Terri Bischoff
In a week I will be headed out to Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Gold Conference. I am so excited!
For my job, as an acquiring editor, I don't actually need to go to conferences these days. I get so many submissions through agents that I don't have enough time to read them as they flow in. My publication schedule for 2019 is already pretty full. I guesstimate that I will only need to acquire 10 or less titles for the 36 slots I need to fill. But I still go to conferences.
Why, when they are physically and mentally draining? Because networking. Publishing is all about networking. You never know when you will make a connection with someone that will help advance your career. That goes for both the writer and the editor or agent. As an editor, I meet other editors and agents. I also meet writers who might write for me some day. And some writer might introduce me to someone in their critique group that has a fantastic manuscript that is waiting for the right editor to come along and buy it.
I also get to talk about publishing and answer questions that hopefully will demystify the process. It's cool to learn how we do things differently from other publishing houses. Or maybe we do it almost exactly the same way. It's talking shop, but with people who are eager to learn. I'll even tell you the things we aren't good at! When a writer attends a writing conference, they are getting access to people who are normally off limits. That is pretty cool. So it's a win-win, right? I also personally love to sign authors that I have met previously. It just makes the whole process more fun and rewarding.
I'm especially looking forward to this conference because I have signed a lot of folks because of it. Off the top of my head I can think of seven authors we have published who live in Colorado. (And I have to say, a ton of friends.) RMFW is a well run conference and the writing is really top notch. It's sold our for this year but keep it in mind if you are looking for a conference that will teach you a ton in a very short time.
And for any attendees out there I'm always looking for all kinds of crime fiction, from cozy and traditional to suspense and serial killer. I am always looking for marginalized voices as well.
See you next week, Denver.
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