Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Improvements!

If you haven't checked in on the IWSG blog lately you need to do that. For the last month, you're read some of the tidbits I've learned at the writing conference I attended in May. I can't begin to share the many things I learned and the amount of networking I did with other writers. More of the good stuff will be shared at IWSG later this summer.

If you can attend a writers' conference, I highly recommend it. You'll come away filled with energy and ready to park yourself at your keyboard. And now, thanks to the work of L. Diane Wolfe and others on the IWSG staff had put together a new page listing conferences near and far. There might be one near you. Some are genre specific but many are for all writers, poets, short story authors as well as novelists and non-fiction writers. Think of all the things you can than share with the rest of us.

Also, don't forget to check in on the contest page on IWSG. So many novelists I know have gotten an agent or editor interested in their book by entering a contest. And it is a great thing to use in a promotion if you've won a contest once your book is published. You might be interested in something on that page.

Hopefully, everyone has recovered from the Sunday season finale of Game of Thrones. A few story lines are similar to the book and a few have deviated. I'm pretty sure the next season will come around before the next book comes out. So all the characters are pretty much in trouble and we'll have to see if they survive. There are a few decent characters on the show so I  hope at least a few survive the hiatus.

Summertime TV fare I'm enjoying or looking forward to: Hannibal, Defiance and Haven are back on or will be. I also like TNT's Murder in the First. I'll probably try The Dome again and check out a few new shows on SyFy channel. I'm also going to see Jurassic World sometime this week. Looks like fun.

Have you attended a conference or entered a contest recently? How much did GoT finale shock you? Any TV you're enjoying this summer?

26 comments:

Denise Covey said...

Hi Susan. Well it's winter here, but I'm enjoying the new season of Madam Secretary and Blacklist is about to start. Love it.
Hmm. You make me think about entering a contest...

Denise :-)

nashvillecats2 said...

Owing to illness missed the ISWG this month, will take a look later today.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I admit, I've never attended a conference. But that page on the IWSG site is really looking awesome.
I learned long ago not to invest in any Game of Thrones character, as they are all fair game.

Pat Hatt said...

Anyone is fair game on got, not sure if I'll watch under the dome again, ugg, got so stupid last year

betty said...

Confession time, never watched Game of Thrones. Maybe I'll catch it through DVD; its better to mega watch it than have to wait until the next season, especially if one gets hooked on the show :)

I tend to watch mindless TV that involves contestants winning, like American Idol and now this season's Master Chef.

betty

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

My post today is about what to watch on TV this summer. :)

Will check out the IWSG page!

We're hoping to see Jurassic World this weekend - looking forward to it but not expecting too much, if that makes sense. :)

Scribbles From Jenn said...

I'm not a Game of Thrones watcher either, but I am going to the SCBWI Summer Conference! I haven't been since 2008 and I'm REALLY looking forward to it. I'll have to check out the IWSG page and see what's new.

Crystal Collier said...

LOL! Have I done anything lately other than eat, sleep, take care of baby, survive life? Whew! Sometimes all you can do is survive, right?

The Happy Whisk said...

Enjoy your summer line-up :-)

Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

I don't watch a lot of TV, but I like it when they start with the summer movies.

I'm off to check out the IWSG line-up. Sounds interesting!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I haven't watched either of those shows, Denise. I've heard good things about Blacklist.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

You might find something you'll like, Yvonne.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That page is looking fine. Good idea you had, Alex.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I agree, Pat, about Under the Dome. I almost didn't finish it last year. And it's nothing like the book which wasn't that great either.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL. I'm just the opposite, Betty. I never watch contest type shows. Give me some drama or suspense.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Just left you my summer pick on your blog, Madeline. Hope to see the dino movie this weekend too.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I hope you tell us all about it, Jenn. There's always so much to learn at a conference.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Crystal, you have the best, little adorable excuse in the world. Happy to see you pop in once in a while.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm planning on it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It's so hot and humid and so much rain here that I've been watching too much TV, Karen.

SpacerGuy said...

I feel like a fly on the wall here, having read all these updates I'm stunned. Swat me again, lol.

J E Oneil said...

I wish I could go to a conference! I think I could learn a lot.

I tend to wait for shows until they're completed. Saves having to wait after I get really into it :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'm still working on the list of conferences. There are thousands.

Liz Blocker said...

Thanks for the recs! I try to check out the IWSG page but I keep forgetting. I'll head over soon :)

So...I just started season 4 of GoT. Everyone keeps talking about the awful end to the season finale of 5, and there are all these pics of Jon Snow around...and I can't DEAL because know I NOW he's probably dead and I just love him. I know I'm not supposed to get too attached to the characters, but that's impossible!

Tara Tyler said...

i can't believe john snow was killed! WTH!?
thanks for all the links - i'll have to get over to the iwsg site, love that they compiled a list of book events!
happy june!

Mark Koopmans said...

I love, love love writers' conferences and attend one in SoCal every year (well, I did until I came to VA... now we'll see what happens!!)

I've never seen a single episode of the Thrones thing... (is that bad.. yes, I know it is... yikes :)

Happy weekend, Susan!!