2015 Summer Writing Conferences

Here's a list of writing conferences happening this summer.

Agent-Conference Opportunities

There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2015. Remember: Meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or book proposal, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration.

Know that there are two types of conferences. There are general writers' conferences, that address a variety of subjects, and then there are specialized conferences, which usually tend to focus on a single genre-such as western, romance, or mystery. You will find both kinds in this list below.

Jackson Hole Writers Conference, June 25-27, 2015, Jackson Hole, WY
Attending agents: Sarah Levitt (Zoë Pagnamenta Agency); Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis); Katherine Fausset (Curtis Brown, Ltd); and Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman Associates).

Writer's Digest Conference East, July 31 - Aug. 2, 2015, New York, NY 
The website is live, and we have 54 agents already confirmed to be there as part of the conference's Pitch Slam. Be aware that the pitch slam timing is already more than 3/4 sold out.

Michigan Writing Workshop, Sept. 12, 2015, outside Detroit, MI
Attending agents: Alice Speilburg (Speilburg Literary); Brent Taylor (TriadaUS); Amanda Luedeke (MacGregor Literary); and Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media).

San Diego Writers' Conference , Oct. 9, 2015, San Diego, CA
Attending agents: Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); Courtney Miller-Callihan (Sanford J. Greenberger Associates); Taylor Martindale (Full Circle Literary); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); literary agent Jennifer Azantian (Azantian Literary); Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary Agency).

Writing Conference of Los Angeles, Oct. 10, 2015, Los Angeles 
Attending agents: Jamie Weiss Chilton (Andrea Brown Literary); Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Nephele Tempest (The Knight Agency); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); literary agent Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman & Associates); literary agent Valerie Noble (Donaghy Literary); Eve Porinchak (Jill Corcoran Literary). 

Indiana "Get Published" Writing Workshop, Oct. 24, 2015, Indianapolis 
Attending agents: Alice Speilburg (Speilburg Literary), Victoria Lea (Aponte Literary), Laura Crockett of TriadaUS, and Amanda Luedeke (MacGregor Literary).

Connecticut Writing Workshop, Nov. 13, 2015, Hartford, CT
Attending agents: Lane Heymont (The Seymour Agency); Kimiko Nakamura (Dee Mura Literary); Kaylee Davis (Dee Mura Literary); Penny Moore (FinePrint Literary). 

Boston Writers Conference, Nov. 14, 2015, Boston, MA 
Attending agents: Rick Richter (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth), literary agent Lane Heymont (The Seymour Agency), literary agent Ruben Pfeffer (Ruben Pfeffer Content), literary agent Kimiko Nakamura (Dee Mura Literary), literary agent Ann Collette (Rees Literary Agency), literary agent Lana Popovic (Chalberg & Sussman), literary agent Amaryah Orenstein (GO Literary), literary agent Kaylee Davis (Dee Mura Literary). 

Alabama Writers Conference, February 19, 2016, Birmingham, AL 
Attending agents: Julie Gwinn (The Seymour Agency); Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary); Veronica Park (Corvisiero Literary); and Lauren MacLeod (Strothman Agency).

Atlanta Writing Workshop, February 20, 2016, Atlanta, GA
Attending agents: Cherry Weiner (Cherry Weiner Literary); Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary); Pamela Harty (The Knight Agency); Veronica Park (Corvisiero Literary); Sally Apokedak (Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency).

Tampa Writers Conference , March 25, 2016, Tampa, FL
Attending agents: Lucienne Diver (The Knight Agency); Marlene Stringer (Stringer Literary Agency); Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency); Saritza Hernandez (Corvisiero Literary); and Amanda Leuck (Spencerhill Associates).

Fort Lauderdale "Get Published" Conference, March 26, 2016, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Attending agents: Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency); Greg Aunapu (Salkind Literary); Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary); Cricket Freeman (The August Agency).

New Literary Agents 6/18/2015

Good Morning, Everyone.

Following are to new literary agents to query. I got their news from an email from GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS. Click on their names to find out more about them.


2 New Agents Seeking New Writers NOW 

Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying!  

1. Moe Ferrara of BookEnds, LLC

She is seeking: Moe is interested in science fiction and fantasy for all age groups (no picture books). She loves a bit (or a lot!) of romance in her fiction, so the right contemporary or historical romance will spark her interest. She's LGBTQ friendly, so send her that male/male erotic romance in your back pocket! At this time she's not looking for nonfiction, women's fiction, or cozy mysteries.

2. Saba Sulaiman of Talcott Notch Literary

She is seeking: In adult fiction, she seeks upmarket literary and commercial fiction, romance (all subgenres except paranormal), character-driven psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries, and memoir. In young adult, she seeks all subgenres except paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi. She's particularly interested in contemporary realistic stories, fast-paced mysteries, or lush historicals. She also seeks middle grade fiction. In nonfiction, she accepts humor books.

How to Craft Characters Scene by Scene

Here my last post for today.



How to Craft Characters Scene by Scene
Dimensional characters are born from drama-not description. Here's why (and how) to delve into your characterizations one defining scene at a time. 
Read more ...

