Pam Binder – J.D. Sullivan | Author

PNWA 2013 Writer’s Conference – What Did You Learn?

Bummer, it’s over. The 2013 PNWA Writers Conference finished this last Sunday and I’m excited to use what I’ve learned! I had a wonderful time and I’ve dedicated this posting to a trip report, from the perspective of both a writer and board trustee with PNWA.

The Seattle conference, held July 25^th – July 28^th, covered a wide selection of topics important for writers today. Workshops addressed the craft of writing, agent/editor relationships, marketing and social media, and the many ways to become published. In parallel, the schedule highlighted a set of nerve-wracking sessions called, “Power Pitch.” Organized like speed-dating, these ninety-minute pitch fests connected writers with agents and editors searching for new manuscripts to read and represent.

Pam Binder (PNWA President) and Sandy McCormack (PNWA Vice President) kick off announcement of literary contest winners — Sandy McCormack and Pam Binder (PNWA Vice President and President) kick off the literary contest awards on Saturday night

Several well-known authors stopped by to regale the attendees en masse. Keynote speaker Greg Bear was welcomed at the Thursday evening dessert reception. Friday’s panel with Deb Caletti, Stella Cameron, Robert Dugoni, and Gerry Swallow offered encouragement and humor. On Saturday night, we celebrated the winners of PNWA’s Literary Contest, announced over dessert. And on Sunday, Mary Bisbee-Beek wrapped up with a discussion on the differences between Marketing and Promotion.

Some new activities were introduced to the program this year. PNWA hosted a free workshop for budding writers (ages 8-12) called, “Kid’s Day with Dr. Cuthbert Soup.” They also launched the 2014 PNWA Nancy Pearl Book Award, an annual literary contest. The pilot program recognizes PNWA member’s Best Books published in 2013.

Margie Lawson, Tara Sheets, and me
(Sorry for the blurry photo!)

I now have three conferences under my belt and this year was my favorite. As a writer, I focused on the craft workshops, anything to help finish my WIP! And I moderated three wonderful sessions, Introduction to Speculative Fiction by Danika Dinsmore and two of the many mind-bending sessions led by Margie Lawson on her EDITs system and deep editing techniques. (This list barely hints at the packed agenda. See PNWA’s website for the full listing.)

The conference was also a terrific forum to speak informally with agents and editors and a way to connect your peeps. I hung out with Tara Sheets, a 2013 finalist for the RWA Golden Heart Award (Thanks for the photos!). I caught up with Richard Hacker, who recently signed a contract for his third book with Champagne Press. And had the opportunity to say hello to many writer friends, like Jean Miller, who I met in the Popular Fiction Certificate programs put on by the UW.

Tara Sheets and I, waiting for more caffeine. And look, our outfits match.

And as a new writer, I send a big thanks to the conference organizers. A special shout-out to Pam Binder, best-selling author and PNWA president, for her vision and tireless efforts. And a call-out to the amazing PNWA staff, volunteers, and other board members who helped make the conference such great event.

My favorite learning from the conference? For me, it was Margie Lawson’s workshop on how to write dialogue cues like a psychologist. That, and her review of “power words” provided a focus for final edits on my current WIP.

What’s the favorite thing you learned?

Come On, Babs! Do You Want To Miss the Sky God?

Why do we yell and scream like maniacs, just to celebrate the new year?

I live a block away from the Space Needle where there’s a spectacular fireworks show on New Year’s Eve. Last December, I decided to stay home and comfort my cat, Pandora. It was a loud night. Partiers grouped on the sidewalk outside, drank openly and hollered at the top of their lungs, all the while the show exploded overhead.

A couple guys seemed to freak out, mid-festivities. They ran back and forth, down the center of my tiny street, flailing their arms along the way, and you would have thought the world was coming to an end. But nope. Not even in 2012. But it got me thinking. Why do human beings celebrate like this? When did we start going a little crazy, just because tomorrow happens to be a new year?

So I checked out history.com.

According to one of the site’s stories, Babylonians were the earliest on record to kick up their heels on New Year’s Eve, some 4,000 years ago. These party-hardy ancestors actually whooped it up twice a year in a festival called “Akitu,” celebrating renewal from the past and prosperity in the future. Festivities coincided with both the spring equinox (the beginning of the lunar calendar) and the fall equinox (the time to harvest).

I can imagine the typical Babylonian husband calling to his wife during the hoopla. “Hey Babs. Let’s run from hut-to-hut and scream joyous prayers at the sky. Plus there’s a show over at the neighbors. They’re reenacting Maruk’s victory over Tiamut, in costume. I love when that evil, sea goddess bitch gets stomped by the god of the sky.”

Fast forward several thousand years, in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar had to solve a “syncing issue” between the Roman calendar and the actual orbit of the sun. Apparently, part of the fix was to move New Year’s Day to the beginning of the month of Januarius, honoring Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, an interesting dude.

Janus is a deity with two faces who can simultaneously look into the past and out to the future. His particular festivities included crazy parties, and “sacrifices to Janus, exchanging gifts, decorating their homes with laurel branches.”

Sounds a little like today? Well, sort of. Instead of sacrificing a goat to Janus, we destroy a few brain cells.

That said, I do think we see New Years Eve as a time to look with two faces, to be relieved we’ve survived the past year and to hope for our futures. When we blow paper horns and scream at the top of our lungs, are we (like our ancestors) issuing a boisterous prayer to our gods for renewal and prosperity? Maybe the simple act of railing at what lurks ahead provides an added strength to cope.

Celebrating in the street – or the center of an ancient village – must help, right? And what better way to rock the ancient Babylonia’s sky god, Maruk, than the dazzling fireworks of today. I’ll bet even Babs would agree.

As a footnote, I was inspired to write this post by my friend Pam Binder. She posted a wonderful summary of ancient Yule Tide celebrations (“Winter Solstice”), in her blog at pambinder.com.