My goal for Conference 101 is twofold: First, I hope to reduce–or better yet, eliminate–the fear factor. Rubbing elbows with successful authors and New York agents sounds scary, but this is the friendliest environment imaginable. Authors and agents come here to share what they know, meet the NEXT generation of successful authors, and to be surrounded by people who love to read, write and tell stories. Second, I want Conference 101 to give newcomers a heads up on what to expect and how to get the most out of the two days that will follow. How should they decide which session to attend? How can they get feedback on the novel they’ve written?  Where can they hook up with people who want to write in their genre?

I’ve taught at writers’ workshops from Cape Cod to San Diego. Each one has a unique personality, but none is more motivating than MWW. That’s why people come back year after year. And that’s why it keeps growing.

Best piece of advice for persons heading to Muncie in July: Keep an open mind. If you write romance novels, sit in on a poetry class; if nonfiction is your passion, go hear how to plot a cozy mystery. In other words, plan to stretch yourselves in all sorts of new ways. The best part of being a writer is that you never master it. You’re always learning and experimenting.

 

About Holly:

Among my noteworthy accomplishments:

1) Serving as a contributing editor to a magazine geared to high-tech professionals at a time when I barely knew how to switch on my IBM PC Jr.

2) Ghost-writing a book for a champion bodybuilder when I hadn’t been inside a gym since grade school.

3) Interviewing Judge Judy and living to tell about it (actually, she was very nice!)