A Word in Your Eye

Writing Excuses 5.12: Time Travel!

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/12/12/writing-excuses-5-12-time-travel/

Key Points: Treat your writing professionally. Learn your own process. Don't just wish, start! Shut up and start. Be wary of collaboration. Be true to yourself, write the books you care about. Try out different ways of writing (outlining, discovery writing, etc.) early. Try new things! Pay attention to what you love, and don't worry. You can make a living writing books.
( Across the great time barrier... )
[Brandon] All right. Your writing prompt is to go forward in time and get next week's writing prompt and write a story based on it.
[Dan] Nice.
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.

Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 10: Do's and Don'ts of Attending Cons

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/02/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-10-the-dos-and-donts-of-attending-cons/

Key points: Don't be a booth barnacle. Beware of the fan moment! As an aspiring professional, present yourself as a professional. Know who you want to meet, and why, and respect their schedule. Have leading questions that are easy for them to answer, such as "Do you have a few minutes some time to talk?" "What panels are you on that you would recommend for an aspiring writer?" or "What are you working on now?" Don't ask "What are you looking for?" Don't be belligerent. Have a plan, and listen. Go to the publisher panels and listen. Don't carry a manuscript. Do carry a business card. Do plan to take notes. Do look for blogs. Do go to panels on writing. And mostly, quite sincerely, have fun.
( on the con floor... )
[Brandon] I think we've gone long enough. Let's go ahead and finish our writing prompt. Dan? What does the person have in their pocket?
[Dan] What does he have in his pocket?
[Brandon] It's not the one ring, that's not allowed. And it's not allowed to be nothing, either.
[Dan] It's not the one ring? He has an entire universe in his pocket.
[Brandon] Um. And it's not peace-bonded.
[Laughter]