I have been to see the great and powerful OZ (New York City agents, authors etc...) and I suppose it is time to share my experience and pass my wisdom on to you people! Let me start by saying that I am not the one to come to for wisdom. Ever. But I will do my best to share the wisdom of the great and powerful OZ. You're welcome.

First of all, I feel for agents. This is a fairly new concept for me. Not that I ever harbored ill will or hostility towards them, but I received a tiny glimpse into their side of the literary process and it's probably kinda painful. We (the writers) signed up for what is called a pitch slam. They line the walls of a conference room with agents, tell them to hold on to their seats and unleash a herd of starving writers on them. They don't even give them shields or weapons or anything to defend themselves with. They just ring the bell and open the gates.

Sound terrifying? It probably is. They're noble people, these agents. What they are willing to go through to find a good book to sell! Whew! Let me compose myself...

Composed. I learned so much at this conference. So much I can't possibly put it all here in one post. Let me refer tools and resources instead. Imparted wisdom from great and terrible OZ number one:

Lisa Cron Wired for Story
Don't have it? Go get it. This is the best book I've read on how to psychologically pull your reader into your story. And really, once you've done that your job is half done. 
Imparted wisdom from great and terrible OZ number two:
Gabriela Pereira http://diymfa.com/
A fantastic resource for all things writerly. She gave a wonderful class on how to effectively set up your story and carry it through to the end. But even better is her "Do It Yourself MFA" which I've linked above for you folks to benefit from! No...don't go yet...I'm not finished yet. Rude.
Imparted Wisdom from great and terrible OZ number three:
Harlan Coben NYT Bestselling Author a Gazillion Times Over
No excuses. Mr. Coben taught us many a valuable lesson. But he emphasized the importance of writing. WRITE. Keep writing. Every day. Practice and dedicate time to your craft. His examples were Author Mary Higgins Clark who lost her husband and mother in law within a day leaving her to raise five children. She wrote from five to seven in the morning. NO EXCUSES. Cher said "Excuses won't lift your butt". How can you argue with Cher? You can't. Don't try. She might hurt you.


The most important thing I gained at this conference was a sense of what it takes to succeed in this industry and to never quit. It takes time. You will trip and fall many times and you must get up and keep going. If this is what you want to do, this is what it takes and you have til the day you die to keep trying. 
So get to your computer and write that book! Next year they'll have a whole new lineup of foolish agents willing to risk their lives at the WD writer's All-You-Can-Eat buffet, and you don't want to miss it!!