Writer Events: perfect settings for published writers and those who want to be

When most people think of meeting writers, they often think of book-signings at bookstores. Another event type is when a writer speaks to a group—I’ll call this type a Writer Event. Working with the library’s director, members of my Writers' Guild established the Lake Menomin Writers Series, where we bring writers from around Wisconsin and Minnesota to speak to us about their books and the writing life.

So many of the writers we’ve hosted have emphasized that speaking and book-signing are such an important part of the post-publishing process. These are key marketing tools for writers. For the unpublished writer, Writer Events are opportunities to be inspired, to network, and to learn insider tips. Almost every writer has stated to the audience the importance of not giving up on sending your book to agents and publishers and editors.

Another interesting thing I’ve learned has been that the cover pictures are chosen to reflect the book’s “feeling” rather than a specific scene from the book. The images are selected from collections of works—notice how often Getty Images are cited for the covers. To illustrate how a cover can depict the overall sense of a book, Jay Gilbertson’s Lady Lit books set in Wisconsin have whimsical photos of women who do not look like any of his characters, nor do any of the scenes actually include a description of cooling off in a wading pool or dozing in the sun. Yet, the “feeling” conveyed by the images reflect the books perfectly. See http://www.jaygilbertson.com/

Some writers use agents; some do not. Some began writing as a new career after retirement; some, like Victoria Houston (who still travels constantly as a Public Relations consultant) write in their spare time. See http://www.victoriahouston.com/

The Lake Menomin Writers Series is getting a reputation as a place for writers to come. Our 2007-2008 season starts in September. So far, the authors that we have scheduled are: Erin Hart, Minnesota Crime Wave (William Kent Kruger, Ellen Hart and Carl Brookins), Catherine Friend, Kelly McCullough, and Mary Logue. We’ve had a number of authors contact us about speaking at the Writers Series, and we have people who come from as far as 60 miles away to hear them speak. And we offer each author an opportunity to sell his or her books after the event. I’m getting a lovely collection of great books personally inscribed to me. Seems to me, to use a cliché from the 1990s, that this is a perfect example of a Win-Win situation.