A Guest Post from SiWC Ambassador Hayley – Blue Pencil and More!

Our amazing ambassador, Hayley Lavik, has written a guest post for us about getting ready for your blue pencil session. Check it out, and read through to the end for info on connecting with her and other writers at SiWC this year.

Here’s Hayley!

How to Prepare for Your Blue Pencil Session

The Blue Pencil Café is your opportunity to have a 15-minute one on one chat with an industry professional about your work, and ask questions about the knottiest problems you’re facing. When the time comes to actually sit down and ask those questions, though? That’s when the nerves can kick in.

Don’t panic. Blue Pencil sessions are nothing to stress over.

Step 1: Breathe.

Step 2: Know what you want to get out of your session. Are you looking for feedback on your writing? Help with a specific problem? A chance to talk about your book? Having a specific goal will ensure you get what you want out of your session.

Step 3: Check presenter bios on the website for any specific guidelines they might have. Some presenters want to see your first three pages, some want to look at a scene you need help on, and others prefer to talk with you about your writing rather than read pages.

Step 4: Arrive five minutes before your appointment time. This will allow you time to check in, get settled, and get your things in order. When it’s your turn to meet your presenter, one of our Fraser Room volunteers will let you know.

Step 5: Remember, whether you’ve been published multiple times or this is the first thing you’ve written, you’re here at SiWC — that means you’re a writer. You belong here.

Step 6: Breathe

Have other questions about the SiWC weekend? Our conference ambassador, Hayley Lavik, as well as numerous SiWC veterans, are ready and waiting on twitter at our conference hashtag, #SiWC19.

Want to connect with other writers ahead of the conference? Use our meet-up hashtag, #SiWCMeet, to introduce yourself on twitter and get to know other attendees.

If this is your first SiWC, join Hayley for Orientation at 8:30am on Friday morning for a tour of the hotel, a brief introduction to the SiWC weekend, and a chance to ask any questions you may have.

See you there!