SFGirl
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Registered: 01-2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 939
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Writing Workshops
The workshop I'm taking right now runs for seven weeks, sessions on Saturdays from 10:30 until 1:30. We had one longer session at the start, when two literary agents came a spoke to us; that was great, they were very nice and helpful and I wish all agents were like that!
They discussed many things over the course of the four-hour-plus session: what agents do and don't do, the many considerations that go into the buying, producing, and marketing of a books, the responsibilities of authors, and much more. I learned some new things and had other impressions and information confirmed firsthand.
One of the interesting things I did learn was the term "platform," as in, what is the "platform" of a prospective author. One's platform is comprised of many things, which taken together form the basis for predicting one's following or the potential audience for one's book. It is part writer's resume, part education, part social and professional network, part experience...all rolled into one concept. Interestingly, I've come across the term twice more since then.
So (if I understood correctly), my personal "platform" would include:
- my list of previous publications
- workshops and courses I've taken
- my network of contacts, in person and online (including here)
- my experience as editor/publisher of The Scriptorium
- my experience as copy editor with IROSF
- my educational background
- workshops I've conducted
- readings
- other things I can't think of right now
It's interesting to consider what my "total package" looks like, or would look like to an agent or publisher. On that count I have no idea. But perhaps in the future, I'll find out. ;-) At least now I will know what's being discussed if the term comes up.
I'll tell you more about the workshop in another post--I'm out of time for now!
Sherry
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Web: www.sherrydramsey.com / www.thescriptorium.net
Reading: The Light-Bearer's Daughter by O.R. Melling
Writing: rewrite of The Seventh Crow
Drawing: Fairy Gossip
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4/9/2007, 10:54 pm
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Firlefanz
Master Scribe
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 502
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Re: Writing Workshops
Sounds very interesting, Sherry, thanks for sharing.
I was told once that as writers we don't just sell our stories, we sell "ourselves" as a whole person, too, including our personality, occupation and experience. That would fit the "platform" concept nicely.
--- - Firlefanz
Writing: "Kiera und der Gauklerjunge" - novel
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4/10/2007, 1:26 am
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