A Bit of the Old West...



Yosemite, California 2007

Labels: California, Old West, Photography, Yosemite Writer's Conference

  posted by Matildakay at 11:48 PM 0 comments

Yosemite Writers Conference: The writers New Year
In trying to sum up my experience at the Yosemite Writers Conference I thought I’d share a few of the memorable sentiments, phrases and writing advice that really resonated with me.

“Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth,” ~Pablo Picasso, “and that is fiction” ~Ginny Rorby

“Sheroes” (women heroes) ~Brenda Knight

“You can change what people think with your writing.” ~N.L. Belardes

“Social networking is a way to raise awareness.” ~N.L. Belardes

“Write from the heart, write what’s around you, write the truth of hidden history” ~Brenda Knight

“Make writing a practice, make it a priority” ~Kate Gale

“You want to aspire to write great work.” ~Kate Gale

“You have to make your book stand out.” ~Farrin Jacobs

“Write the novel you want to write.” ~Steve Yarborough

“Your voice is important. Use your voice to capture attention for yourself, use your voice as a community service.” ~N.L. Belardes

“It really was inspiring. Felt like the writer's New Year for me.” ~Genevieve Choate

“One of the things you achieve from a point of view character is VOICE.” ~Hallie Ephron

“Movies have ruined more fiction writers.” ~David Morrell

“The most important thing in a book should be tension.” ~Irene Webb

“Be a first rate version of yourself not a second rate version of someone else.” ~David Morrell

“Develop an identity for yourself as a writer.” ~David Morrell

“Never underestimate the emotion of jealousy.” ~Bonnie Hearn Hill

“You can have a literary voice and still tell a good story.” ~Bonnie Hearn Hill

“Writing well is the best revenge.” ~David Morrell

“Always remember the enthusiasm with which the idea struck you.” ~David Morrell

More on the 2007 Yosemite Writers Conference:

Yosemite Writers Conference: The Writers New Year
Is Book Publishing Dead? Yosemite Writers Conference provides food for hungry writers
Yosemite Writers Conference: A Conversation about Blogging
Rambo Creator Reinvents Captain America
Yosemite Writers Conference: Demystifying Chick lit and Women’s fiction
Yosemite Writers Conference: Poetry talk
Mystery talk after David Morrell's big speech
2007 Yosemite Writers Conference: Brenda Knight Sidesteps the TVA man
Yosemite Writers and the Chukchansi bathroom break
Headed to Yosemite Writers Conference to talk writing for social change

Labels: Brenda Knight, David Morrell, Literary, N.L. Belardes, Steve Yarborough, Writing, writing advice, Yosemite Writer's Conference

  posted by Matildakay at 11:05 PM 1 comments

Yosemite Writers Conference: A Conversation about Blogging
In today’s world, blogging has become a way of life for many people and corporations. It’s an instantaneous way to connect with people. For writers, blogging should be a natural progression, a promotional tool and a way to personally reach readers and build a fan base.



This year’s Yosemite Writers Conference workshop, “Blogging Your Way to Fame” was taught by N.L. Belardes of ABC23 and Noveltown (noveltown.net/blog), Genevieve Choate of the Fresno Bee and Momologue, and Rik Bollman a Las Vegas writer/blogger and radio host, three individuals for whom blogging is not only a way of life, but a necessary part of being a writer. Three individuals who understood that blogging is not just posting a blog and hoping a handful of anonymous people on the Internet find it and read it. No, blogging is about so much more.

Blogging is about using your voice to capture attention for yourself as a writer and about using your voice as a community service. Blogging is about having a sense of integrity, being humble, and being smart about what you write. Blogging is not about what you ate for lunch, but rather it’s about getting out there in your community and finding original content to write about. Blogging is about having a conversation with people and that is what is truly unique about blogging.

Since blogging is a conversation with people, N.L., Genevieve, and Rik broke panel tradition and had a conversation with the workshop attendees about blogging. Everyone responded and interacted as if we were all sitting around an informal dinner table discussing blogging. For those who were new to the conversation, this method seemed to demystify blogging and make it less daunting. As a blogger myself, I felt this conversational format was most effective.

Gone was all the techy talk and html, instead the discussion centered on how writers can use blogging to build their author platform and a community of readers. By spending time on social networking sites such as myspace.com promoting your blog, book and/or yourself as a writer, by posting compelling content and updating your blog often and through grassroots promotion you can build a fan base and a platform that editors and agents will notice. Belardes stated, “You have to sacrifice time to promote yourself.” He also stressed the importance of having a presence on social networking sites.

Even though Belardes stated that blogging most likely won’t make you famous, he did discuss how blogging could help you get where you want to go as a writer, for you never know who’s reading your blog. In the blogosphere, if you build it they will come. Blogging will grow an audience for your writing.



It was prearranged for me to help people in the workshop immediately sign up for a blog. With laptops available, I was able to answer questions and help a few people sign up at the end of the blogging workshop and later that evening in the Tenaya Lodge Jackalope restaurant. I think it was helpful for those new to blogging to have a computer and a person available to walk them through the process of setting up their blog. Hopefully they will continue their journey into the blogosphere and towards building an audience.

More on the 2007 Yosemite Writers Conference:

Is Book Publishing Dead?
Yosemite Writers Conference: A Conversation about Blogging
Rambo Creator Reinvents Captain America
Yosemite Writers Conference: Demystifying Chick lit and Women’s fiction
Yosemite Writers Conference: Poetry talk
Mystery talk after David Morrell's big speech
2007 Yosemite Writers Conference: Brenda Knight Sidesteps the TVA man
Yosemite Writers and the Chukchansi bathroom break
Headed to Yosemite Writers Conference to talk writing for social change

Labels: ABC23, Blogging, cross promotion, Fresno Bee, Genevieve Choate, N.L. Belardes, Noveltown, Rik Bollman, social networking, Yosemite Writer's Conference

  posted by Matildakay at 12:49 AM 1 comments