The 22
nd Annual Southern California Writers' Conference *San Diego takes place Presidents' Day Weekend, Feb. 15-18, 2008.
Here's all the latest news:
1. Agents and editors aboard
2. Workshop leaders and advance submission readers
3. Advance submission deadline and details
4. Andrea Portes' query letter now available
5. Movie made at L.A. conference now online
6. Save $50 on registration
7. Free conference contest
8. Location of the conference
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1) Agents and editors aboard
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While more will be announced, agents and editors currently confirmed for February: Night Shade Books' editor in chief Jeremy Lassen, Sunbelt Books publisher Jennifer Redmond, agents Jessica Faust (BookEnds), Kate McKean (Howard Morhaim Lit.), Kelly Skillen (PMA Lit.), Mindy Stone (The Firm Mgt.), Sally van Haitsma (Castiglia Lit.), Natanya Wheeler (Lowenstein-Yost) and Kelly Sonnack (Dijkstra Lit.).
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2) Workshop leaders and advance submission readers
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New friends and familiar will be joining us for workshops and optional advance submission critique. Confirmed thus far: first-timers cyber-punk novelist and executive consultant to HBO's outstanding series, ROME, Josh Conviser, and celebrated, sometimes controversial columnist, essayist and poet Edwin Decker. Returning staff includes novelists Mark Clements, Ken Kuhlken, Thomas Larson, Whitney Lyles, Matthew J. Pallamary, Laura Preble, Frederick Ramsay, Alan Russell, Michele Scott, Julie Ann Shapiro, Alexandra Sokoloff and Amy Wallen; award-winning humorist Gordon Kirkland, writing provocateur Judy Reeves, as well as stalwart freelance editors/authors Dale Fetherling, Jean Jenkins and Mike Sirota. More to be announced.
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3) Advance submission deadline and details
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Deadline for submitting material for advance submission review, followed by one-on-one consultation at the conference is January 12, 2008. All material MUST be received by that date. No exceptions.
If you're selecting more than one reader, keep in mind that you may submit your materials in one package, so long as each submission is clearly addressed to its respective reader with a cover letter or some kind of note.
Material to submit to readers consists of the following:
For fiction and narrative nonfiction, the first 20 pages of your book, in addition to an optional cover page (recommended) and 1 to 2-page synopsis of the book in its entirety -- if you wish.
For nonfiction, in addition to the first 20 pages and optional cover page (recommended), the Table of Contents of your book.
Find the growing list of readers at http://writersconference.com/bios.htmlReaders and select name of reader to read specific genres of interest. Do note that we're updating the site as information comes in, so not all have their criteria listed yet.
Also keep in mind that the registration page will not list the available readers to select from until the bulk have been confirmed, over the next two weeks. In the meantime, you may register and select "To Be Determined." We will notify registered conferees via email when the list is posted.
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4) Andrea Portes' query letter now available
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SCWC*LA Friday evening speaker, author Andrea Portes, and her agent, Sally van Haitsma, wowed the audience with the tale of Andrea's outstanding query letter that hooked representation for her breakout novel, HICK. That query letter is now available on the site at http://www.writersconference.com/grafx/portes_query.gif. It's an image file, so be sure to right-click and save to your computer to print. (Thank you Andrea and Sally.)
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5) Movie made at L.A. conference now online
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Ripped from today's headlines, a salacious senator makes his last (wide) stance against bathroom injustice in this little movie we made at the Irvine conference a couple of weeks ago. Watch it on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=hoAyvWpS3AY and be sure to visit and Digg the website posted at the end. If you like it, past it along. Who knows what we'll come up with in San Diego!
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6) Save $50 on registration
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The Early "Bard" Discount, allowing you to knock $50 off full conference registration, expires December 1, 2007. Be sure to visit http://writersconference.com/register.html and save today.
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7) Free conference contest
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A half-page ad for the SCWC*SD is running in the WRITER'S GUIDE TO FICTION, just out from THE WRITER magazine. For those who can identify the literary source and signicance of the big symbol featured prominently on the left side of the ad, we'll be taking entrees for a drawing at the San Diego conference. The first lucky winning name pulled out of the hat will win a free full conference pass to our Los Angeles (Irvine) 2008 or San Diego 2009 conference. Good luck!
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8) Location of the conference
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SCWC*SD22 will be held at the same location as the past two years, though newly renamed and under new ownership. The Crowne Plaza San Diego (formerly Red Lion Hanalei) handles all lodging reservations directly. The hotel is also the physical site of the conference. Its address: 2270 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108; Telephone: (619) 297-6049; Website: www.cp-SanDiego.com. Be sure to mention the SCWC when booking to ensure you receive the discount rate. Those planning to stay at the hotel must book by no later than January 15, 2008 to ensure the conference discount.
Write well!
--msg
Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC
http://www.WritersConference.com