The RMC-SCBWI writers’ conference in Denver on September 18th and 19th was fun and beneficial. From a networking perspective, I was thrilled to meet several writers who live nearby and we set up a new critique group. In addition, I got to listen to published authors give inspirational speeches and share writing tips. Oddly enough, the best lesson I learned from the conference came a few days later, when I was home curled up with a good book.
I enjoyed listening to Elizabeth Law, publisher at Egmont USA, moderate a First Pages session in which she evaluated the beginnings of manuscripts submitted by attendees. During her literary discussions she made countless references to classic novels. I took notice because I hadn’t heard any of the other industry professionals who spoke during the week-end make these kinds of comments. Curious to find out more about Egmont, I bought Scones and Sensibility, one of its 2010 publications. It’s written by Lindsay Eland, who happened to be at the conference and was kind enough to autograph the book for me. (I loved rubbing elbows with published authors like Lindsay, it makes my goal to be published seem more attainable.)
Anyway, when I got home and began reading Scones and Sensibility--a cute novel about a modern day girl captivated by the romance of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice--I found it less than a coincidence that Elizabeth Law chose to publish a book about a classic. Clearly, she is partial to these kinds of books.
I’ve always heard publishing is a subjective business, but this experience really hit the concept home for me. When I’m ready to submit my manuscript (which better be soon -- if I could ever stop editing) I really need to seek out an agent who likes my kind of writing. In turn, that agent will know the tastes of specific editors and will know the right perspective publishing house for my manuscript.
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
