Archive for TWA

Tampa Writer’s Alliance

In an attempt to reintegrate myself in the writing habit and in the writing world, I forced my socially awkward, anxiety-stuffed self to revisit the Tampa Writer’s Alliance. Today was a special meeting where the face of the Gerber baby, author Ann Turner Cook, was speaking on the following:

“I strongly recommend paying a professional editor and getting the backing of an agent. Even if you don’t succeed in selling a work, this will assure it is of publishing quality. I found going with an established print-on-demand publisher works well in that you receive a professional-looking volume and don’t wind up with a garage of unsold books. I also recommend having a professional editor you can confer with in person. Prospective novelists must realize writing means a lot of re-writing, and should be willing to take suggestions for revision from their editor.”

The meeting was more about publishing and didn’t focus as much as I wished it did on the pros and cons of going the traditional publishing route. It was informative, don’t get me wrong, but a lot of what was discussed were things I was already familiar with or things I have already done. Like how the publishing world works. And I’ve already gone through the querying process and am aware of the “no-no’s” when contacting an agent. Still, it was great to hear a writer discuss it.

She was very old and didn’t get her first book published till she was about 75 in 2001, and she didn’t sound too familiar with ePublishing or anything like that. But again, I took away something from the meeting.

I also ended the night writing them a check for the membership fee, in order to reintroduce myself to the group. I intend on attending the Critique group sessions the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. If I’m going to continue procrastinating, at least I can keep my craft somewhat honed.