Script Writing: Creating Your Main Characters

Here's a bunch of articles from SCRIPT Magazine email I got in my inbox. check them out.


Top Ten Tips for Creating Winning Characters
Susan Kouguell gives her top 10 tips for creating winning characters in your screenplays that will get executives to champion your project.
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SCRIPT NOTES: How Dual Mentor Characters Work
WGA writer Michael Tabb illustrates and analyses the use of multiple mentor characters in a single screenplay.
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COLUMN D: Main Character Arc - First Ten, Last Five
Drew Yanno explores one of the most effective ways to show your main character arc in the first and last pages of our script.
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Essentials of Having an Active Protagonist + Exclusive FREE Download
Begin on this page by exploring the definition and essentials of having a strong protagonist, followed by a few examples. Then be sure you get your FREE download of 4 Crucial Questions for Your Protagonist to learn how to create an active protagonist to drive your story! 
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ScriptMag Archives: BREAKING IN: Winning Screenwriting Contests Using Psych 101
ScriptMag looks back at older articles that still pack value for today's screenwriter. This week, let's revisit Staton Rabin's thoughts on using Psych 101 to increase your odds of screenwriting contest success.
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I dare you to recreate me!

Free Writing Downloads From Writer's Digest

Hello, readers.

Following is a list of free downloads for writing resources.

FREE WRITING DOWNLOADS

• How Do I Write & Sell Short Fiction?
• Freelance Pricing Guide
• Promoting Your Work and Yourself
• Why Am I Getting Rejected?
• Protecting Your Writing
• Selling Your Work Online
• Fiction Genre Descriptions

Pixar's Emotional Core: Character Development Intensive with Karl Iglesias

Here's something for you. Creating that emotional core. The emotional core can make a script. Following is a course that can help show you how to develop an emotional core in your script.

SCREENWRITERS UNIVERSITY Screenwriters University  :  The Writers Store  :  Screenwriting Software  :  Screenwriting Webinars Pixar's Emotional Core: Character Development Intensive with Karl Iglesias  Course Starts Thursday, June 18! Every great film causes the viewer to want go on an emotional journey with your characters.  Pixar's amazing track record has shown that they have been consistently successful in  tapping into the essential qualities that can make audiences care about their characters  and stories. UCLA screenwriting instructor and author Karl Iglesias will take your writing  to the next level, using an in-depth analysis of Pixar's master storytelling and character-building  techniques. In this week-long intensive, you'll first watch and discuss (via discussion boards) a three-part  video lecture exploring the way Pixar has harnessed the essential ingredients of quality  storytelling and great character development to form the strong emotional core of some of  the most successful movies of the last 20 years. Then, you'll apply those ingredients to  creating a synopsis of your main character for critique to ensure that your main character  has the qualities that would make your audience want to follow his or her journey. REGISTER NOW Course Starts Tomorrow! Course Outline • Session One: Character Connection, The Three Pillars of the Emotional Core, Four ways to connect • Session Two: The Emotional Core Formula, How to Create Emotional Stakes, Finding a Worthy Motivation, Review of Emotional Core in Specific Pixar Films • Session Three: Finding Your Story's Engine, The Seven Basic Spines, Review and Closing Notes • Assignment: Submit a one-page (no more than 350 words) synopsis of your character for review Who should take this course: • Writers who want to maximize the reader's emotional response to their stories • Writers who want to go beyond the basics of the craft • Writers who want to learn how Pixar creates masterful stories • Writers who want to take their writing to the next level • Writers who struggle with their rewrites • Writers who want direct feedback on how to improve their main character You Will Learn: • The one and only storytelling rule that can never be broken • How to find the emotional core of your story, as well as the plot's engine • The four elements that create a strong emotional connection with your characters • The three essential throughlines in a story including the one most writers ignore • How to make sure the stakes in your story are truly emotional • The key to keeping the reader hooked until the end of your story • Whether your main character fits the mold of a character that audiences want to watch, and if not, how to get your character there. REGISTER NOW

Karl Iglesias Karl Iglesias is the best-selling author of THE 101 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS, and WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT. He also writes a regular column on the craft for CREATIVE SCREENWRITING magazine.  A graduate of Cornell University, he has worked as a script analyst and development executive for various production companies. As a script consultant passionate about great storytelling, he specializes in reader emotional response. Register Now About Writers Store    |   Expert Advice    |   Contact Us

Final Draft Resources

Okay.

This is my last post for the day. Then its back to work on my clients' material.

The following is a newsletter from FINAL DRAFT. I think you may be interest in reading it. You may also be interested in subscribing to it.

Click here to view online

Company Newsletter

Big Break Regular Deadline – June 16 Get your scripts ready! The Big Break regular deadline is fast approaching. Big Break winners share in over $80,000 worth of prizes, including a place in the prestigious NYFA Screenwriting Fellowship.

