30 am Welcome Breakfast — Opening Session
9:00 am – 7:30 pm Exhibitors
9:30 am – 5:00 pm Agent Pitch Sessions – By Appointment Only

Morning Workshops
9:35 am Writing Faction
Staging the Page
Judging Your Book By Its Cover

11:10 am 5 Senses to Impactful Fiction
Landing a Book Deal in 2012+
Gritty Writer’s Website Strategies

Afternoon Workshops
1:30 pm Get Media Coverage Now
Mastering the Art of the Book Pitch
It All Adds Up

3:05 pm Journaling as a Writing Tool
Plotting Boot Camp I (3 hrs)
Formatting Your Novel for ePublishing (3 hrs)

4:40 pm Clarity & Depth

Evening
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Poetry on the Roof


Friday, August 31, 2012

8:00 am – 2:00 pm Registration
9:00 am – 7:30 pm Exhibitors

Morning Workshops
7:00 am – 7:30 am Senses at Sunrise
7:30 am Yoga on the Beach
7:30 am Plotting Boot Camp II (3 hours)
9:00 am M.A.D. Writing (Making a Difference)
Structure & Style
Powerful Writing: Spirit, Nature & Experience

10:10 am Conquering Writer’s Block & Silencing the Inner Critic
Using Test Readers
Comedy Writing

11:20 am Balancing Life & Writing
Characters, Emotion, Viewpoint & Voice
Your Writing as an Investment in Others’ Growth
Network the Write Way


Afternoon Workshops
1:30 pm Anatomy of a Bestseller
Live the Writer’s Life AND Pay the Bills
Legal Matters that Matter to Writers
Writing for Television

3:05 pm Bios, One Sheets & About Pages
Making the Most of Your Editing Experience
Screenplay to the Silver Screen

Evening
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Reception
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm Sex On The Beach — Erotic Fiction Readings