Day Two | Broadleaf 10th Anniversary Writers Conference

 

I repeated the same motions as I had the morning before. I pulled into the underground parking garage, walked the cobblestone downtown, and popped into B-Side. When I entered, iced water was handed over to the same woman carrying a threadbare blanket. The same kindness warmed my heart.


The first day of the conference had been an emotional roller coaster for me, but I knew it was because of my own insecurities. I was determined to make the most of this opportunity and grow before returning to my isolated writing bubble. 


As I entered the library the vibe felt electric. It was the second day and the ice was broken and walls were down, everyone mingled and shared with each other openly. 

Broadleaf is the first writer's conference where I really connected with the speakers, agents, and other mentors. I loathe "bothering" anyone, so when these professionals made the effort to be approachable during breaks it emboldened me to introduce myself and engage. 

Film Screening

The opening session began with a short film, "And the Moon Sees Me" by Odessa Blaine. It was full of creepy Southern Gothic goodness and I didn't want it to end. 

The Author and Agent Dynamic


I was so close to choosing a different session. I've experienced many workshops on this topic, but I'm thankful I didn't! I was impressed by their team chemistry and culture of encouragement. 

Jessie and Allie shared their winding path to their literary agent, Kristen. They also shared about their journey to publication after beginning work with Kristen. 

Kristen shared what drew her to these talented authors and the environment she cultivates with her team.


Mentoring Session with Monica Cox

Monica and I had already been messaging each other that morning, but what I didn't know is that Monica had attended the First-Page Critique the afternoon prior and so she was there when they discussed my work. 

Monica was everything I could hope her to be--surprised by the agents' confusion, but then motivated to help me sharpen my first-page to make it the best possible version it could be. 

We utilized every second of our ten minutes together to brainstorm ways to improve the clarity of the page. I tucked away all of her nuggets of wisdom and then used the rest of the next session to put her advice into action.


Lunch

By now, I was mixing and mingling with everyone and feeling so much better--about my own work and how much this conference was helping me. I was being pushed, in all the best ways! Over sub sandwiches and a surprisingly delicious packaged cookie, I chatted with writers and industry professionals. We swapped social media handles and shared about our work with authentic connection. 



Diving in and Fleshing Out

Panelists: Jeff Clemmons | Ann Hite

This session was about researching both fiction and non-fiction work. It was another session where I felt like I was scrambling to keep up with all the nuggets of gold. I'm pretty sure I could sit on the back porch with Jeff and Ann discussing their work for days. I'm putting their advice into action soon as I plan my trip to the University of Florida library.

  • Change "write what you know" to "write what you can learn".
  • Be a perpetual learner.
  • Research Tools:
    • The book tab on Google
    • Newspaper.com
    • Atalanta History Center
    • University Libraries
  • Question everything you read!
    • Cross-Reference
    • Look for agendas.
    • 1 lie gets repeated and becomes "truth"
  • Cemeteries are a repository of culture: art and civilization.
  • Don't preach (maintain a neutral tone).
  • Passion shows on the page.
  • Human nature never changes.
  • Make history come alive.


The Introvert’s Nightmare


This session dove into marketing and publicity for authors. Many entrepreneurs struggle with this, but us writers are a special kind of introvert. I appreciated the creative ideas, the background knowledge on publicists, and how these writers shared with authenticity. 
  • Experiment before the book deal (TikTok, book clubs, etc.)
  • Do it scared!
  • Push yourself.
  • Develop connections (local, social media)
  • Promote other writers: we are great when we make each other great
  • Go where the readers are.
  • Find what works for you (video, photo, book clubs).
  • Lean into what you do well.
  • Invest now, the pay off comes later.
  • Put yourself out there and find your people.
  • Whose campaigns resonate with you?
  • Prepare a Press Kit.
  • Create a downloadable Book Club PDF on your website.
  • Schedule 1-hour of marketing/publicity per week.
  • Get involved: library, bookstores, community, nonprofit space
  • Build your community.
  • Know how to talk a bout your book: elevator pitch.
  • Visually show up with your brand: clothing, colors, be memorable

Conclusion

I showed up and did the thing. 

Was it hard? Yes. Was it worth it? Hell, yes.

Before the conference I was feeling very stuck and isolated, I returned feeling empowered and connected.  

Thank You...

To Broadleaf and their amazing staff who invested their time and effort into a conference that really invested in writers. Thank you for cultivating a culture where we were seen and valued. Thank you to the authors, speakers, literary agents, and other industry professionals for engaging with us and attending classes even when you weren't presenting. 

Aspiring authors can read books on craft, but we can't create human experiences like you provided.


Day One of the Broadleaf 10th Anniversary Writers Conference



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