Enter Now

Final Draft 9.0.7 update now available  To download the latest version, simply visit your Help menu in Final Draft 9 and select “Check for Updates”. The program will prompt you to update if you are running an older version. Update Now Final Draft Writer for iPhone & iPad out now  Creativity is now truly portable. With the Writer App for iPhone & iPad, you can make edits on the move, email scripts to your colleagues, or even start a screenplay from scratch – right from your iPhone and iPad. Currently the app is on sale for $14.99 for a limited time. Get inspired today. Buy Now Final Draft at ATX  Final Draft was proud to sponsor the Pitching Competition at this year’s ATX Festival in Austin. Phil Galasso, our Director of Studio Relations, was on hand to hear some amazing pitches, as well as demo the new Writer App for iPhone & iPad.  Learn More Final Draft salutes Robert Towne at Nantucket Film Festival  We are proud to support the 2015 Screenwriters Tribute at the Nantucket Film Festival on June 27, where legendary screenwriter and Final Draft Hall of Famer Robert Towne (Chinatown, The Last Detail) will be celebrated for his extraordinary contribution to screenwriting.  Learn More How I Broke In: An interview with Brian Duffield  We speak to Brian Duffield, writer of the mega–hit sequel Insurgent, about his early scripts, landing on the Black List, and how success meant finally being able to afford valet parking.  Read Here

Copyright © 2015 Final Draft, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Final Draft, Inc., 26707 W. Agoura Rd., Suite 205, Calabasas, CA 91302

Elevate Your Antagonist with Tips in Our FREE Download

Dear Readers,

Here is another post for you. It concerns the "antagonist". Click below to get a free download on step to creating an antagonist. Mind you this download is from SCRIPT Magazine.

Elevate Your Antagonist with Tips in Our FREE Download
Get your FREE download of 6 Tips for a Stand-Out Antagonist to learn how to create an compelling nemesis for your protagonist! 
Click to Continue

Brainstorming Ideas For Writing Script and Novels

The hard part of writing is writers block. We all get it. following are some articles from SCRIPT Magazine that tell of how to over come writer's block and start brainstorming ideas. Click on the to get the details.

• More articles by Steve Kaire
• 
  
• Jeanne’s Tuesday Screenwriting Tip: 7 Brainstorming Techniques
• 
  
• 12 Brainstorming Techniques
• 
  
• Balls of Steel: Brainstorming Partner – The Perfect Storm
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Enter 2015 Writing Competition Win $5,000 and a Literary Agent!

Hello, Readers!

Here is a contest that you may be interested in entering.

Your work could be seen by editors and agents—and you could pocket big money! Be among the very best. For more than 80 years, Writer's Digest has been showcasing the year's most deserving work in its Annual Writing Competition and this could be your year to join this elite club. Don't second-guess yourself. In order to be recognized, your work has to be seen. Enter by June 19 and you could win: $5,000 in prize money An announcement of your win on the cover of Writer's Digest A 30-minute Platform Strategy Consultation with Chuck Sambuchino National exposure for your work One-on-one attention with four editors or agents A paid trip to the ever-popular Writer's Digest Annual Conference in New York City! What we're looking for: Your finest work! Submit what really showcases your unique talents. Entries representing a wide variety of genres are encouraged! See the full list of categories here. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

Writing Dialogue for Emotional Impact

Dear Readers,

Happy June. Summer is here now.

It has been a while since I made an entry. I've been busy with my own writing and with clients. One client I have got an agent for his script. So we've been working hard on that project, doing rewrites. Please note that even after getting an agent you will have to do rewrites. As I have told writers many times, the first and second drafts are never perfect for scripts and novels.

Today I have an post concerning DIALOG. So check it out.

SCREENWRITERS UNIVERSITY

Screenwriters University  :  The Writers Store  :  Screenwriting Software  :  Screenwriting Webinars Are your characters saying exactly what they mean? Are their exchanges simply there to move the plot along? It's time to rethink your approach! Award-winning instructor, Karl Iglesias, will show you how to give your dialogue the makeover it needs. Learn how to write emotional and subtle dialogue that will leave your reader wanting more in this four-week online class. Join today! In Writing Dialogue for Emotional Impact you will learn: More than 45 effective dialogue techniques that will help you turn your story's dialogue from boring to exciting The nine requirements of great dialogue The most common dialogue problems found in amateur scripts and how to avoid them 15 advanced, effective techniques to create emotionally-impactful dialogue 10 techniques for dialogue that individualizes your characters How to present information through dialogue in a way that engages the reader Nine effective ways to create subtle exposition in your script How to avoid "on-the-nose" dialogue and 12 techniques to turn "on-the-nose" dialogue into subtext -- Happy Writing! Kristin KRISTIN HALL Instructional Designer Screenwriters University Have a Question? Contact Us Featured Workshop Start Date: 6/11  Instructor: Karl Iglesias Length: 4 Weeks About the Instructor Writing Dialogue For Emotional Impact with Karl Iglesias Karl Iglesias teaches at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, where he’s been awarded Outstanding Instructor for 2010. He is the best-selling author of THE 101 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS, and WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT. He also contributed chapters to NOW WRITE SCREENWRITING and UCLA's CUT TO THE CHASE. A graduate of Cornell University, he has worked as a script analyst and development executive for various production companies. As a script consultant passionate about great storytelling, he specializes in reader emotional response. He can be reached through his website at www.karliglesias.com.